Long Distance Comparisons Site Presents:
FreFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About
IDT America Long Distance Service
Click Here to get more info or to Sign up with IDT Long Distance
(Link to IDT WebSite)
Important: They give you 300 Free Minutes if you Apply online
If you want to switch to IDT use the link above to go to IDT Website and Sign Up.

1. Do I have to call my local phone company to switch my long distance service to IDT America?

   Probably not. In most cases, we can take care of it for you. Sometimes, however, a telecom company will insist on hearing directly from the customer. If that’s what happens to you, call IDT Customer Service at 1-800-889-9126 and we’ll help you complete the switch.

2. I tried to switch to IDT Long Distance Communications, but my local phone company couldn’t do it. How come?

   Probably one of two reasons. The first is you most likely have a security block on your line called a "PIC Freeze." That prevents long distance companies from grabbing your business without your express authorization. To "unfreeze" your line, call IDT Telephone customer service at 1-800-889-9126 for the right code to give your local phone company so they can complete your switch to IDT Long Distance.

   The second reason is that there may be a long distance service restriction on your line – usually something like an unpaid deposit or outstanding balance. Call IDT Customer Service at 1-800-889-9126 to identify the problem so we can help you complete your switch to IDT.

3. I thought I switched to IDT Corp, but I’ve been told some other company is my new long distance carrier. What gives?

   In certain areas, carriers named Global Crossing, Frontier and Allnet provide the network we use to deliver our service. If those are the companies you heard from, don’t worry. Your service has been switched to IDT and you’ll receive IDT bills. If another company was cited or you were not billed by IDT, please call 1-800-889-9126 to talk to a customer service representative.

4. Just what is IDT’s relationship to my local phone company?

   All your calls start with your local company. If you’re making a local call, they handle it. If it’s a long distance call, they send it to us and we connect you to whoever you’re calling.

5. So there are only two types of calls, local and long distance. Right?

   Actually, there are four – local calls, state-to-state long distance calls, in-state long distance calls, and calls that go beyond your local calling area but don’t go far enough to be considered long distance.

   When you pick IDT America as your long distance carrier you are choosing IDT to handle both your state-to-state and in-state long distance calls. You separately choose a carrier for "Regional Toll" or "Local Toll" calls - - calls that stay within your state that are not considered long distance. These calls can be handled by your local phone company or, if you prefer, by IDT. To find out what IDT would charge to handle these calls, and how to make the switch to IDT, just call 1-800-889-9126.

6. So who determines where my local calling area ends and a toll area begins?

   Your local phone company. That’s the law. If you want to know the extent of your regional calling area, check your local phone book.

7. Why does IDT Telephone have different domestic rates for some customers?

   Your rate depends on where you live and who provides your local phone service. IDT Telecom offers you the lowest rate we can based on what your local company charges us for handing off your long distance calls. For example, if your local provider is a Regional Bell Operating Company, we can offer a 5¢ a minute rate for all your state-to-state long distance calls. If your local provider is an independent company, we can offer a 5.9¢ a minute rate.

   Also, in-state long distance calls are usually more expensive than state-to-state calls because local companies generally charge us more for handing off in-state calls.

8. No matter who I use for long distance I’m always hit with a "USF Surcharge."
   What is it and how come I’m paying it?

   It stands for Universal Service Fund, and it’s a federal government required fee intended to maintain phone lines, finance road construction, and fund schools and libraries. The USF is controlled by the FCC, and it’s charged through all telecommunications companies in the U.S. – local and long distance carriers, wireless and paging services, and payphone operators.

9. How do I pay for IDT Long Distance? Will it be part of my regular phone bill?

   You will receive a separate bill for your IDT Long Distance service. The only payment method we accept is by check. However, you can set up automatic payment directly from your bank. Just talk to your banker.

10. By the way, who is IDT?

    IDT Communications is a major player in worldwide telecommunications. We’ve been in business for 12 years, our stock is publicly traded on NYSE under the ticker symbol IDT, and hundreds of thousands of people just like you have already selected IDT to be their long distance carrier – and hundreds more are joining them every single day.

11. How are international calls billed?

    IDT Corp offers some of the lowest international rates available. There is a 30-second minimum for calls anywhere in the would, after which we bill in 6-second increments. Calls to Mexico are the only exception, they are billed in whole minutes.

Long Distance Phone Carriers Comparison

See just how much you can save by switching from your current long distance phone carrier:

Main Points	IDT	AT&T	Sprint	MCI	10-10-220	10-10-321
Low Flat Rate* (Per Minute)	5¢ All the time	7¢	10¢	7¢		8¢ - 16¢ depending on length of call
Low Monthly Fee	$3.95	$5.95	$4.95	$3.95	Depends on long distance phone carriers
Calls to Canada	5¢	7¢	7¢	10¢
Calls to Germany	7¢	17¢	16¢	25¢
Calls to Mexico	19¢	Up to 35¢	Up to 37¢	Up to 35¢
Over 125 Countries Available
Other Points	Long Distance Rate Comparison Table & Features
One low fee for all your lines – your home, your weekend place, everywhere!	Yes! As many as you have	Just 1	Just 2 in 1 location	4 but only in the same area code	Depends on your long distance service carrier	Ditto.
6-second billing on domestic calls	Yes! 6 seconds = 1/2¢	Each and every call you make is rounded up to the full minute even if you talk for only a few seconds
Low Rate calling card	10¢/min. No monthly fee, no hidden charges	25¢/min.with $1 monthly fee, or 69¢ plus $1.50 charge per call.	$5 monthly fee or 59¢/min. plus 99¢ charge per call.	7¢/min. to your home, 75¢/min. elsewhere	Don’t have calling cards.	Ditto.
Comparisons as of 3/29/01   The point is, IDT has the lowest-cost, flat rate long distance plan in America. *5¢ long distance rate applies to state-to-state calls originating in the contiguous 48 states. Calls to Alaska 14.9¢, to Hawaii 16.2¢, to Puerto Rico 6.9¢. Intrastate rates may be higher. FCC charges apply. Plans available in most areas. IDT long distance representative at 1-888-407-3711. IDT(NYSE:IDT). © 2001 IDT Corporation. All rights reserved.

Click Here to get more info or to Sign up with IDT Long Distance

IDT service presentation:
 

Make all your state-to-state long distance calls for just 5¢ a minute, all day, every day with IDT long distance phone service.