Long
Distance FAQ
Customer Care
How much does your service cost me?
When will my Long Distance plan become active?
Do I have to dial any special access numbers to place a telephone
call with any of these long distance companies?
How will this affect my Local Phone Service?
Do I have to call my current Long Distance Company to cancel?
What is a PIC
Freeze (Block)?
Is there a difference between long distance companies?
Is there a number I can call for customer service?
What is a Local Toll or IntraLata call?
Will ClearViewLD be my Long Distance carrier?
Money/Billing Questions
How will I be billed?
How can some Long Distance companies charge less than
AT&T, Sprint, and MCI
etc..?
Why is my in-state rate higher than my interstate rate?
How can I know that I am getting the best plan available?
Are the rates listed on the site introductory and will they change?
How do I know the rates quoted are accurate and current?
Calling
Card FAQ
Can I keep my existing Toll-Free
number if I switch to a new long distance plan?
Do Toll-Free numbers work from outside of the U.S?
Can I receive calling cards?
Other FAQ
Why aren’t the phone numbers and web site addresses listed
for each company?
Can I switch only my state-to-state or international rates, while keeping my
in-state rates with my local phone company?
Customer Care
You are our number one priority. So if you have any questions regarding
our site or services, please let us know, and a member of our Customer
Care Team will respond to you right away - guaranteed! Thank you
for using ClearViewLD - we'll be in touch!
Back to Top
How much does your service cost me?
It's free! Use our site as often as you like to find great rates
and better deals on your monthly bills, all free of charge.
How do I verify my long distance has been switched?
You may call 1-700-555-4141 to see who your current provider is.
This call must be made from your home phone. If the name is unfamiliar,
it is likely that the long distance carrier is using the line of
another
carrier. If you have any questions, contact your new carrier.
Back to Top
When will my Long Distance plan become active?
The switch usually takes about 3-10 business days to complete. Once
you have selected your new plan and signed up through ClearViewLD,
your new Long Distance carrier will notify your local phone company,
so they may change the PIC code in their system. Please call your
local company to remove any PIC freezes (long distance blocks) that
you may
have on your local account.
Back to Top
Do I have to dial any special access numbers to place a telephone
call with any of these long distance companies?
No, simply dial 1 plus the area code plus the number for U.S.
long distance calls. Include the country and city codes for international
calls. Just like you would with AT&T, MCI, Sprint etc…
Back to Top
How will this affect my Local Phone Service?
Your Local Phone service will not be affected. All your calling
features such as Caller ID, Call Waiting, Voicemail, *69 etc...
will not be
affected. These types of features are services provided by your
local phone carrier. By choosing a new plan with ClearViewLD,
you will
only be changing your long distance carrier such as AT&T,
MCI, Sprint, IDT etc…
Back to Top
Do I have to call my current Long Distance Company to cancel?
Generally you previous provider is notified and cancels your service,
although it can be beneficial to notify your former carrier to be
sure. We recommend calling your previous long distance carrier, only
after
your service is switched.
Back to Top
What is a PIC Freeze (Block)?
Your local Phone Company when asked can place a “PIC Freeze” on
your account. This will prevent a long distance company from
changing you long distance service. If you have a PIC Freeze
on your account,
please call your local phone company to remove it, in order to
change your service.
Back to Top
Is there a difference between long distance companies?
There is no difference in the quality of your long distance connection.
All long distance companies, including AT&T, Sprint and WorldCom
use the same fiber optic networks to transport their calls.
Is there a number I can call for customer service?
All of the Long Distance providers have their own toll free customer
service numbers. They will give you the number when you register
for their service and it will be on your bill.
Back to Top
What is a Local Toll or IntraLata call?
Also known as IntraLATA, regional toll, local long distance,
or extended local calling area; are typically the itemized calls
that
appear
on your local phone bill. These calls span greater distances
than local
calls, but are not long distance calls. They may be within your
area code or a different one - across town, or in the next county.
These
calls are not included in your “unlimited local calling area” and
are usually billed per minute, unless you are paying an additional
cost for this upgraded service.
