Get Cheap Phone Rates by Adjusting Your Phone Service

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Save Money on Phone Service

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Cheap Phone Rates Checklist

Every few months, comparison shop phone service to see if you are paying too much for your telephone. If you find a better deal, contact your phone company and negotiate -- or switch
If you make very few toll or long distance calls, avoid calling plans with monthly fees or minimums. Alternatively, consider disconnecting the service altogether and use dial around services such as 10-10 numbers or prepaid cheap phone cards for your calls. When shopping for dial around service, look for fees, call minimum, and per minute rates. Treat prepaid cards as cash and find out if there is an expiration date.
Check your long-distance carrier's call-rounding policy. Many smaller, cheap phone companies offer six-second call rounding, rather than rounding up to the next minute. The more short calls made or faxes you send, the more you save with six-second rounding.
Once a year, review your phone bills for the previous three months to see what local, local toll, long distance, and international calls you normally make.
Call and visit several phone companies or stores that provide service in your area (including wireless and cable), to find the cheapest calling plan that meets your needs.
Consider a cheap phone bundled package that offers local, local toll and long distance, and possibly other services, if you heavily use all the phone services in the bundle. But ask yourself: do you really need all these phone services?

Look into VoIP, (Voice over Internet Protocol). It is cheap phone service that runs over the high-speed internet.

This phone service costs $10-$35 per month and includes free calls across the U.S. and Canada. Other services provide world-wide coverage for only a little more.

Internet phone services also include lots of extras such as call waiting, caller ID, voice mail, call forwarding and three-way calling.

Another way VoIp is cheap phone service is that there are far fewer taxes and fees than you find with traditional phone service.

Cancel all the extra phone services you do not use such as call waiting, caller ID, voice mail, call forwarding, inside wire maintenance and three-way calling. Each option you drop could save you $40 or more each year.
Switch to a smaller, lower profile cheap phone company for long-distance phone service. Not only is the service cheaper, but usually there are fewer fees.
Some cheap phone companies may charge a fee if you receive a paper bill. Sidestep this fee by paying your bills online. Why fill your mail-box with phone records that you never read.
Don't exceed your allotted monthly cell phone minutes. Zero in on your calling needs to find the best plan for you. Evaluate your phone options regularly.
The cell phone stores have some excellent sales people to help you get the best cheap phone service. Ask and you will receive help. They will compete for your business.
If you make many long-distance calls within your state, choose a cheap phone calling plan with a low intrastate rate.
Dial your long distance calls directly. Using an operator to place the call can cost you up to $10 extra. To save money on information calls, look the number up on the Internet, or in the directory.
If you're always on the run, consider swapping a land line for a cell phone. You'll save on the monthly service fee, taxes and long-distance fees for a land phone that's rarely used.
Before making calls when away from home, compare per minute phone rates and surcharges for cell phones, prepaid phone cards, and calling card plans to find how to save the most money.

Go wireless at your weekend or vacation home. Occasional but pricey cell phone calls may still be cheaper than the cost of installing and maintaining a bare-bones land line. Also check out simple, basic, cell phone service and fully take a vacation from the busy phone craziness of our everyday world.

Here is the best cell phone provider I have found. They offer great national service with no contracts, no deposits, and no credit checks.

If you use a cell phone, make sure your phone service plan matches the pattern of calls you typically make. Understand peak calling periods, area coverage, roaming, and termination charges.
Phone service contracts offered by most carriers will provide you with a trial period of 14 days or more.
Use that time to make sure the service provides coverage in all the places you will be using the phone (home, work etc.). Prepaid wireless plans tend to have higher per minute rates and fees but may be a better option if you use the phone only occasionally.
Ask yourself “Do I really need three telephone lines, two mobile phones and a beeper?”
Cell phones can be expensive, especially if you're footing the bill for a houseful of users. Do a "needs analysis."
Dump the phones that aren't necessary. Be realistic.
Do kids under 16 really need a cell phone? Save that cell phone money for their college education.It’s very easy to get up to $200 per month for phone service. Think of how hard you work for that money. Save a $100 per month. In 20 years at 8% earning, you could accumulate $59,000 for your retirement.
That would give you $200/month every month for the rest of your life. Remember, even small savings add up.
Do you really need a cell phone or the number of them your family currently has?
Most people will say they need a cell phone in case of emergencies.
What many people don't know is that by law, in the U.S., all cell phones, including the one's that have no service contracts, still will make 911 calls.
So you can have an old cell phone with a long expired phone service contract and it will still make a valid emergency call.
You can give these to your children or spouse if a cell phone is only a convenience item instead of a need.
Are you on the telephone long-distance plan where you pay by the minute? Those minutes can add up especially if you are not paying close attention. Try keeping a timer by the telephone and time your calls. Your awareness of the time will help to reduce your phone bill.