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  • Phone Company: What You Did Not Know

    By Rick

    Phone company evolution finds its roots in history. Ever since the invention of the telephone in 1876, the phone company has been going through a constant evolution. Many of the changes to the way phone calls are made have enabled these systems to be more automated and less expensive over time. Modern systems are more reliable than ever and provide a simple and convenient way for people to stay in touch not matter how far apart they may be. Faced with an ever-changing landscape of competition, the phone company continues to innovate to provide value for their customers.

    Click here to compare phone companies. Find out how you can make a free international call and save hundreds of dollars on your phone bill. Free comparison tools.

    The early years of the telephone

    The telephone was one of those rare inventions that gained a very wide adoption soon after it was invented and instantly became a commercial success. Within a year of the actual invention, there were over three thousand phones in service that could make calls to each other. The first phone company, known as the Bell Telephone Company, was formed the same year and started offering telephone service in larger cities.

    The number of phones in use tripled within the next few years and shortly thereafter the telephone became almost commonplace. These first telephones were very crude devices that relied on human switching to make calls but still became more popular every year. The phone company offering these telephones soon started researching ways to make the system more automated to lower costs of these calls.

    Major improvements along the way

    The first major improvement to the basic telephone came in 1919 with the introduction of the rotary dial phone. This allowed the phone company to eliminate the manual connection that older models required and have the phones themselves handle the connection. This substantially lowered the cost of these calls and made the telephone even more popular. Another major innovation came in 1946 with the introduction of the first commercial mobile phone. It was gigantic by today’s standards but did allow the phone company to connect a call for a customer while traveling. In 1963 the modern touch-tone phone was produced which helped to make connection times faster for callers and also enabled the now common menu options when calling a company. This phone is the basis for all traditional phones used today and has stood the test of time with little change.

    Click here to compare phone companies. Find out how you can make a free international call and save hundreds of dollars on your phone bill. Free comparison tools.

    Modern competition

    With the invention of the internet, companies started developing technology that would allow calls to be placed over this network and this presented some stiff competition to the traditional phone company. The cost of these calls was basically free and both local and long distance calls could be made through the same network, for the same cost.

    These early development efforts eventually produced what came to be known as VOIP service, which now allows you to make calls over the web for free. All the major carries have adopted this technology in some fashion to start exploiting these lower costs. Over the past ten years there has been a huge shift in both the consumer and business segments toward utilizing this proven technology. Every year there are more improvements made to the VOIP technology to allow it to function more like a traditional phone company phone.

    Features like CallerID, Voicemail and Call Forwarding are all now available though a VOIP connection, which makes it the perfect alternative to a standard phone.

    Click here to compare phone companies. Find out how you can make a free international call and save hundreds of dollars on your phone bill. Free comparison tools.

  • Credit Card Declined: Reasons Your Card Did Not Go Through And How To Handle It

    credit_card_declined copy“Credit card declined. Sorry your transaction did not go through.” Whether at a supermarket or on a much-coveted dinner date, no one wants to hear these words from the merchant. Apart from the subtle overtone of an insult, one simply stops and wonders: “Why is my credit card being declined even though I haven’t maxed out on my credit line?” From the obvious to the not-so-well-known, there could be several reasons why your credit card may be denied authorization.

    In this post, we will share some common credit card declined reasons and also focus on how you can handle these denials.

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    Have you maxed out on your credit limit?

    If you have maxed out on your $5,000 credit limit, the reason is very simple: You simply do not have adequate available credit and the company is not going to honor the transaction. While some issuers have stringent “do not honor credit card” policies in the case of over-the-limit transactions, others will bend their policies a little for good customers, especially if the occurrence is a first time issue. On the other hand, some companies will let a few dollars slip through and surprise you with some form of penalty or finance charge. Blame it on the fine print!

    What you can do?

    If you don’t have a backup funding source (an alternate credit card, debit card, or e-check), call your credit card issuer’s toll free number or customer service helpline. If you have been a good customer and have an otherwise strong track record with payments, chances are the credit card company may increase your credit limit on the fly.

