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National Geographic : 1974 May
Contents
save money phone bill. in the future by recording the number in your personal number book. A listing of all area codes can be found in the information pages at the front of your local telephone directory. 13 Make sure you know when dial-direct rates apply before you make your call. They apply on all out-of-state calls to anywhere in the United States (excluding Alaska) if they are com pleted from a residence or business phone without an operator's assistance. They also apply on calls placed with an operator from a residence or busi ness phone when direct dialing facilities are not yet available. 14 But it's even more important to know the circumstances when direct-dial rates do NOT apply. They do not apply on person-to person, hotel-guest, credit card or collect calls, or on calls charged to another number, because an operator must assist on such calls. Direct-dial rates do not apply on calls made from coin phones, even those from which you dial the complete num ber yourself before the operator comes on. 5 While operator-handled calls cost you more than those you dial yourself, there is one exception. If you run into equipment trouble com pleting a Long Distance call you're dialing your self from a home or business phone, you're still eligible for the dial-direct rate even if you require an operator's assistance. Explain your problem to an operator. If you need help in getting the call through, or in making a satisfactory connection, confirm with the operator that it will be charged at the dial-direct rate. 16 Dial direct, but save even more by making your out-of-state Long Distance calls with in the time periods when rates are lowest. The lower rates for out-of-state calls made in the eve ning, on the weekends or late at night are de scribed for you in the call guide in the front of your local directory. 17 Don't get caught by surprise, or miss out on the money you can save on Long Dis tance calls you make within your state. The times when lower rates apply may be different than for your out-of-state calls. Check carefully in the call guide in the front of your local directory for a de scription of when to save on calls you make within your state. 18If you're concerned about avoiding added Charges on your Long Distance calls in gen eral, don't guess how long you've been talking. Time yourself, so you can finish your call before overtime rates apply. To save even more time and money, jot down what you want to say before you dial. 19 Before you go ahead and place a Long Dis tance call to a business, check first to see if they have a toll-free number. You can recognize it be cause it has an 800 prefix instead of a regular area code. If they have one, it's usually displayed in their advertising, or you may find it listed in your own local telephone directory. If so, the call's on them, and you save. M2 OThe information pages at the front of your 2 local telephone book are a good source for tips on how to place your calls and how to save time and money in using your telephone. Look in the book, and save. We hearyou. ©
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