Top 10 Telephone Tips
- KNOW YOUR TELEPHONE PATTERNS
- Understand your own telephone
calling patterns. Do you make
most of your telephone calls
during the day, night, or
on weekends? If you don't
make frequent residential
long distance telephone calls,
perhaps a long distance telephone
dial-around service ("10-10")
is the right plan for you
or a plan with no monthly
minimum fees.
- ASK ABOUT DISCOUNTS OR
SALES – Ask your long
distance telephone provider
about any promotions they
might be running. You can
even ask other long distance
telephone companies about
any switching benefits they
might be offering.
- ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT
– Phone companies each
have different restrictions
and offerings. Make sure you
read the fine print.
- BEWARE OF ADDITIONAL CHARGES
– Ask if there are monthly,
minimum or per-call fees in
addition to the per minute
rates. For example, if a dial-around
service charges a $5 monthly
fee and you make only one
10 minute call that month,
then you pay an extra 50 cents
a minute for that call.
- BE CAREFUL OF COMPARISON
RATES IN ADVERTISEMENTS –
Consumers should be careful
about comparison rates in
advertisements, such as 50%
off of a telephone carrier's
"basic" rates, because
such "basic" telephone
rates are often not the lowest
telephone rates available.
- CHECK OUT THE PHONE COMPANY
WEB SITES – Their sites
should have specific information
on their rates and calling
plans.
- TIE-INS AND OTHER DISCOUNTS
– Ask your long distance
telephone carrier about mileage
tie-ins that they may offer.
Many companies now offer miles
per dollar spent on your residential
long distance telephone bill.
Your long distance telephone
minutes can add up to a free
trip! Also, some phone carriers
provide discounts if you have
your long distance telephone
charges billed to your credit
card.
- ALWAYS VERIFY – Read
your monthly telephone bills
closely. Mistakes happen.
If you suspect one, call your
long distance telephone provider
and ask for an explanation.
- KNOW YOUR "10-10"
CODES - Be familiar with the
specific telephone calling
plans offered by long distance
dial-around providers. Each
has restrictions that define
the service. Make sure you
understand those restrictions
before you make a long distance
telephone call.
- IS IT TIME TO GO WIRELESS? - The wireless phone industry has matured very quickly, and the wireless phone companies are offering various telephone service plans that may be right for you.
Bonus Tips for Those Who Make a Low Number of Calls
As with all purchases, read the fine print and make sure that the plan you choose is a "good fit." Specifically, look at:
- If you only make a few residential
long distance telephone calls
a month, consider not subscribing
to a long distance telephone
carrier and using only long
distance 10-10 numbers or
a long distance calling card.
- Look for a long distance
telephone carrier with no
monthly fee and low per minute
charges. Some long distance
calling plans are beneficial
too.
- If you decide not to subscribe to a long distance telephone carrier, call your local phone company and tell them you do not want to subscribe to any long distance telephone provider.
Area Codes for all 50 States
Area Code for Alaska: 907
Area Codes for Alabama: 205, 251, 256, 334
Area Codes for Arizona: 480, 520, 602, 623, 928
Area Codes for Arkansas: 479, 501, 870
Area Codes for California: 209, 213, 310, 323, 408, 415, 510, 530, 559, 562, 619, 626, 650, 661, 707, 714, 760, 805, 818, 831, 858, 909, 916, 925, 949
Area Codes for Colorado: 303, 719, 720, 970
Area Codes for Connecticut: 203, 860
Area Codes for Delaware:
Area Codes for Florida: 305, 321, 352, 386, 407, 561, 727, 754, 772, 786, 813, 850, 863, 904, 941, 954
Area Codes for Georgia: 229, 404, 478, 678, 706, 770, 912
Area Code for Hawaii: 808
Area Code for Idaho: 208
Area Codes for Illinois: 217, 224, 309, 312, 618, 630, 708, 773, 815, 847
Area Codes for Indiana: 219, 260, 317, 574, 765, 812
Area Codes for Iowa: 319, 515, 563, 641, 712
Area Codes for Kansas: 316, 620, 785, 913
Area Codes for Kentucky: 270, 502, 606, 859
Area Codes for Louisiana: 225, 318, 337, 504, 985
Area Code for Maine: 207
Area Codes for Maryland: 240, 301, 410, 443
Area Codes for Massachusetts: 339, 351, 413, 508, 617, 774, 781, 857, 978
Area Codes for Michigan: 231, 248, 313, 517, 586, 616, 734, 810, 906, 989
Area Codes for Minnesota: 218, 320, 507, 612, 651, 763, 952
Area Codes for Mississippi: 228, 601, 662
Area Codes for Missouri: 314, 417, 573, 636, 660, 816
Area Code for Montana: 406
Area Codes for Nebraska: 308, 402
Area Codes for Nevada: 702, 775
Area Code for New Hampshire: 603
Area Codes for New Jersey: 201, 551, 609, 732, 848, 856, 862, 908, 973
Area Code for New Mexico: 505
Area Codes for New York: 212, 315, 347, 516, 518, 585, 607, 631, 646, 716, 718, 845, 914, 917
Area Codes for North Carolina: 252, 336, 704, 828, 910, 919, 980
Area Code for North Dakota: 701
Area Codes for Ohio: 216, 234, 330, 419, 440, 513, 567, 614, 740, 937
Area Codes for Oklahoma: 405, 580, 918
Area Codes for Oregon: 503, 541, 971
Area Codes for Pennsylvania: 215, 267, 412, 484, 570, 610, 717, 724, 814, 878
Area Code for Rhode Island: 401
Area Codes for South Carolina: 803, 843, 864
Area Code for South Dakota: 605
Area Codes for Tennessee: 423, 615, 731, 865, 901, 931
Area Codes for Texas: 210, 214, 254, 281, 361, 409, 469, 512, 682, 713, 806, 817, 830, 832, 903, 915, 936, 940, 956, 972, 979
Area Code for Utah: 435, 801
Area Code for Vermont: 802
Area Codes for Virginia: 276, 434, 540, 571, 703, 757, 804
Area Codes for Washington: 206, 253, 360, 425, 509
Area Code for District of Columbia: 202
Area Code for West Virginia: 304
Area Codes for Wisconsin: 262, 414, 608, 715, 920
Area Code for Wyoming: 307
