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From: de@moscom.UUCP (Dave Esan)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Long Distance Charges (AT&T)
Message-ID: <638@moscom.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 24-Jan-86 13:37:59 EST
Article-I.D.: moscom.638
Posted: Fri Jan 24 13:37:59 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 29-Jan-86 05:41:31 EST
References: <512@ihlpl.UUCP>
Distribution: na
Organization: MOSCOM Corp, E Rochester, NY, USA
Lines: 42


MOSCOM, where I work, produces machinery (soft/hardware) that attaches
to your SMDR port on your PBX and will accurately cost your calls.

***  THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT.  There are several other companies that
produce similar equipment. **************

1. As far as I can tell from the ATT Tariffs Holiday costs are evening rates
   until 11pm when they become night rates.  Have been for as long as this 
   tariff has been good (1+ years).

2. Not all telephone companies are willing to give you any costing information.
   We sometimes need to get information like local costs in a given city and
   are told that it is classified!!  The operators and their supervisors are
   shocked when we point out that the costs are a matter of public record.
   Quite often, when we do get information it is wrong.  Phone companies
   do not generally know anything about their rates.


3. The costing of calls in the 312 area code (Chicago) is among the most
   complex in the country.  There are eight local bands (zones where groups
   of local exchanges are grouped) which have three different durations (that
   is the length of time used to charge for the initial part of the call and
   the length of time of the additional).  Finally, these charges vary from 
   location to location, and depend which of four areas you may live in. 
   However, I do not see why you have to pay for calls that you say you did
   not make and the phone company can not prove that you did.

4. Unless there is a substantial flood, I will be happy to answer any
   telephone cost questions that the net may have by email ( or post if
   it is of general interest).

5. In answer to the question of which carrier to use -  All have different
   rates based on distance and time.  It is really not important which you
   choose as your primary carrier since you can access the rest by 10XXX.
   If you demand the rates from the various operating companies, you can
   determine approximately which is the cheapest for a given call. They are
   not all cheaper than ATT.


   David Esan
   (rochester!ritcv!moscom!de)