    Furthermore, some companies have online portals where you can request a credit limit increase and in most cases the decision would be provided almost instantly. If approved, the limit increase may take effect immediately, unless specified otherwise in the contractual agreement governing the limit increase.

    If that does not work and you have bank accounts linked to the credit card company (as payment sources for billing purposes), try making a payment online to reduce the balance owed. Depending on the company’s policies, your payment may nor may not be reflected immediately. In some cases, you may have to wait twenty four hours (or one business day) before the payment clearance and recording.

    Finally, you can request the customer service representative to allow the transaction to go through without any penalty. In some cases, especially first instances, they will honor the request but the decision would vary with each individual company’s policies and terms. If your customer service representative cannot help you, try speaking with a higher up such as a supervisor or manager. Often, supervisors have much more discretionary decision-making authority than front-line customer service associates. A little escalation can benefit your cause.

    Is the credit card being declined due to suspected fraud?

    Another common reason for credit card decline is that the issuer does not trust the transaction as being legitimate. Sophisticated phishing sites and credit card scammers often steal credit card numbers and rack up purchases in an organized manner. Billions of dollars are stolen from unsuspecting victims every single year. If the company suspects that your card number was stolen, it is possible that they will become extra vigilant and deny transactions they suspect as being “fraudulent”. Financial systems have advanced significantly and more often than not the red flags are placed by automated systems without the need for human intervention. A live representative can override the system’s decision if permitted by internal policies.

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    Several factors could trigger this suspicion. Let’s consider a few:

    – Unusual activity. Let’s say you have a five-year track record with the credit card company and during these five years you have never authorized any sort of casino-related transaction. If your card suddenly shows a $2,000 charge from a “Happening Casino” in Vegas, the credit card company may suspect theft and place a temporary hold on the transaction.

    – Frequent activity. Another cause could be the frequency of purchases. If you are the sort who makes weekly purchases on a regular basis, a sudden burst in activity (as in too many purchases within an hour) could raise some red flags with automated systems and cause your card to be flagged and declined.

    – Large purchases. This one’s a no brainer. A sudden $5,000 vacation package purchase may put the company’s systems on red alert.

    What you can do?

    Call your company before-hand to obtain pre-authorization if you are going to engage in one of the unusual purchases. Some credit card companies will take in a request for pre-approval, while others won’t. You will have to call your credit card company to figure that out.

    The same can be applied after-the-fact as well. Let’s say your purchase for a new laptop was denied. Call your credit card company and verify your identity. Once they are certain that you are a genuine customer, they will let the transaction fall through in most cases. Again, internal policies govern the rules.

    Are you exceeding your daily limits?

    While most users are aware of the total available credit card limit, many are not aware that some issuers, especially debit card issuers, impose stringent daily spending limits.

    Let’s say you have a credit line of $10,000 and a daily spending limit of $500, it means that you cannot charge or withdraw (as cash advance) an amount over $500. So, if you decide to splurge on the coolest gadget on the market, chances are that your transaction will meet the proverbial “credit card decline” almost immediately, especially if the cost of the gadget is over $500.

    What you can do?

    Most merchants will allow you to use two (or more) credit cards as funding sources if the purchase is for a larger amount. In this case, you can use two funding sources (two credit cards, combination of credit and debit card, combination of credit card and e-check, and other approved combinations) to foot the bill for your purchase.

    Are you stretching your boundaries?

    If you live in New York and make a sudden purchase from a ghost town in an unfamiliar country or a country or region flagged for its nefarious activities and organized crime rings, there is no way the transaction will pass through security screens even if the transaction was genuine and authorized by you. The reasons are obvious but again you can work with your credit card company to ensure your transaction passes through security screens.

    What you can do?

    Speak with your issuer before you initiate your purchase and get a pre-approval. Inform the provider that the transaction is legitimate and that you have authorized the purchase. While most companies may allow the transaction to pass through, some will still refuse, especially if an organized crime ring is regularly scamming the credit card company’s consumers.

