Based on postings on this board, I signed up earlier this year for a seven cent per minute rate with MCI (daytime, 5 cents at night). Last month I noticed that the rate went up to nine cents per minute, an almost 30% increase in rates. I sent a note to MCI and got the following response. I'm not sure that 30% qualifies for a "slight increase in rates." Are there any other good MCI promotions out there at lower rates?

Thank you for contacting MCI WorldCom Online Customer Service.

Occasionally, long distance companies modify their rates/fees in order
to continue to provide value to our customers. While there was a
slight increase associated with your rate, you are still paying some
of the most competitive rates in the industry. Your state-to-state
peak rate went up to 9 cents per minute on 11/1, but your evening and
weekend rate is still only 5 cents per minute.

MCI WorldCom is committed to ensuring you make the most of your
service. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please
visit Online Account Manager at www.mci.com/service.

Oh I see. They did this in order to provide value to you. How considerate.

With (for example) Costco selling Sprint prepaid calling cards at a true price under 4.2�/minute anytime, explain to me how 5�(+a a bunch of taxes and surcharges)/minute is competitive. Even if you're getting 5 FF miles/$ you're losing. 9�/minute? Ha!

As Snoopy once said to Linus,
"My mind reels with sarcastic replies."

I don't know why so many American businesses put such condescending points into their
pronouncements. "In order to serve you better, we are ..." and it is usually something we don't like.

I have found two things to be helpful: Firstly, with sprint's 29.95 cell phone plan I get 250 anytime minutes and 250 night and weekend minutes long distance service. So that saves me a fortune. I keep MCI only for the milage bonus but hardly ever use that service. Then if I have to call from somewhere and don't have my cell phone, I use Voicenet, which is half the price of MCI or any other calling card. It works for me.

When I am at home in the U.S., I use the long distance companies for the sign-up bonuses ONLY - their rates are too lousy to be worth the miles from continued usage.
Their so-called "deals" that involve paying several dollars a month to get "special rates" are a joke - I have always been able to beat these rates by using dialarounds (those 10-10 thingies) that offer the same or better rates without any monthly fee and a bunch of fake charges that they cram into the bill.
Try the website www.10-10phonerates.com if you�re interested in a tabulated comparison of the different dialarounds (and I�ll note now that I have nothing at all to do with the above site and am not involved with the telecom industry in any way other than collecting signup milage bonuses from them ).
Yonatan

Same thing happened to me a couple of months ago--I called and told them I was strongly considering switching to AT&T--and that I'd gotten a check for $60 from AT&T if I did switch. They gave me back my 7cents out-of-state rate and 5cents weekends--plus free minutes--60 for each of the next six months.

If you want really small telephone bills, just check this nice thread out: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum1/HTML/001535.html . I use 10-10-636 for 24/7 5 cents per min calls with 3 minute minimum. Great connects too, and they now serve Hawaii for calling out (always ok to call to). I made them (Clear Choice) my selected LD carrier. I only dial the 10-10-636 when I do not know if it is a LD or regional call. No $4.95/mo, $5.95/mo or $6.95/mo fees either. I forget their 800 # to call for info, but it is on the above thread.

The current/past Costco prepaid calling cards are great for 4.2-5.2 cents/min call as mentioned above.

MisterNice

ps: and please post any telephone related suggestions to it

MCI sucks, they keep charging me even though i have closed the account for a year. As a former employee, I am quiet glad that I left the company and will never use their services again.

Unless they offer some crazy mile deals...

Al