MCI INCREASES DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE RATES
Company Ups Price of Dialing 555-1212 to $1.99
MCI Worldcom plans to raise its rate for long distance directory assistance from $1.49 to $1.99. This increase will take place November 1st in the Washington, D.C. area. This increase took effect October 1st in cities like St. Paul, Minnesota.
This represents an almost 34% increase in cost to consumers when they dial 555-1212. This follows an increase of 9 cents (from $1.40 to $1.49) that took place in June. Now MCI Worldcom and AT&T are tied as the carriers with the most expensive rates for long distance directory assistance service.
"This increase is part of a trend of increasing costs for consumers and is an ominous sign of things to come," said Samuel A. Simon, TRAC Chairman.
TRAC suggests that consumers consider two lower cost options. MCI Worldcom's 10-10-9000 is 99 cents and you get two listings, instead of the one you get when you dial 555-1212. Second, consider national 411 offered by your local phone company. The price is anywhere from 85 cents to 95 cents per call, with two numbers per-call.
Consumers can also use online directory assistance services. On TRAC's website (www.trac.org), we have links to many free online directory assistance lookups. TRAC also publishes the Teletips TM Directory Assistance Chart every few months that outlines the rates for directory assistance charged by 8 major carriers. To order, send a $1.00 check or money order and a self addressed stamped envelope with 55 cents postage to TRAC, P.O. Box 27279, Washington, D.C. 20005. Or visit TRAC's site and click on "Order TRAC Publications." You can order an electronic or hard copy and pay with a credit card.
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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.