    In this case, you will have to make alternate payment arrangements, such as a money order or an instant wire transfer.

    Common sense approach

    If denied, your first response should always include calling your credit card provider to work out any issues you may be having, including billing issues, credit limit related problems, and unusual purchase behavior.

    Always keep an alternate credit (or debit) card handy for emergencies. If you are unable to obtain a second credit card, consider keeping a debit card or prepaid credit card handy. You can purchase such cards online. You can review our selection of prepaid credit cards as well.

    Receiving a credit card declined message is not fun, especially if you are initiating a genuine purchase for a product or service. Though frustrating, bear in mind that the denial is for your own good, to protect your card from unscrupulous financial bandits who will not just make money off your hard-earned credit history but also cause your credit score to nosedive. Here are some quick resolutions you may want to remember:

    – Call your credit card company’s toll free number

    – Obtain pre-authorization before you start the purchase process

    –  Ensure your payment history is always on track

    – Regularly review your activities to spot for irregularities

    – Think from the credit card company’s perspective

    – Try to have alternate financial instruments in your wallet (additional credit card, debit card, prepaid credit card, check)

    – Know your provider’s terms and conditions, especially clauses related to daily spending limits, total available credit limit, and other similar terms

    – Try to keep your “amount owed” figure to the bare minimum

    – Visit your credit card company’s website on a regular basis and request limit increases when appropriate

    – Know the merchant you are working with; check their reputation and dispute history

    – Don’t provide your credit card number to companies suspected of illegal activities

    – Avoid purchasing from foreign countries, unless absolutely necessary

    – Check your merchant’s security certificate before buying; most browsers will provide basic information about a site’s security certificate

    – Finally, don’t forget the green bills when necessary; cash still rocks!

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    Credit Card Declined: Reasons Your Card Did Not Go Through And How To Handle It was authored by Nimish Thakkar. Nimish is the CEO and founder of DontSpendMore.com. He holds two graduate degrees, including an MBA in Finance. He is a published author who has appeared on thousands of news sites, including The New York Times, Reuters, and several globally-reputed media organizations.

  • Pay Credit Card Online, Save Time And Money

    Pay credit card online and save yourself both time and money. If you are one of the millions of credit card users to have been hit by late fees and penalties, you know all too well about the importance of avoiding missed credit card payments. Despite our best efforts and intentions, though, life has its way of throwing unexpected emergencies our way.

    Don’t let these incidences throw you off-track on your payments. In this article, we will share some simple, easy-to-implement strategies that will help you make your payment online and ALSO save money by automating and streamlining the overall process.

    Click here to compare multiple credit card offers and transfer your higher interest balances to a 0% APR credit card. Why pay more? Save money by comparing multiple offers. Free comparison tools.

    We generally create our posts in response to our user’s questions. Today we will address a common question “How do I pay my credit card online?” This basic guide provides some tips and strategies.

    With most companies, the pay-by-phone option is still available for customers who prefer to speak with a “live person.” On the other hand, paying your credit card bill online can be accomplished through either your credit card company’s website or through your bank.

    We will explain each of these in further detail:

    Pay credit card online through your credit card company’s website

    Fortunately, most credit card companies allow you to pay your credit card online through an automated Web-based system. Once you register your account and link a basic checking account on the site, you can schedule regular payments either automatically, at pre-specified intervals, or up to a year in advance.

    If you keep a certain amount of money in your bank, using the auto pay feature is the most convenient option. You can specify on the company’s website whether you want to pay the full amount, minimum balance, or a pre-specified amount that you determine.

    What you will need:

    – Register your account information online (credit card company’s site)

    – Link your checking account information to make the credit card payment (payment source)

    – Ensure you have sufficient funds to cover the payment

    – Establish payment frequency — one time, auto pay, schedule payments in advance, and other options.

    This is a very convenient strategy to make a credit card payment online. In addition to paying the credit card bill itself, you can also use the company’s “online bill pay with credit card” feature to link other monthly bills with your account. The bill pay option would allow you to pay other monthly bills using your credit card. One caveat, though, make sure you don’t carry a high balance as you may accrue interest fees and other charges. The process should be a matter of convenience, not expense.