Note: The Local
Toll/IntraLATA rate is the same as the listed In-State rate. It is
usually less expensive to have your new long distance
service Local Toll/IntraLATA calls.
Back
to Top
Will ClearViewLD be my Long Distance carrier?
No, each plan listed on our site is an independent company, and the
long distance carrier you choose will provide your long distance
service. ClearViewLD is a consumer resource site, which allows you
to compare
long distance rates; we do not, however, provide these services directly.
Back to Top
Money/Billing Questions
How much will it cost me to switch long distance carriers?
A switching fee may be charged by your local phone company (approx.
$5), but the long distance carrier that you choose may pay for
that switch. It a one-time fee that is well worth the monthly
savings you will receive from your new plan. See the “Plan Details” and
ClearViewLD review to see if the carrier will reimburse the switching
fee.
Back to Top
How will I be billed?
You will receive a separate bill from your new Long Distance carrier,
except if you choose a WorldxChange plan. WxC will bill you on the
local phone bill for no additional charge.
Back to Top
How can some Long Distance companies
charge less than AT&T,
Sprint, and MCI etc..?
The smaller carriers buy long distance time from the large carriers.
They provide their own customer service and billing services.
They are able to keep their own costs much lower by spending
much less
on advertising. Somebody has to pay for the millions of dollars
spent on commercials by AT&T, MCI, and Sprint. Just don’t
let it be you anymore!
Back to Top
Why is my in-state rate higher than my interstate rate?
All calls are priced based on the underlying costs of routing each
specific type of call. The rates for intrastate long distance calls
vary by state as a result of different call routing costs charged
to the long distance carrier by local telephone companies.
Back to Top
How can I know that I am getting the best plan available?
ClearViewLD reviews hundreds of plans, including all new plans that
become available. We monitor and then list the best No-Nonsense plans
for our site visitors. Check back with ClearViewLD periodically to
see if a better plan becomes available. Nobody researches and offers
more plans than the ClearViewLD.
Back to Top
Are the rates listed on the site introductory and will they change?
No, we do not list introductory rates on our site. These are the
standard rates you will be charged. Each company may also decide
to change increase/decrease
these rates, but you will be notified by the company if any change
occurs. It is very un-likely that your rates will increase as rates
are still decreasing in the long distance industry.
Back to Top
How do I know the rates quoted are accurate and current?
Each company listed on our site notifies us of any changes that occur.
We send these companies significant business and they are continually
in contact with us to make sure we are listing the information correctly.
Back to Top
Toll Free Numbers & Calling
Cards
Can I keep my existing Toll-Free number if I switch to a new long
distance plan?
Yes, Toll Free numbers may be moved to another carrier, although
a signed order form will be needed to complete this transfer. Please
email us your name and contact number, so we can call you and handle
your changeover of your service.
Back to Top
Do Toll-Free numbers work from outside of the U.S?
Toll Free 800 numbers only allow calls made from within the U.S
and Canada. Calls from Alaska, Hawaii, & Canada carry a higher
rate than the normal rate from within the continuous 48 states.
Back to Top
Can I receive calling cards?
You may select to receive a calling card with your new plan. These cards usually
have higher rates than if you make a call form your home/business phone. The
card usage will be billed to your regular long distance bill. Calling Cards
can usually only be used within the United States and Canada. Some cards allow
you
to make international calls which are also billed differently.
Back to Top
Other
Why aren’t the phone numbers
and web site addresses listed for each company?
ClearViewLD is considered to be a sales representative for many of the companies
listed. Some of the companies pay us commissions after a customer signs up
for a plan. Many of these companies do not have there own sales teams to
attract customers, which helps keep rates low. If you decide to sign-up for
a plan,
we
send you an email with the company’s Toll-Free customer service number
and all other information you may need. Every company listed on our site
offers full service customer support for any questions you may have.
Back to Top
Can I switch only my state-to-state or international rates, while keeping my
in-state rates with my local phone company?
No, both types of long distance service are always serviced together and may
not be ordered separately. You do however; have a choice in selecting Local
Toll/IntraLATA calls to be serviced by your long distance carrier or with your
local phone company.
Please see the Local Toll/IntraLata definition for more information.
Back to Top
|
