Long Distance calls, Trouble shooting systems?

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 5:42 am

While this is kinda off topic, it's really not. How many times do we talk long distance trying to help someone trouble shoot system problems? Rather software or hardware if they can't get online, then it's long distance calling

I was using one of those cheapy 5 cent a minute dial arounds like 1010811 and others, but that's still only 11 hours or so for $33. Sometimes even less time as some companies have a 5 or 10 minute minimum per connect. So even if the call is a one minute "try this now" and you call back again to see if it worked it cost you 25-50 cents for that minute, each time!

A few months ago I got AT&T unlimited long distance calling for $33 total, with all the taxes that are added. They say about $25, but that's before they add the taxes and what nots.

Anyway I think it is really worth it myself. I make as many calls as I want for as Long as I want and it's always the same bill, never goes up. This has come in handy for trouble shooting systems for friends and relatives, and if you have clients where you do it often it could really help out! Just call and wait for them to do this or that and move on to the next step with no worries about the phone bill adding up while you wait !

So far I have found nothing to not like about it! Just dial the number direct, no 1010 stuff! Also I was told this plan is covering both my phones for the one price! I have 2 phones here now and may add another. Supposedly 1 plan covers all my phones, though I only use my 2cnd line for local calls to my ISP still.

Besides using it for tech type stuff and my normall calling, I like it also because I make alot more calls now without paying more. Computer parts, Tech support, Auto parts, etc... no problem, no cost! Using the Unlimited calling I have called alot of places I would normally have skipped if I had to pay for the calls. This has worked out well, either saved money with lower prices on parts, or got needed info quickly instead of trial and error. Still a pain in the rear when you get a voice mail system and have to hold 15 minutes for a person, but at least no cost

Heck I even called Little Rock AR. 5 times about Incorporating in AR. and the IRS (not toll free number) to get info about non-profit exemptions.

I've talked to alot of people I know that did not even Know AT&T had this unlimited calling or thought there were gimmicks or whatever. That's why I posted this, might be alot of people here that would bennifit from the service alot that don't even know about it. So far I have found nothing about it to not like.

Well, maybe one thing. Where I live I am on the border or 2 phone companies and half or more of the kids my daughter goes to school with are long distance! Before she seldom called her friends or stayed on the phone long because of long distance, now I have to fight to get her off the phone!!! It don't cost anything now to call them!!
Hmm, time for that 3rd phone? Course she's only been home 2 weeks to use it herself so far. Maybe she'll get bored with it quick

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 7:15 am

I got AT&T unlimited long distance calling for $33 total ?
is that not on top of your regular phone bill from them .so it still like

$35.00 att
$28.58 lets say for gte telephone service
---------
$63.58 for your total bill on one phone line
add
$28.58 for a 2nd phone line from gte telephone service
____________
$92.16 be the grand total

or you speaking $35.00 total for all your lines !

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 8:23 am

Just the long distance, sorry.

The centurytell phone service I still have to pay for seperate. So I get about a $38 centurytell bill for 2 phone line service and an At&T long distance bill for about $33.
I geuss for two phones my total is now around $65 or $70 with the long distance, about what it was before I got the AT&T (or less) and we make about 3 times or more long distance calls!

PM me your number and I'll call to say hello

How was the lan? And where the posts for it? I missed it by about 12hrs this year

By the time I was able to get out of here I got to Ohio to pickup the kid dead tired. By the time I could have slept and then drove to the lan we might have made Half of sunday at best. We were both disapointed we missed it. If I had known we would miss the lan anyway I would have waited another week or two before going to Ohio, oh well.

darcy · Post by **darcy** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 8:40 am

i use my cell (AT&T service) to call 'round the Country, but then again, i'm limited w/'daytime' minutes. $33 flat rate is a heck o' a good deal since u use it w/such frequency.

Course she's only been home 2 weeks to use it herself so far. Maybe she'll get bored with it quick

lol ~ i doubt it!

canton_kid · Post by **canton_kid** » Sat Aug 21, 2004 10:19 am

Yep, plus you make alot of calls you want to make but otherwise would skip.
Like I seldom call website numbers that aren't toll free when looking for products.

I did call one about 150 miles from me, found they have or can get everything of that type product I have been looking at on the web at other sites, I can pick up in person, save shipping, they'll price match, take my tax number for no sales tax, etc...
If I need something in a hurry or buy from them and have a problem I drive 150 miles for a quick fix if need be. One major good call I would not have made, but since it didn't cost anything I did make it.

Lot's of great advantages, and it's 24hr, no off times so business calls durring prime time aren't a problem. Might even be tax deductable if you got a business to use it for?? Write it off as a legitamat business expensive if your business makes alot of long distant calls, then your personal calls are free!

Since the sale person that called me was calling a business (my ISP) to get them to sign up, I geuss it's no problem to put it on a real business phone. Luckily I just happened to be answering the phone that day while they were away.

Not supposed to use it for anything but voice calls I think, but I have a neighbour that uses an ISP 50 miles away (long distance) and hasn't had any problems or complaints from AT&T yet.

And now that I think about it, I may set up the old telix program and call some old BBS's in WI and see if my friends and co-sysops still have their BBS's up and running. What the heck, free call, and I miss the old WI BBS's I used to belong to when I lived there! I wonder if they're are still up and running or if the NET killed them off?