    Remember, credit card companies could benefit financially if you exceed the grace period. It is in your best interest to avoid incurring interest charges. The card issuer would be happy to levy the interest on your account if you exceed the grace period.

    Is there a fee to pay my credit card online?

    In most cases, the bank will accept the payment and facilitate the transaction at no cost to you. If you pay your bills on time, it benefits them as well. So, in most cases there shouldn’t be a fee but it is always a good idea to check with your credit card company and review the fine print terms in detail. The last thing you would want is to pay another bill.

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    Pay your credit card bill through your bank

    With larger credit card companies, setting-up online bill payments with your bank should be a very easy process. In most cases, you will be able to do it electronically. But if your credit card company does not offer a large network, online payments may not be feasible.

    In this case, you can instruct your bank to pay your credit card bill via a physical check. Most bank bill payment systems offer this feature free.

    What you will need:

    – Create a bill pay account within your bank’s system

    – Register a payment source (your checking account)

    – Setup an account specifying your credit card company’s account information and other payment details, such as a mailing address

    – Establish a payment frequency and an amount

    – You can schedule payments in advance, setup auto pay, or perform the payment process manually

    Key benefits of paying your credit card online

    – Financial health/credit score. Research has shown that individuals who pay credit card bills online, end up with fewer penalties and a much higher credit score. Since the payments will be made on time, every single time the discipline and payment frequency will show up on your credit report and boost your overall credit score.

    Apart from the benefits on overall financial health, paying credit card bills online has some minor additional benefits as well.

    – Reminders. If there is an issue with your payment or if you miss your payment date, the system will be able to send you a reminder e-mail. This is certainly a very important benefit for busy professionals and over-worked individuals.

    – Convenience. We love the fact that one can setup automated payments or schedule payments several months in advance. Even if you are on vacation or away for a business meeting, the online system will complete the payments in a disciplined manner.

    – Other perks. Some credit card companies reward on-time payments with points, rewards, cash back bonuses, higher credit lines, and other similar incentives to encourage on-time payments. Why would you want to miss out on these benefits for payments that you will be making anyways.

    – Support. If you use your credit card company’s payment system, you will be able to take advantage of the support, tools, and knowledge base created within the company’s infrastructure.

    – Control. Most importantly, you will always be in control of how often and how much you pay. It is akin to delegating and micro-managing at the same time.

    We hope you liked our article Pay Credit Card Online, Save Time And Money. If you found it useful, kindly let us know in the comments below. As always, we would be happy to assist you with any questions you may have. Our site helps consumers save money every month, so do check out our offers, deals, and tips at DontSpendMore.com.

    Click here to compare multiple credit card offers and transfer your higher interest balances to a 0% APR credit card. Why pay more? Save money by comparing multiple offers. Free comparison tools.

  • Save Money By Shopping Smart

    By John

    You, like most people, are probably looking for ways to cut costs and make savings these days, as inflation relentlessly outstrips wage increases. Once all the big and regular payments for insurance, home, auto, utilities and other services have been taken care of, what is left is what you have to live on. You want to make those dollars stretch as far as possible. Grocery shopping will account for many of them and therefore it is worth looking at some shopping techniques to ensure that you save as much money as possible by not spending more than you need.

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    Supermarkets and grocery stores have an aim that is the complete opposite of yours. Yours is to buy exactly what you need at minimal expense, theirs is to persuade you to buy more than you need at maximum profitability for themselves.

    Be prepared

    Before you even set foot in the store, you should be well-prepared. You should have eaten, written out your shopping list, left the spouse and kids at home. You have chosen this particular store because you know from previous experience and online research that it carries the products you like at consistently good prices, and is currently offering a number of sale deals on items you need.

