- Pick up the telephone. You can check the long-distance carrier on your telephone line directly from your own phone.
- Dial 1-700-555-4141. Much like 900-numbers handle pay-per-minute calls and 800-numbers handle toll-free calls, 700-numbers handle special service calls for telephone companies and large enterprises.
- Listen to the recording. The specific message you hear when you dial the 700-555-4141 number may vary depending on your long-distance carrier and on the equipment used by ...
- After you have identified your long-distance carrier, simply hang up the telephone to disconnect the call.
How do I Find my long distance phone service provider?
Dial the toll-free number 1-700-555-4141. You will hear a recorded message that tells you the name of your long distance phone service provider.
How do I find out what long distance carrier I have?
You can also dial 1-700-555-4141 from your home telephone. This is a toll-free number that identifies the long-distance carrier, if any, that is connected to that line. What should I know before I decide whether to switch long distance companies?
How do I find the name of my landline service provider?
The name of your landline service provider will appear in the emailed bill. Dial "0" on a landline phone to be connected to the operator if you cannot find a bill. Ask the operator what the name of your local phone service provider is. Dial the toll-free number 1-700-555-4141.
How do I give authorization to a long-distance service provider?
A long-distance service provider must get your (or your agent’s) authorization before it can transfer your subscription. Your agent can be an adult member of your household. You can give your authorization in one of the following ways: oral authorization, which must be verified by an independent third party
How do I change my long distance carrier?
The easiest way to change long-distance providers is to call your local carrier and request the new carrier. The process is called self-PICing your line because you're personally calling in to have your local carrier change your PIC (primary interexchange carrier or long-distance carrier).
Do I have to have a long distance carrier on my landline?
Landline phone customers can have all their service provided by their local service carrier, or they can choose separate carriers. For example, you could choose to have your local and local toll service provided by one carrier, and your long distance service provided by another.
What is the access code for long distance calls?
To call between or within international countries, dial 011 + country code + city code + telephone number.
How do I cancel my long distance phone service?
Call the long-distance carrier (the number should also be on your bill) and say you want to cancel long-distance service. Unless you call, your higher rates will remain in effect until the long-distance carrier gets notification of your cancellation request from your local service provider.
Is calling a landline from a cell phone long distance?
Telephone dialing system If you are calling a number within the same area code you are generally making a local call. If you are calling outside of your area code but within the United States, you are generally making a long distance call, but there are of course exceptions.
When did phone companies stop charging for long distance?
Prices have gotten so low that the Federal Communications Commission stopped tracking the cost of long-distance calls in 2006. After decades of recording phone call costs it reported the average long-distance call in 2006 cost just 6 cents per minute.
What is the carrier access code?
"CAC" stands for carrier access code (CAC). A CAC is not the same as a CIC. It is a numeric code that consists of a prefix followed by a carrier's unique CIC. Since 1983, CACs were five-digit codes incorporating carriers' three-digit CIC (10XXX).
Why is my phone not making long distance calls?
Here are 3 possible reasons why you can't make long distance calls: Your payment is overdue so your long distance calling service is restricted. There is a physical problem at a telephone switch. Your Call Forwarding service is turned on.
What is an access code for a phone number?
Your Telephone Access Code is the 4-6 digit PIN you'll need to enter when using Telephone Banking.
How do I find my long-distance provider in Canada?
To find out who is providing you with long-distance service, call 1-700-555-4141 from your telephone. Check your monthly telephone bill.
How do I cancel my AT&T long-distance service?
To discontinue your AT&T long distance service without switching to a different long distance carrier, please call AT&T at 1-800-222-0300 and let us know that you wish to discontinue your AT&T residential long distance service and that you do not wish to have any long distance carrier.
How do I find out my long-distance number?
How to Identify a Long Distance CarrierPick up the telephone. You can check the long-distance carrier on your telephone line directly from your own phone. ... Dial 1-700-555-4141. ... Listen to the recording.
What to do if your landline has been changed?
Call the Federal Communications Commission at the toll-free number 1-888-225-5322 if a company has changed your landline phone service provider without your permission (often referred to as "slamming"). Contact your preferred phone service provider and explain that your service was improperly changed and that you want to change it back.
Does a landline phone company offer local service?
Companies typically offer local service covering calls made in your local area, and long distance service, which may be provided through a separate company. If you think your service provider has been changed without your authorization, or if you don't know or have forgotten who your landline phone service provider is, ...
What is it called when a phone company switches to another company?
If your long-distance telephone company is switched to another company without your permission, it’s called “slamming. ”. Slamming is not condoned by either the industry or the CRTC.
