The phone industry is a very competitive industry nowadays. Companies say whatever is necessary to secure your business. They will leave out pertinent information that may dissuade your business. As a former employee of a national phone company, I learned that asking these very important questions will save you a lot of hassle down the road.
Network access charges:
Many companies will charge a network charge for simply having their service. The rates vary by company and can make a huge difference on your monthly bill. Activation and Disconnection Charges:
Make sure to ask if there is any charge for setting up the service. Many customer service agents often neglect to give this information. It's quite a shock to open your bill to find such a substantial charge (activation charges can range anywhere from $10-100, depending on the work required to activate your service). You also want to know the cost and conditions, if any, of disconnecting your service.Repair Charges:
In the event that a technician has to visit your home to repair any damages to your line or jacks, you want to know in advance if there is a charge for repair work and what the charges would be. The charges will vary depending on what work needs to be done, so get a price list of different repair jobs.Late Payment Charges:
You want to ask what happens in the event you are late with a payment. Many companies will simply charge an interest rate on late payments. Find out what that interest rate is. Some companies also charge you a fee if they mail you a reminder note. One local company charges $25 each time they send this reminder out. It can add up quickly.Contracts:
You definitely want to know if you are locked into a contract upon signing on with a company. Many companies have "oral agreements" nowadays but neglect to tell you that. Furthermore, you want to know if there are any fees for changing any features or plans within your contract. Some companies will charge you a rate for simply making changes to your package. And of course you want to know if there are any early termination fees. Some will charge a one-time early termination fee and others will charge a monthly rate for the remainder of the contract length.Equipment Rental:
Some companies will provide you with the necessary equipment for your service to operate. Examples include phone sets or modems. You want to know if there is a rental fee for any of this equipment.If the Power goes Out:
In the event of an emergency you want to know that your phone service will be there. It is crucial you ask the provider if you will still have your phone if your power is out. Depending on the infrastructure used to provide you service, it may not be possible for you to have phone service if you don't have power.Collect Calls and Calling Cards:
Many companies don't offer calling cards and also can't offer you the ability to receive collect calls. Ask ahead.TalkMail and Other Features:
Most schools, clubs, and organizations nowadays do not prefer to send out mail-outs to inform participants and parents of upcoming events. Instead, they will use the talk-mail service that allows them to send out a mass message via telephone to everyone on the team or in the class. If you have kids in school or belong to any clubs or groups, you want to make sure your chosen phone company has this service so that you don't miss valuable information and events. There may also be other features, such as Call Display, Call Waiting, etc. that all companies may not offer.Directory Listing:
If it is important that your name and phone number is listed in a directory, you want to ask the phone company if they have a mass distributed phone book or if your information will be published on a national phone directory somewhere, and you want to know if there is any charge to have your information published.
Read the terms and conditions found on the company's website. Look for any other information you may not have been provided with over the phone. Read fine print because that's where you will find decision-makers or breakers.