    Store tactics

    Remember their aim: to sell you more. The entry area will be awash with eye-catching offers and advertisements which can safely be ignored. The store layout rarely varies: the basic foods and ingredients (cheaper) are laid out along the perimeter walls while the inner aisles contain all the more expensive brands and processed goods, thus offering you ample opportunity to be tempted into buying something you didn’t know you needed.

    Shelf layout is usually standard too. There are typically 5 levels – cheapest items on the top, then medium, then (at eye-level) most expensive, then medium, then cheapest again right at the bottom.

    The wording on items and price tickets is carefully designed to tempt you into buying the items the store would prefer to sell you. Words like “Premium”, “Basic” and “Value” abound. There is more ornate packaging on the most expensive products, obviously. There are lots of offers of 1-for-2 or 2-for-3. Alongside genuine sale items, non-sale items might well carry exactly the same design of price tag.

    At the checkout counter will be candy and goodies placed just where kids would be looking while you settle up.

    Stay Focused!

    You needn’t be fooled by these tactics if you concentrate on looking for the genuine bargains and best deals and on completing your list.

    It’s all about comparing. Packaging doesn’t matter – you’re not going to eat that. Compare unit costs of brand name products against the store’s own products against generic products, and go for the cheapest that is of acceptable quality. Compare unit costs of the “special” offers and see if it’s really a bargain (as well as something you need). Check that the item under the special-sale tag is indeed the sale item before you put it in the cart. If the price tag on the cheapest products is mysteriously missing (incompetent worker, mischievous child – or a “dirty trick”?), take the time to get the price scanned.

    At the checkout take note as your purchases are rung up. Make sure that discounted items are registered at the correct price – sometimes there can be a mismatch. Use coupons, the store’s own card and check for any other discounts that may be available.

    Smart shopping means not accepting the sales pitch at face-value. It means being healthily skeptical, checking and comparing. This may take time but if it cuts down your shopping bill by 15%, 10% or even 5%, surely it’s worth it? Shop smart and save money.

    Click here to compare offers on multiple items and save hundreds of dollars. Compare and save on credit cards, cell phones, long distance plans, mortgages, insurance, shopping, and so much more.

  • Long Distance: Ways To Save

    By Rick

    Long distance phone calls used to be a very expensive indulgence for most people. Staying in touch with distant family and friends might carry a lot of guilt for the cost of making the call. Many people would lose touch with loved ones over the years because of the high cost of these calls. This has all changed in recent years and these long distance calls are much less expensive than ever before and in some cases you can even make them for free. There are a few things you’ll need to know before deciding on which technology to use for your next call.

    Totally free calls

    If you have a computer with a microphone and a speaker attached, you can essentially make free long distance phone calls. There are many services like Google and Skype that allow you to call family and friends for free. The drawback is that these people need to also have the same free service as you and you will be talking to them on their computer as well. While this is a small inconvenience for most people, you need to know this in advance. Recently there are a number of companies that offer devices that connect to your computer that look and work like a traditional phone handset to make these long distance calls a little more comfortable. Adding this type of accessory to your computer is a great investment if you want to spend a long time catching up with friends on these calls.

    Click here to compare long distance plans. First call free.

    Low cost calls

    The next step up in cheap long distance calling uses a technology called VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), which is a complicated way of saying you’re calling someone over the internet. This type of service requires a specialized box attached to your internet connection that allows you to use your current phones to make these calls. There is a monthly charge for this service but most people that use it like the fact that it works like their normal phones. You can even use standard features like CallerID and Voicemail with most of these vendors and in a few months you’ll completely forget that you’ve switched. The only difference you’ll notice is the lower bill each month. Most of these services include a certain amount of long distance calls with the plan and you can adjust the service to meet your needs if you call more often.

    Using calling cards

    Calling cards are another way that people make long distance calls at a discount. These cards can be purchased in various amounts and allow you to use the minutes you buy as you need them. The cost for these minutes is far lower than the standard phone company rates and makes long distance calling a possibility for many people that could not otherwise afford it. With some cards you’ll actually get additional free minutes added to your card when you initially purchase a larger block of minutes or reload it. These extra minutes help to make the card an even better value for people that want to call friends often. The other advantage of using a calling card is that you can make these calls from any telephone and bill the call to the card. This gives you the ultimate in flexibility when traveling and lets you call your family and friends from virtually anywhere.

