XPost: alt.consumers.experiences, misc.consumers, misc.consumers.frugal- 
 living 
 From: billrubin@prodigy.net 
  
 So find a LD carrier that does not charge a monthly fee or have 
 a minimum. They are out there. If you have Verizon local 
 service, you should be able to take them as your LD carrier with 
 no fee, and they will pay (or not charge you) to switch. Then 
 don't use them if you don't want, but at least you won't get an 
 obscene monthly charge if you make a 2 minute call. 
  
 Bill 
  
 Megalithic wrote: 
 > 
 > I know for a fact that Verizon charges a monthly fee if you do not 
 > pick a long distance carrier in New York and California. 
 > 
 > I like to NOT have a long distance carrier and use a calling card, 
 > since long distance carriers SUCK. 
 > 
 > "Bob"  wrote in message news:... 
 > > "wylbur37" <> wrote in message 
 > > 
 > > > 
 > > > Therefore, my question is, although we have a choice of 
 > > > long-distance carrier, do we have the option of 
 > > > choosing *NO* long-distance carrier? 
 > > 
 > > Can't speak for NY because I imagine laws regarding this differ from 
 state 
 > > to state. 
 > > 
 > > Our basic phone service provider is Verizon, and we have chosen not to 
 have 
 > > an long distance service.   There is no monthly fee for not having an LD 
 > > carrier.     However, we are still able to dial 800 etc numbers. 
 > > 
 > > For LD, we buy AT&T phone cards at Sam's and the cost per minute is .029 
 > > (two point nine cents). 
 > > 
 > > The down side to this is all the numbers required to make a call. 
 > > - AT&T      800 number 
 > > - 12 digit    Card number 
 > > - Area code and number desired. 
 > > 
 > > That's a lot of numbers, and it is a real bummer when I make an error 
 > > dialing the number I want and have to start all over. 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)