|
| |
Company |
Per
Min. |
Monthly
Fee |
Billing
Increment/
Minimum Call |
Average
Customer Service Wait Time |
USF
Fee |
Savings
Score |
| 1 |
|
3.45¢ |
None |
6/6 sec |
4 Minutes
|
9.5% |
99.7 |
Our
Opinion: CogniState is one of the country's least expensive
plans with a 3.45 cents per minute state-to-state rate as well
as some extremely low in-state rates. Excellent billing increments
and no monthly fees; minimum usage fee is waived with AutoPay.
If you make a significant number of international calls, we
recommend CogniWorld
which has very attractive international rates.
CogniState is a great provider for the 85% of the country that
is serviced by the Baby Bells; if you live in the outlying areas,
their rates increase significantly; in those areas, we recommend
Total
Call International, located lower on this
list.
|
| 2 |
|
3.49¢ |
None |
6/6 sec |
4 Minutes
|
9.5% |
99.5 |
Our
Opinion: CogniWorld is one of the country's least expensive
plans with a 3.49 cents per minute state-to-state rate. Excellent
billing increments and no monthly fees or minimums. CogniWorld
is a great provider for the 85% of the country that is serviced
by the Baby Bells; if you live in the outlying areas, their
rates increase significantly.
If the CogniWorld plan is not available
in your area, then try the plan from
Total Call International located lower on this list.
|
| 3 |
|
3.9¢ |
None |
6/6 sec |
<1 Minute
|
9.1% |
98.3 |
Our
Opinion: Enhanced Communications Group is one of the
best carriers on our list because it has some of the lowest
rates and no monthly fee. ECG has the best customer service
of all the carriers and customer service response time has always
been less than a minute when we called. If instate calling is
your main concern, this is also a great choice. Six second billing
increments and a commitment to keeping prices as low as possible
makes ECG one of the best choices.
|
| 4 |
|
4.4¢ |
None |
6/6 sec |
5 Minutes
|
9.1% |
96.8 |
| Our
Opinion: No monthly fee or monthly minimum usage requirements
along with a low USF fee. Good interstate and instate rates
available for most states. Lowest billing increments: 6 second
billing increments and 6 second minimum call time. Fast customer
service available 24 hours a day. Customer service agents speak
6 different languages. Lowest intrastate rates for IL, MI, MT,
PA, RI, TN, TX. |
| 5 |
|
3.5¢ |
None* |
6/6 sec |
<1 Minute |
9.1% |
96.7 |
Our
Opinion: The 3.5 cents per minute is one of the lowest
long distance rates available and produces a very cheap long
distance bill. The International rates are very low as well:
UK: 4.9, Germany: 5.9, France: 4.9 cents. Pioneer keeps their
bad debt to a minimum and offers this plan to those with a debit
or credit card. During business hours, the customer service
hold time does not exceed 2 minutes. Pioneer will charge credit
card $10 upon sign-up and then credit back $10 on first invoice.
* There is no monthly fee or minimum usage requirement if you
select the on-line billing option. There is also no monthly
fee if your bill is over $15 per month and 99 cents if your
bill is under $15 per month. |
| 6 |
|
3.9¢ |
$1.99* |
6/6 sec |
17 Minutes
|
9.8% |
94.3 |
Our
Opinion: Formerly US WATS, Capsule Communications offers
outstanding (USA-48 origination) service, featuring low intrastate
and some of the lowest interstate rates available at 3.9 cents
per minute.
* There is no monthly fee if you AUTOPAY your bills -- which
means signing up to pay automatically by credit or debit card
each month. There is also no monthly fee if your bill is over
$20 per month and $1.99 if your bill is under $20 per month.
Online sign-up. For commercial and residential users. AUTOPAY
bills are sent by electronic invoice through e-mail otherwise
accounts are direct billed via U.S. Mail. |
 |
|
|
The "Savings Score"
was created to give an unbiased ranking to each company's
long distance plan. Every company starts with 110
points and then points are deducted for the following....
- Interstate Rate (Multiply
the State to State rate by 3 and subtract that many
points)
- Billing Increment/Minimum
Call (6/6 - 0 pts, 6/18 -1, 6/30-2, 6/60-3, 30/60-5,
60/60-10)
- Minimum Charge (Subtract
2 points if there is a minimum charge)
- Monthly Fee (Subtract
the monthly fee in points if there is one)
- Average Customer Service Wait Time ( If this is
greater than 5 minutes we subtract 2 points
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Copyright 2003, SaveOnPhone.com.
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