Cheaper Long Distance Service

[JA]

I'm still in shock from my last phone bill.  AT&T gets really expensive with overseas calls.  

Does anyone have any experience with which phone companies are reasonable with overseas long distance rates (particularly to Eastern Europe).

Thanks for any help.

[outwest77]

... in response to Cheaper Long Distance Service, posted by JA on Oct 1, 2002

Try this place , i have used telespeed for the philippines for a long time, and there is no connection fee, good to great sound quality, usually reliable connection,

For the philippines i get 13 cents per minute, on the list down below it says russia you get hmmm let me see,
looks like about 10c per minute to russia and 6 c per minute to moscow, hey, it sure cant hurt to try them, depends on where you are calling in russia, but it beats the heck out of your rate you were paying.

http://www.phonecardonsale.com/index.html?action=2&todo=telespeed.html&sid=3D3001943FE36B080B11

[don1]

... in response to Cheaper Long Distance Service, posted by JA on Oct 1, 2002

I've been using 10-10-220 for my calls for the last few months . The rate floats around ( a few cents/minute ) a little bit from month to month , but it is usually right around 24 cents/minute . The quality is very good ; my calls always go right through , and I've never been disconnected or had any trouble getting through . The sound quality is very good and clear .
You don't have to subscribe , sign up for it , or change anything with your present phone service to use it . Which I really like . The calls just show up as part of your regular monthly telephone bill .
I've found that the phone cards are generally less expensive , but the ones I've tried were unreliable and the sound quality was pretty poor . I decided that I'd rather pay a few cents more for the sound quality and reliability .
Someone told me recently that worldexchangedotcom has even cheaper rates ( somewhere around 15 cents/minute ) ; and that the sound quality is good . I haven't used that service or had a chance to check it out yet ; just passing it along .
AT&T is really expensive ; you could rack up some pretty hefty phone bills using them !
Hope this helps
Good Luck
Don

[davet]

... in response to Cheaper Long Distance Service, posted by JA on Oct 1, 2002

We use worldexchange -- call4cents or something.  Currently about $0.15/min to Russia (Moscow cheaper).  $0.04/min in the US.  No monthly fee (something to consider).  10 min minimum charge.  Quality is good.  Some disconnects but not many.

Do a google search on international phone rate comparisons.  Check several of the comparisons to see most of the plans.

[JR]

... in response to Re: Cheaper Long Distance Service, posted by davet on Oct 2, 2002

I use them and they are real good. However they DO have a monthly service charge. It differs from month to month depending on the amount of usage.

[Oscar]

... in response to Re: Re: Cheaper Long Distance Service, posted by JR on Oct 2, 2002

I have used W-ex and done the 101-5335 which has a 10 minute minimum and there is not a monthly charge for that at all.  I don't use it much even though it's a good price because getting to Dnepropetrovsk is difficult and I would often get disconnected and have to pay the 10 minute minimum!  But I never had a monthly fee for it.

[JR]

... in response to Actually it depends on the dial around y..., posted by Oscar on Oct 2, 2002

When I first started using WorldX there was no charge. That was over two years ago. Then alittle over one year ago, this started to be on my bill:: Univ Svc Chg

Every month it is a different amount.

[Oscar]

... in response to Re: Actually it depends on the dial arou..., posted by JR on Oct 2, 2002

To my knowledge, they ALL have universal service fund charges.  The reason it would vary is because it is a tax on your total amount that month, so it will move with your total..  That is not really a monthly fee, but a tax, is my understanding.  You also pay it with your local service too, at&t or Quest, whatever..  I pay it with Qwest.

[davet]

... in response to Re: Actually it depends on the dial arou..., posted by JR on Oct 2, 2002

The Univeral Service Charge is added to most long distance carriers.  It is about 11% of the amount being billed.  However WorldX has a weird accounting system so in a particular month the charge may not be exactly 11%.  However over a longer period of time it will presumably average out at 11%.

WorldX offers at least 4 different plans for intl calls.  Some have a monthly charge ($2.95) while others don't.  The per minute rate is different for each plan as well as whether there is a 10 minute minimum charge.  You have to pick the plan that suits your needs.  I also understand that WorldX is not offered in all states.

[Frank O]

... in response to Cheaper Long Distance Service, posted by JA on Oct 1, 2002

I once called my lady in Ukraine. I kept getting an answering maching so I would hang up and call back. I did this 10 times. Every call got listed at 1 minute on the itemized report. EACH CALL I repeat EACH CALL came out to a whoppingly ridiculous $3.87!!!! I paid $46 for a conversation I DIDN'T hAVE! BUt you know at that rate I'm glad SHE DIDN"T ANSWER! LOL! I would have spent over $100 on a phone call!!!! Man whores in Mexico get you laid for cheaper than that!
Also watch out for the phone cards some are WAY BETTER than others.

[Oscar]

... in response to Cheaper Long Distance Service, posted by JA on Oct 1, 2002

Some here use phone cards, but I have found them to have poor sound quality, at least to Dnepropetrovsk.  I use World Discount Communications.  There is no monthly fee, no connection charges and they bill you seperately.  If I ever have any problems or disconnects, they are very good about giving me credits.  
Their Customer service number is 1-888-353-0808.  They charge me 19 cents per minute to call Dnepropetrovsk.  I think it's much cheaper to call Kiev, certainly Moscow.  
I have found 13 cents per minute with some phone cards but again, usually the quality has been quite poor and I would always keep a tally of my minutes but I never got as many as promised, I don't know if they put hidden fees in there or what, so I just go with WDT..

Good Luck

[UnitedNut]

... in response to Re: Cheaper Long Distance Service, posted by Oscar on Oct 1, 2002

I agree: prepaid is an excellent way to go.  On the calls from the U.S. to the East European I have mixed call quality as well.  Don't think its the calling card service as much as it the quality of the phone systems in Eastern Europe.

I use http://pointme.to/expresspin myself.  Has a cool search engine to help you determine the best card to use.

Good luck!