It is increasingly expensive to request a phone number from a local or long distance telephone company. That's the "411" on 411 from the Telecommunications Research & Action Center (TRAC), which today released a survey of local, long distance and wireless directory assistance (DA) charges. TRAC, the nation's oldest and largest telecommunications consumer group, has been publishing rate comparisons for consumers and small businesses since 1983.

Local DA

• Seattle directory assistance costs rose to $1.25 per listing with only one free request per month.
• Dallas consumers now receive 2 fewer listings free per month and pay 75 cents for each additional request.
• The New York City area continues to cost 45 cents per listing, but monthly packages are now available.
• Los Angeles consumers still get 3 calls per month free before being charged 46 cents, and are allowed to request 3 listings per call.
• Washington, D.C. consumers still enjoy 5 calls per month free with a 36 cents rate thereafter, and are allowed 2 listings per call.

Long distance DA (1-area code-555-1212)

• Excel raised its rates to $1.99 per call, but the company has made DA free for people with disabilities.
• Qwest services differ according to the state; be sure to reference their web site for a list of prices.
• The best deal in long distance DA is almost always National 411 (N411), but remember, the cost of National 411 varies according to the carrier. TRAC recommends that consumers check with their provider before using.

Wireless 411

TRAC discovered that many local and national 411 charges for wireless phones increased over the past year. "In 2001, all companies charged under a dollar for directory assistance. This year prices rose to as high as $1.29 per listing," said Samuel A. Simon, TRAC's Chairman. "Consumers should be aware of the cost especially when away from home where they are less likely to have a phone number handy."

• TRAC included VoiceStream and found they charge 75 cents per local or national DA call.
• Nextel increased to $1.19 per call for both national and local 411.
• Sprint PCS now charges $1.25, but customers can request 4 listings per call.
• Cingular raised its rates to $1.29 per directory assistance call.
• AT&T and Verizon wireless customers pay 99 cents for local DA request.

Consumers should keep in mind that wireless DA calls count as billable minutes of use, as well as incurring the surcharge. If a consumer is on a wireless plan with ample minutes or has "free nights and weekends" then the DA calls might end up being less expensive than some land phone prices.

"To save money, consumers should take advantage of no-cost alternatives to directory assistance," said Kate Dean of TRAC. "We encourage consumers to use free services like the Internet or the library to look-up numbers."

To obtain a copy of TRAC's "Consumer Guide to Directory Assistance Services," send a $2.00 check or money order to TRAC, P.O. Box 27279, Washington, D.C. 20005. Both electronic and hard copies are available on TRAC's web site, www.trac.org.

# # #