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Frequently Asked Questions
Long Distance FAQ's
How do I know if I'm getting the best rates?
You can be almost certain you're not currently getting the best rates - at least, not with every call. In today's world of highly competitive telecommunications most companies have rates and service offerings that change based upon the time of day, between peak and non-peak hours. Clear Rate Communications offers a solution to traditional long distance charges with a simple and Clear fee service agreement - just 4.9 cents a minute, anytime, anywhere, that's it!
Can my long distance provider be switched without my consent?
Yes, it can happen at any time. This process is called "slamming." Slamming is a practice where your long distance carrier is switched without your authorization. Telecom regulations allow long distance providers to handle switching your service only if you have authorized them to do so. Your local telephone company will accept an electronic order from a long distance provider to change your service. Unscrupulous sales agents use this provision to switch customers without their consent or by using trickery to make it appear that you've consented.
There are three things you can do to minimize your vulnerability to "slamming":
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NEVER utter an agreeable word to a long distance telemarketer because if you say anything that sounds like agreement, you may find you've agreed to a change in your long distance service.
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Consider "freezing" the long distance carrier designations on your local telephone lines. If you have the local company freeze your carrier designations changes will require your authorization.
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Check your bill each month to make sure nothing has been switched. If the long distance carriers/charges are not correct call your local carrier immediately.
How do I know what provider I currently use?
You can test each line by dialing 1-700-555-2055. There will be a recording indicating the Primary Inter-exchange Carrier (PIC) assigned to that line. You can also call your local telephone company and ask what carrier is assigned to each line for regional toll calling and state-to-state calls.
My rates are higher than they're supposed to be -- what should I do?
In order for your Clear Rate to bill you on the plan you agreed to every telephone line that has long distance calling must have a Primary Inter-exchange Carrier, Clear Rate, assigned to that line. Your local telephone company should have the same carrier information in their database. If both of these conditions are not met your calls will be billed by your local service provider or another carrier and could be at a much higher rate.
What does "intralata" and "interlata" mean?
Intralata refers to calls between two points that are within the same LATA, or Local Access Transport Area. It also refers to local-toll or regional long distance. LATAs are usually within a single state. Clear Rate charges the same rate for intralata and interlata calling.
Interlata refers to calls between points in different LATAs. "Inter" is a prefix meaning "between" and LATA is an area or region. Interlata is also known as long distance calling. Such calls may be within the state or state-to-state .
What's the difference between "intrastate" and "interstate?"
Intrastate refers to calls between two points that are within the same state. Such may include both intralata and interlata calls and rates may be different for each. Interstate refers to calls between points in different states. Such may include both intralata and interlata calls.
How can I tell what my billing increments are?
Service providers may apply different billing increments to different plans. Billing increments are variable units of time measured in minutes or seconds for billing purposes. Billing increments make a difference, especially with shorter calls. To find out what billing increments are applied to your plan, you can call your service provider or review your bill.
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60-second billing increments are rounded up to the nearest minute and usually adds an average of about 30 extra seconds for each call.
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Six-second billing increments are rounded up to the nearest six seconds. Six seconds is 0.1 minute and is one of shortest billing increments available and with the rounding up, usually adds about 3 seconds to each call. Six-second billing increments will reduce the total billed time by 10% - 15%, as compared to 60-second billing increments.
What are the "10-10" calling numbers I see advertised?
Numbers such as this override your existing long distance carrier for both regional and state-to-state calls. It connects you to the network of another long distance provider. Many long distance providers offer these options and don't require you to sign up or change providers. Many of these plans sound good at first, but can cost you much more by imposing high monthly and per call minimum charges. You may even find that billing increments may be longer than what is available with your Clear Rate service, which is only 6 seconds.
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