    Click here to compare calling cards. Call for a few cents.

  • Long Distance Quotes Online

    By Rick

    Making a long distance call can be an expensive decision, especially if you don’t have a discount plan with your phone company or use a calling card. Even though there are a number of ways for lowering the cost of these calls, many people don’t take the time to compare their options. Getting a few long distance quotes from several companies will quickly show you how much you’re currently overpaying for your calls. These free long distance quotes are easy to locate and may even be right on the website of the companies you’re considering.

    Click here to compare long distance plans and obtain a free quote.

    Calling cards are a great option

    For many years, calling cards have been the best way to get a discount on long distance calls. These cards are available everywhere and are very open with their long distance quotes for rates to other countries. In fact, some of the best pricing on these cards can be found when buying one for calling a specific country. Unlike the more general calling card that works for all long distance calls, this country-specific card has even lower long distance quotes for these restricted calls that is perfect if you only have family in a particular area. Calling cards also allow you to make your calls from anywhere you want and have as long a conversation as you have minutes left on the card.

    Click here to compare calling cards

    Check with your cell phone carrier

    Cell phone companies have realized that they are missing out on much of this long distance calling and now offer programs to help you. The long distance quotes they offer may rival many of the calling card programs available today and make it easy for you by allowing you to use your cell phone for the call. These programs are pretty flexible and can be added to most existing phone plans for very specific calling needs. You can get long distance quotes by simply calling the company that provides your cell phone service and tailor them to your needs.

    Click here to compare cheap cell phone plans, including plans that offer a free phone with activation.

    Options for your home

    With many homes moving from traditional wired phone systems to internet-enabled versions, long distance calling has become less expensive. These newer monthly plans may even include a certain number of minutes for long distance calls as part of your monthly charges. You can easily expand these minutes to fit your needs by adjusting your particular plan. You might find that the long distance quotes these companies offer are substantially lower than other options. Since these services use the internet to route the calls, their infrastructure costs are lower and they may pass these savings on to their customers. Check with you home phone provider to see what type of long distance quotes they can provide. Most of them are happy to add this long distance calling to your exiting plan at a very reasonable cost.

    Click here to compare long distance plans and obtain a free quote.

    The other advantage of adding these long distance features to a home phone is that it allows you to take advantage of other advanced functionality like voicemail and CallerID. You won’t want to miss one of these important long distance calls and knowing who is calling and being able to take a message when you’re out is a great way to make sure you get back to them quickly.

  • Long Distance Call Service

    By Rick

    Making calls to friends and family in other countries can be an expensive indulgence unless you have a long distance call service to help you lower your costs. There are a number of ways of accomplishing this and all of them have both advantages and disadvantages for most people. Understanding how often you want to call and where you’re most comfortable making the call from can help you find the perfect long distance call service for your needs.

    Click here to compare long distance call services, including plans that offer a free first call to any long distance or international location of your choice.

    Call for free

    The internet has changed the way most businesses now operate and long distance call service is no different. There are a number of ways to make a call to anyone in the world from your computer at an incredibly low cost. In some cases these calls are free and can even include video chatting. The challenge in using this type of long distance call service is that you have to be near your PC to make the call and are typically using a microphone and speaker when speaking to the other person. This lack of privacy can be overcome by adding one of the inexpensive accessories that work like a more traditional handset to your computer. This helps the calls feel more natural but still requires you to be tethered to your PC.

    Call from home

    With most cable companies and other vendors trying to get you to switch to a VOIP phone at home, many of them are including some type of long distance call service as part of your basic package. This means that for a low monthly fee you can typically call anywhere in the country for free and may even be able to call certain other regions for free as well. In some cases there is a small upgrade charge for these out of country calls but the fee is very reasonable. The main advantage in using a long distance call service like this is that you can make the calls from the comfort of your home. You’ll also keep your standard phones and the only thing you’ll notice are the lower monthly bills.

