sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Telecom Service & Providers One landline for $35 including long distance & local

Hi,

Things seem to be getting so complicated as far as getting a landline that has unlimited local calls (with caller ID, call waiting, I don't care about the other stuff) and either unlimited long-distance calls for a flat fee, ie. let's say for about 300 minutes.

My general phone bill's average is $30-$35/month local & long distance over a long period of time. My package of $18 with CC is ending this month. Now both my phone charges will double and so will my cable. I'm trying to wean off of comcast.

I don't care if the local is separate from the long distance, ie. let's say an unlimited local for $10 which is what AT&T used to offer for a long time. NOW you have to pay an additional $15 for the features that I want instead of them being included.

So, once I get the local for around $10, I would need a long-distance package either from the same company preferable for a flat fee for unlimited but I'm finding this hard to find, OR 3 cents per minute? How many cents per minute would it be for about 400 minutes or so.

Basically, I'd like my phone bills to be maintained at $35 maximum; sure occasionally I would go higher when I went over the long distance limit, but that was only occasionally.

Anybody have any suggestions, mixes and matches, or one company that has a good unlimited/long distance package. To me having local and long distance on one bill is not really a convenience.

I'd go with AT&T but now they are charging for each additional feature with the local rate of $10. Anybody have good referrals for a long distance company for either a flat rate for X amount of minutes of 3 cents a minute maximum that they are satisfied with?

It should be simple but I can't find a good combo.

I don't use my cell very much. It's T-mobile prepaid and I use it for emergencies and occasionally socially.

Anyone

Get yourself a decent local plan then use Magic Jack for your outgoing LD. Can't beat 20 bucks a year for LD.

Did you say u r or r not keeping your internet. If so then look at some of the voip services, they are really the only ones giving everything away for a simple flat rate. Yes, if the internet is down so is your phone but you still got that handy cell phone.

Trudi,
I did not get your comment regarding "both" bills will double. But let me answer the question that I did understand.

Comcast just like all the other cable companies would much rather retain you at a lesser rate than to lose you. My
suggestion, look in your local newspapper for a Dish Network or DirectTV Ad, and take it to your local office, show it
to them and ask them to either offer you a "Retention" offer or cancel your account. If they dont offer you something
cancel your account at the local office. I can almost promise; you will walk out with a new package price cheaper or
equal to the one you had.

If you are already a comcast digital voice (CDV) subscriber it would behoove them to retain you as they have very little
return on investment during a subscribers first year. I saw on comcast.com they are offering the triple play to new customers
for $99.00 you should be able to get real close to that if you just ask them.

How about something like this:

1) Just get basic dial tone from at&t.
2) With T-mobile, switch to the lowest priced 2-year contract plan.

Do the bulk of your calling from your cell phone and use the land line for emergencies and/incoming calls.

If you crunch the numbers, how would that arrangement work out :confused:

You are going to have to talk with someone in your area as to what is available for services. I would love to have a line with unlimited LD for less then $40 per month but I know thats not going to happen in Maine. I suspect that the only way you will find the rates you are looking for in a bundled contract that will change after a trial period is over which puts you back looking for a new package. Maybe you could look for just dial tone service and buy your LD with a calling card. Bill also suggested the Magic Jack which needs a broadband connection.

My phone bill with at&t is $22.00 per month. I only have local service on my land line and have cancelled the long distance service on it. This saves "many" add-on fees they charge monthly.

I use a pre-paid phone card for long distance which I purchase 200 minutes for $8.00. Check the local gas stations and big retails for the best dealers. Watch out for per usage surcharges which will be stated on the card.

You may go without convience of one stop shopping plus the bells/whistles but when you are budgeting, you need to give up some things. Don't let them rip you off. There are work around methods.

Rhonda,

This sounds like a solution, because I can get local from AT*T for about $22 as well.

But I don't understand how to get a pre-paid phone card and where. Could you please explain that to me? That sounds ideal for me.

Please write back.

Trudi

Pre-paid cards are all over, WalMart, Sam's Club, convenience stores. Sam's has the best deal on AT&T LD cards. Like Rhonda said, read the fine print some even expire if not used with-in a set time frame. The AT&T cards I've purchased have no minimums except for pay phones and last forever as long as there's time on them and you can refill over the phone with a CC.

Oh, my. You can purchase prepaid phone cards from just about any retail establishment. From grocery stores to gas stations, they are available for sale everywhere. Just remember that as Rhonda mentioned, you need to read the fine print to see what the connection fees are per-call. The per-minute rate might look great, but if they hit you with a $1.50 connection fee, then there really isn't any savings at all.