Rates for 10-10 services are dropping and many consumers could save by switching to 10-10 dial around services exclusively for their long distance service instead of direct-dial carriers. According to the updated TeleTips™ Dial Around Comparison Chart, released today by the Telecommunications Research and Action Center (TRAC), the cost of many 10-10 services have gone down since the April version of the chart.

"Low-volume long-distance consumers in particular who choose to use 10-10 dial around services may be able to save as much as 52 percent on their monthly long-distance bill versus traditional direct-dial services," said Sam Simon, Chairman of TRAC. "Reduction of per-minute rates, elimination of some monthly fees, and the creation of new plans have created even more options for the dial around user. Many consumers may be able to stop using traditional direct-dial long distance altogether," said Simon.

The TRAC study found that consumers who typically make a small number of long distance calls per month (less than 1 hour of total talk time) can save money on their monthly phone bill by using dial around services instead of their direct-dial long distance carrier. While prices for dial around services vary, the TRAC charts showed that a typical low-use dial around customer can save an average of 52 percent on their monthly long-distance bill versus direct-dial. Costs for a typical user of 10-10 dial around services dropped from $6.99 to $6.22 per month (11%) since April 2003. The biggest price drops were for WorldxChange's 10-10-629 ($3.22), AT&T's 10-10-345 ($2.82), and VarTec's 10-10-636 ($1.24) services.

"Consumers need to pick the right 10-10 service, however." said John Breyault, TRAC staff associate. "Some 10-10 numbers have connection fees, add on charges and minimum usages, beyond their per-minute rates. Always read the fine print before using a dial around service."

While most services lowered their fees, consumers paid more for MCI WorldCom's 10-10-321 and 10-10-220 and Qwest's 10-10-432 services due to recent FCC universal service fund (USF) fee increases being passed along to the consumer. Most carriers have phased out their carrier cost recovery fee (CCRF), but VarTec continues to charge a $1.00 CCRF for every month their 10-10-636 and 10-10-811 services are used. Excel Communications' 10-10-399 service has technically removed their $1.00 CCRF, but they have hidden the cost by changing their USF fee from 9.1 percent of total usage to a flat $1.12 per month fee.

For a copy of the TeleTips Dial Around Comparison Chart , send $2.00 check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope with 55¢ postage to TRAC, P.O. Box 27279, Washington, D.C. 20005. You may purchase the updated chart online in PDF format for $2 (or hard copy to be delivered for $2) at www.trac.org.

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