Avoiding Long Distance Charges for Internet Access
How common errors in your dial up account setup can cost you big money

By Joe Ebner

How would you like to go to your mailbox one day, open your phone bill and find a $900 amount due? That's exactly what happened recently when an Akron (Ohio, USA) family made the common mistake of using local toll numbers to access the Internet through their dial-up account - in this case, America Online.

Typically, most Internet service providers have a local telephone number customer's computers can use to access the Internet. Some of the larger ISPs have more than one number and cover a larger local area. Companies such as AOL and CompuServe furnish service throughout the country and provided through their own networks. They usually have many access numbers to cover a given area.

For ISPs to give their customers the best service in an area they set up a system where customers can dial into their computers. AOL's main computer, for instance, is located in Virginia and customers access this computer through a local number - avoiding the added cost of dialing directly into the main computer. The local numbers are known as Points Of Presence or POPs. The POPs allow many users in the service's area to access the system reliably.

When users of the service dial into the system and find a number busy they may try another phone number to log in. That other number could well be a local toll number. And, even though the rates for local toll numbers are typically only pennies per minute, if you're online for even a few hours a day, those pennies can add up to an enormous amount in a month's time.

Phone System Changes

In some areas around the country the phone system is in chaos. The overload produced by fax machines, Online access, and multiple phone lines have put a real strain on the system. To relieve this strain and to open up more phone numbers for their customer's use, phone companies have been forced to break-up areas into smaller sections and add more area codes.

With the area code changes phone customers can unknowingly dial a toll number within the same area code without dialing a "one" first. Customers are not told through a recording that the number is a toll number.

Avoiding Toll Access

Even though you may not intentionally use a toll access number to dial into your service provider you are ultimately responsible for the resulting charges. Don't assume that the $19.95 flat rate you're paying for access covers the calls. It doesn't. AOL spokesperson Tricia Primrose says that "It's the member's responsibility to set up their modem."

Here's some hints for avoiding tolls when accessing your service provider:

• Don't Assume that a phone number in your area code is toll free.
• Check The Phone Book. Toll areas from your exchange are clearly shown in your phone book. Consult it when you're setting up your software.
• Call The Phone Company and ask if the numbers your computer is set up to dial are toll free.
• Check With Your Access Provider. Make sure you have the proper instructions for setting up your modem and understand them. Have a technician set up your account and your computer if you are not sure how to do it.

Remember that YOU are responsible for toll charges made from your phone line. It's easy to avoid extra charges and the information on toll calls is readily available. Don't learn the hard way as the family from Akron, Ohio did and end up with a $900 bill to pay. You may risk loosing your Internet access and your long distance service.

Source: The Akron Beacon Journal, 08/06/97