    Click here to compare cell phone plans, including plans offering a free phone with activation.

    A calling card option

    Another great option when searching for a long distance call service is using a calling card. Most of these cards are restricted to a specific country or region but can provide some of the lowest call costs of any option. You’ll need to compare cards to find the best deal but will love the flexibility the cards provide for your calls.

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    You can typically use the cards to make calls from any phone and reload them for an even lower fee when you’re getting low on minutes. For many people a calling card is the best long distance call service they can find. These calling cards have becomes so popular that you can find them in almost any local store and they are even being sold in airports now from vending machines. You’ll need to verify the terms of any card you are considering since many of them have expiration dates on the minutes you purchase. As long as you are aware of any limitations of a particular card, they can be a very economical way to make your long distance calls to friends in faraway places.

    Click here to compare long distance call services, including plans that offer a free first call to any long distance or international location of your choice.

  • How To Make A Long Distance Call, The Cheap Way

    By Rick

    People that don’t call friends in other countries are usually confused on how to make a long distance call. Even though the process is easy enough once you figure it out, the first time you make a call like this it can be a little overwhelming. The trick is knowing the special codes you’ll need to dial out from the country you’re making the call from and the code for entering the country of your call’s destination. Understanding how to make a long distance call starts with these details being plugged into your phone in the right order.

    Click here to compare cheap long distance call offers and plans. First international call free.

    Finding your country’s exit code

    Because the phone systems are different between countries, many places require you to first dial an exit code when calling out of the local country. These vary based on your location but can easily be found if you’re wondering how to make a long distance call. The internet is a great place to start your search and there are a number of sites that list all the exit codes needed for international calls. For the United States this exit code is 011 and is the first part of the longer number you’ll need to make a call to another country. This exit code is critical in allowing the call to go through on the other end. Even though a few countries add this to every international call automatically, it’s always better to have it handy in case you need it. This is one of the steps that many people miss when trying to figure out how to make a long distance call.

    Know where you’re calling

    Once you know the exit code, you’ll next have to find the correct country code for the area you’re hoping to call. These country codes are listed on the same websites that explain how to make a long distance call and are different for every country. In some cases you’ll need the country code as well as a regional or area code to complete your call. In the United States we refer to this second number as the area code and with other countries it made be called something else. When trying to understand how to make a long distance call this is the second important detail you’ll need along with the actual number of the person you’re calling.

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    Special cases to watch for

    In a few cases there may be other details you’ll need when trying to understand how to make a long distance call. Some countries have very different phone systems between their traditional wired and cell phone networks. There is no automatic routing system that decides where an incoming call is to be sent. Because of this, you’ll need to know if you’re calling a wired or cell phone number when you place the call. In the countries that require this you’ll have to add this prefix to the actual number you’re calling. This will allow these older systems to make the connection to the proper telephone network in the country you’re calling. These details are also available on most of the websites that explain how to make a long distance call for the countries where this is required.

    Click here to compare cheap long distance call offers and plans. First international call free.

  • Free Long Distance Calls: How To Make Them

    By Rick

    Calling long distance used to be a very expensive thing to do, which prevented many people from staying in touch with loved ones in other countries. Even calls within the country could be incredibly expensive if the person lived a few states away from you. Over the years, these long distance costs have plummeted due to the introduction of new technologies that take advantage of the internet. To provide essentially free long distance These new systems allow you to make these same long distance phone calls for a fraction of what they would have cost you only a few years ago. In some cases you can even make free long distance calls if you have the right equipment at home.

    Click here to review offers for free long distance and international calls. Free comparison tools.

    Why is the cost so high?

    When phone systems were first installed, every home was connected together through a series of wires that ran into a central station. The cost of installing the system was tremendously expensive for the phone company and they charged a higher fee for the longer distance your call had to travel, since it involved more wire and a larger number of switching stations to make this connection. The idea of free long distance was as foreign as space travel in these early days. Overseas calls were particularly expensive because of the cost of making this physical connection through wires laid at the ocean floor. Even though these same systems have been in place for decades, upgrades to the equipment continue to add a cost for the traditional calls and made free long distance virtually impossible.

