Consumer Group Warns Wireless Consumers on Memorial Day Calling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2004
Media Contact:
John Breyault
202.263.2943
Only Verizon Wireless Treats Holiday as "Night and Weekend"
Wireline Long Distance Also Not Cheaper on Holiday
Most wireless consumers who hit the road this weekend will have their calls on Memorial Day treated as "anytime" minutes. Verizon Wireless is the only major wireless carrier to treat all calls on Memorial Day as "night and weekend" calling.
Wireless carriers now offer many plans that include unlimited "night and weekend" calling as opposed to "anytime" calling which counts against users' monthly minute limits. Most wireless carriers classify "night and weekend" calling periods as 9:00 p.m. to 6:59 a.m. on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday. Weekday calls from 7:00 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. therefore count as "anytime" minutes and are deducted from monthly minute limits.
Consumers who have nationwide long distance calling included in their wireless service plans in addition to unlimited night and weekend calling can save money by making their long distance calls from their wireless phones instead of their landline phones during the "night and weekend" calling periods.
TRAC also surveyed major wireline long distance providers and found none that treat Memorial Day as a lower-rate "off peak" calling period. This means that long distance calls will be charged at the higher "daytime" or "on peak" rate. Consumers should check the details of their particular calling plan to be sure how their calls will be treated.
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