à Long Distance Charges – These charges à Lifeline Surcharge – The PSC approved Why Are Phone Bills So Confusing? are for your long distance calls. Most this charge to help eligible low-income consumers have a “presubscribed” long consumers maintain basic phone Telephone bills can be confusing to some distance carrier. This is when you dial service. consumers because they have become “1” plus the area code and then the à Local Number Portability Charge – The increasingly detailed over the years. phone number. Once that is done, the Federal Communications Commission Many phone companies are redesigning access code for the presubscribed carrier requires local telephone companies to their bills to make them easier to is automatically entered and you are charge this fee so consumers can keep understand. However, the charges may charged the rates of that carrier. the same phone number when changing still be confusing unless you know some local service providers. basics of telephone billing. There are a number of long distance à State Subscriber Line Charge – Local companies consumers can choose. phone companies assess this fee to Calling plans for each company differ, Key Items to Look For On Your Bill recover the cost of providing lines for and each company offers many different services within the state, such as calling plans. Some plans require you to à Basic Monthly Charge – This charge intrastate long distance and local on your local phone bill is for the dial pay a monthly fee in addition to any exchange service. long distance charges you incur. tone that enables you to make and à Subscriber Line Charge or Interstate receive calls. Subscriber Line Charge – This is a fee à Local Calling Charge – This charge is You may also make a long distance call by using a dial around number (10-10), that the FCC allows local phone for local calls. You may have a “flat companies to charge to recover a rate” telephone plan in which your calling collect, using a calling card, or using a pre-paid calling card. portion of the costs of completing long monthly service charge allows you to distance calls across state lines on their make an unlimited number of calls in à Pay-Per-Call Services – These calls are local networks. your calling area. If you have provided through 900 (and some 800) à Universal Service Charge – This fee is “measured service,” you are limited to numbers. The rates for these calls are charged as part of a federal program the number of calls your monthly set by the service providers, not the which provides funding for service allows. If you make more calls telephone companies. telecommunication services for those than allowed, you pay an additional à Miscellaneous Services – Charges for living in parts of the country that are charge for each phone call. caller ID, call waiting, voice mail, expensive to serve. à Local Toll Charge – This charge refers paging, and internet will be found in this à Telecommunications Relay Service – to calls made to places that are not area of your phone bill. This fee covers the cost for providing a close enough to be in your local à Directory Assistance – There is a charge “translation” service for calls between calling area, but not far enough away for all directory-assisted calls. These TTY (a type of text telephone) users to be handled as long distance calls. calls are placed by dialing 411 or and people using a traditional These calls are sometimes called 555-1212. The rate per call will depend telephone. “short distance calls.” on a number of factors. Check with à 911 Surcharge – This is imposed by your local telephone company to find your local government to cover the out the least expensive way to place a costs of providing 911 access to directory-assisted call. emergency services. à Federal Tax – This fee is imposed by How Can I Save Money Congress. On My Long Distance Telephone Bill? à State Tax – This fee is imposed by the General Assembly. Þ Think about when you use your phone à School Tax – This fee is imposed by a service. Do you make most of your calls A Consumer’s unit of local government. at night or during the day? During the à Inside Wiring Plan – This is an optional week or weekend? Looking at old long Guide to service that consumers may cancel. distance bills can help. à Trouble Determination Service – This Þ Call your long distance telephone is an optional service that consumers company and their competitors to inquire Telephone may cancel. about which calling plans best suit your calling pattern. Charges Tips For Reading Your Bill Þ You may even want to consider dropping your long distance company if you make * Read your bill carefully each month. very few calls. You will no longer be Make sure you are only being charged able to dial “1” plus the area code and for services you have authorized. number to make long distance calls, but * Make sure you recognize all the you can still make long distance calls by company names listed on your bill. If using dial around companies (10-10) or you do not recognize the company, call pre-paid phone cards. If you decide to the company and inquire about the use a dial around company or a pre-paid charge. phone card, make sure you understand * Look for any calls that you did not any charges associated with those make or charges for any services you services. did not agree to buy. * Check that the rates you were charged are the correct rates for your plan. For additional questions about telephone charges, you can contact the following: * Make sure you understand all the charges on your phone bill. If you do not, contact the company listed on that Federal Communications Commission section of the bill. Common Carrier Bureau 445 12th Street, SW If you notice that there are mistakes on Washington, DC 20554 your bill, first call the company. If you 1-888-225-5322 are unable to resolve your complaint - OR - with the company, you may call the Kentucky Public Service Commission Kentucky Public Service Commission P.O. Box 615 toll free at 1-800-772-4636. Frankfort, KY 40602 1-800-772-4636