| Whether you make just one international long | | | | state-to-state and overseas calls (the USF |
| distance call a month or numerous calls, it | | | | fee does not apply to long distance calls |
| pays to compare international calling plans | | | | within your state). The average fee is about |
| to find the best overseas phone rate for the | | | | 9%, but many companies have a much higher USF |
| country you are calling. | | | | fee. |
| | | | |
| Always check dial around rates because in | | | | As always, read the fine print. |
| many instances a dial around number will give | | | | |
| you the cheapest international long distance | | | | Dial Around Numbers Key to Cheap |
| from the USA. | | | | International Phone Rate |
| | | | |
| The plans I have listed on | | | | Know if your call to another country has a |
| www.CheapTelephoneBills.com offer some of the | | | | minimum minute per call charge. One of the |
| lowest per minute rates when calling from the | | | | best ways to get a cheap international phone |
| U.S. to another country. There are also | | | | rate is by using a dial around number. |
| international calling plans that target | | | | |
| certain cities to give you the best phone | | | | Some company plans have a 10 or 20-minute |
| rate for just that specific city. Yet even | | | | minimum charge per call, so a one-minute call |
| within these calling plans there can be a few | | | | could be pretty expensive in the long run. I |
| cents difference in some cases. As always, | | | | will use a hypothetical situation as an |
| read the fine print for every plan to know | | | | example: |
| exactly what you are getting. | | | | |
| | | | Let's say you need to make a call to Germany |
| International Calling Plans Can Vary By City | | | | and you see that the rate is 15c per minute. |
| | | | But this calling plan also has a 20-minute |
| Don't assume that a plan with a low rate | | | | minimum charge per call. You make the call |
| within the U.S. will also have a cheap | | | | and someone answers the phone and informs you |
| international phone rate. Many people believe | | | | the person you want to talk to isn't home. |
| that just because a calling plan has a great | | | | Your call lasted only 2 minutes, but because |
| low rate for long distance calls within the | | | | it has a 20-minute minimum you have just paid |
| U.S., this same plan will have a low overseas | | | | $3.00 for that 2-minute call. |
| phone rate. Although this can be true, it | | | | |
| isn't always true. | | | | Now, if you know you will be talking for a |
| | | | while, using a minimum minute plan is fine |
| If you need to use a separate dial around | | | | and in fact can sometimes save you a lot of |
| number to receive the lowest international | | | | money. But if you're not sure if that person |
| phone rate, do it. If you make calls to a few | | | | is home or not, look into using a different |
| different countries, check to see if you | | | | dial around number on your first call. |
| would be better served by using one calling | | | | |
| plan for calls to one country, then a | | | | You can easily use one dial around number |
| different dial around number for calls to | | | | that maybe has a little higher per minute |
| another country. In many cases, taking the | | | | rate, then if the person you are trying to |
| time to do this can save you a lot of money | | | | reach is available to talk, call them back |
| on your international long distance phone | | | | using the plan with the lower per minute rate |
| service. | | | | but has the minimum minute per call charge. |
| | | | Some people don't want to take the time to do |
| Always check what the Universal Service Fund | | | | this, but for those who do it can save them |
| (USF) fee is: It is becoming more and more | | | | some serious money on their international |
| common for companies to charge a USF fee for | | | | long distance. |