    Internet to the rescue

    The advent of the internet has truly touched every aspect of our lives and free long distance calling is only one of its many benefits. The internet is basically a new connection that everyone with access can use to do all sorts of things with each other. Initially it was used for email and chat conversations that replaced a phone call and has recently matured into a more interactive way to contact friends. As the speed of connection improved on the internet for most homes, things like phone calls and video chat became possible through a technology called VOIP. This innovative product (Voice Over Internet Protocol) now allows anyone to have the same expensive long distance conversation they made years ago, for free today. The internet has essentially provided free long distance for anyone that has a connection.

    Click here to compare cell phone plans, including packages with a free phone.

    What You’ll Need to Get Started

    There are a few ways for you to take advantage of free long distance calls and each of them has their advantages. The simplest would be to use a service like Google or Skype to make these calls on your computer when connected to the internet. You’ll need to have a microphone and speaker on your computer to make the call but they are an inexpensive option to add for getting this amazing benefit. Some companies even sell an attachment for your computer that looks like a phone handset you can use to make these calls more comfortably.

    Another option that offers more features would be a service that replaces your current phone service with an internet version. There are a wide range of vendors that offer this capability including your cable company. With this option you would use the same phones you already have installed in your home but your monthly cost would be much less than your current bill. Most of these plans include free long distance as part of your monthly bill and make calling the ones you love easier.

    Click here to review offers for free long distance and international calls. Free comparison tools.

  • Business Long Distance Service

    By Rick

    With any business long distance service can be a very expensive requirement that can dramatically impact your profits. Even though owning a business can provide a lot of freedom and reward for your hard work, you’ll need to keep your costs under control to be successful. With many businesses now dealing with suppliers and vendors in other countries, reliable business long distance service (and international service as well) is more critical than ever. Finding the right vendor for your business long distance service will not only ensure you can call your associates when you need to, you may also be able to save money on these calls as well.

    Click here to compare business long distance plans. Some plans allow you to test and make free phone calls (first time), including calls to international destinations.

    Reliability is critical

    Even though there are a wide range of options available for low cost long distance calling, most business require a certain type of reliability with their phones. Solutions that are fine for calling a friend may not be right for a business long distance service because of their spotty quality. When your business depends on clear and reliable calls, you have to pick a vendor that offers both. Even though there may be a number of lower cost solutions, finding a business long distance service that can provide a reliable connection every time you need it is well worth the slightly higher cost. Most of the vendors that cater to the commercial long distance market have solutions that provide this level of reliability and are willing to offer you a contract that guarantees it.

    Click here to compare cell phone plans. Free phone offers.

    Business needs are unique

    Unlike most residential customers that simply want a way to make long distance calls cheaply, a business has more specific calling needs that these services don’t provide. For example, a company may want their business long distance service to provide a toll free number for their suppliers to be able to call for free. This will allow these out of country suppliers to easily reach your business when they have a question or need to place an order. By eliminating the cost of the call for them you can increase your business by making it easier for them to contact you. You may also want your business long distance service to include an answering function or voicemail when your office is closed. Many times a simple message from a customer can lead to a large sale for you as long as you have a way for them to leave it.

    It all comes down to service

    Much of the technology that the companies providing business long distance service use is similar. The real difference between these vendors is in the way they cater to your specific business needs. Finding a company that actually listens to what you want and delivers a solution to fit is worth spending a little more for their service. You’ll also need feel secure that they’ll be there if you have service issues with the equipment to get you back to business quickly. Having a specific person handling your account is another nice benefit and can help you develop a better business relationship with your vendor of choice.  All of these critical elements help to make a business long distance service the perfect fit for most companies if you take the time to compare them between vendors.

    Click here to compare business long distance plans. Some plans allow you to test and make free phone calls (first time), including calls to international destinations.