TRAC RELEASES UPDATED DIAL-AROUND CHART
Dial Around Plans Become More Attractive as Dial-1 Fees Soar
Washington, DC – The Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC) today released an updated version of its TeleTips(tm) Dial Around Comparison Survey. The survey compares the rates, fees and terms of the major dial around long distance telephone companies.
"Just a year ago TRAC issued an urgent release cautioning consumers to be wary of the dial around services." Said Samuel A. Simon, TRAC's Chairman. "But today, it is clear that using a dial around service to avoid monthly minimums and other fees is often a good choice for consumers. Our new chart shows that the rates for dial around services are becoming more attractive."
The biggest change is in MCI's 10-10-321. It has been simplified and the rates have come down significantly. Consumers still need to be careful because there is no discount on the plan for calls less than 10 minutes, but even those rates have been reduced.
There are also new offerings since TRAC's last chart. Both existing and new carriers are offering new dial around numbers (10-10-275, 10-10-629, 10-16-789 and 10-10-636).
"Consumers still need to read the fine print and be careful of the fees charged by dial around services," according KC Choi, TRAC's senior research associate. "More than half of the dial around services listed in the new chart charge a separate Universal Service Fee (USF). Also, each dial around used charges a separate fee. Monthly fees can be as high as $4.95 a month (10-16-789, 10-10-502, 10-10-275 and 10-10-566). WorldxChange’s 10-10-502 and 10-10-275 charge PICC fees, which are not charged by any other service."
For a copy of the Dial Around Comparison Survey, send a self-addressed stamped ($.33) envelope and $1.00 check to TRAC, PO Box 27279, Washington, DC 20005.
About TRAC
TRAC, a Washington, DC based consumer group, has been charting and comparing long distance rates for consumers since 1983. TRAC is the publisher of TeleTipsรค , a Residential Long Distance Rate and Small Business Long Distance Rate Comparison Chart. TRAC also produces a free Internet service at http://www.trac.org which features WebPricer, a joint service with San Francisco based Salestar, which allows consumers to get an instant call analysis by entering the calls from their bills onto a form and have the calls compared among various carriers.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
John Breyault, TRAC, johnb@trac.org, 202-263-2943
ABOUT TRAC:
The Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC), founded in 1983, is a non-profit membership organization based in Washington, DC that promotes the interests of residential telecommunications customers. TRAC staff researches telecommunications issues and publishes rate comparisons to help consumers make informed decisions regarding their long distance and local phone service options. TRAC can be found on the web at http://www.trac.org.