How to give authorization?
You can give your authorization in one of the following ways: written authorization. oral authorization, which must be verified by an independent third party. electronic order authorization, where you dial a toll-free number given to you by the company. confirmation via the Internet.
How to find out who is providing long distance service?
To find out who is providing you with long-distance service, call 1-700-555-4141 from your telephone. Check your monthly telephone bill.
Does the CRTC regulate long distance service?
The CRTC no longer regulates the rates, terms of service or business practices of long-distance service providers. In today's competitive telephone market, there are many choices for long-distance services offering a variety of features. Consumers can shop around for the service that suits them best.
What is dial around service?
Dial around services are phone companies that you can use to “dial around” your telephone service provider. When you use dial around, you first call a dial around company’s number (this will be a 10-10-xxx number, like 10-10-321 or 10-10-220), and then you dial the long distance number you are trying to reach. As with calling cards, your service provider only charges you for the call to the dial around service’s number. You pay the dial around service for the cost of the long distance call.
Why does PSTN require hardware?
The PSTN requires lots of hardware because of the way that analog technology works. Analog data is difficult to send over a long distance. This means that every time you make a long distance call, it costs a lot for your traditional telephone service to process the call. As a result, the call costs more for you.
How much does VoIP cost?
When you choose VoIP long distance service, you pay a low monthly fee -- usually between $5 and $15 for residential VoIP and $15 and $25 per user for business VoIP -- and in return you get unlimited calling in the United States. VoIP companies can offer you these low deals because of how VoIP works.
How much does Comcast phone line cost?
With Comcast, you can get 1 Full Featured Phone Line, their most basic package with unlimited domestic long distance, for $44.95/month. You can also bundle with cable companies. Cable service also relies on the PSTN, so in effect, it is the same service as a traditional telephone company.
How to make a long distance call with a calling card?
When you want to make a long distance or international call with a calling card, you first call the 800 number on the card. After that, you dial the long distance number you are trying to reach. This means that your phone company won’t charge you for a long distance or international call.
What is a long distance phone service?
This refers to companies like AT&T, Verizon, and MCI, which provide service to landline phones in homes and offices. These companies rely on the PSTN, or public switched telephone network, to make calls. This system was the standard for many years, but it definitely has some problems.
What is the best way to make long distance calls?
VoIP. If you do a lot of long distance calling, VoIP may be a great choice for you. VoIP allows you to make calls over the Internet. This technology is very cheap and easy to use and will likely be the best deal for long distance service.
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How to save on landline phone monthly fees?
One of the most effective ways to save on monthly fees for your landline is by bundling. You can get a better price by shopping for TV, internet and phone bundle deals. Some, like Xfinity, also offer service for your mobile phones in their plans.
What is VoIP phone?
Voice over Internet Protocol - or VoIP - is another affordable option for landline substitution. VoIP allows you to make calls using your internet connection instead of the phone line. Benefits of VoIP technology include:
What is speed dialing?
Speed dial: Allows you to enter phone numbers in an instant, even if you don't have them memorized. Call forwarding: Have calls routed to your cell phone or another landline so you never miss an important call. Call return: Commonly known as *69, allows you to dial back the last number that phoned you.
Does AT&T offer senior discounts?
Some phone service providers, like AT&T, offer specific discounts to older people. Be sure to ask because not every phone company advertises their senior discounts on phone service. It's also a good idea to ask about AARP discounts on landline service.
Is a landline phone obsolete?
You may think traditional landlines are obsolete, but they offer several advantages. In most cases, home phone service still operates if there is a power outage, and you have a backup in case your cell phone breaks or gets lost.
Who owns suddenlink?
Suddenlink and Optimum are both owned by Altice, and offer the same options for home phone service along with the other services you expect in a package. You can also manage your landline from your mobile.
Does Spectrum have a contract?
Spectrum landlines come with no contracts and their phone plans include very affordable international calls.

Before You Switch Long-Distance Service Providers
You Need to Authorize A Switch in Your Long-Distance Provider
- A long-distance service provider must get your (or your agent’s) authorization before it can transfer your subscription. Your agent can be an adult member of your household. You can give your authorization in one of the following ways: 1. written authorization 2. oral authorization, which must be verified by an independent third party 3. electronic...
Unauthorized Switching of Long-Distance Companies Or "Slamming"
- If your long-distance telephone company is switched to another company without your permission, it’s called “slamming.” Slamming is not condoned by either the industry or the CRTC.
What About Changing My Local Service?
- For information on changing your local telephone service, go to Choosing your local home phone service. Date modified: 1. 2015-01-13