I heard that Americans do not have to pay for calls from a regular phone (not cellphones). Is this true?
2006-12-12 16:08:07 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
All of the people I have spoken to tell me they have to pay a monthly fee to have the phone connected even if they don't use it. It might be only $30.00 US, but they still pay it. Now, if they pick up the phone and call someone close by so it stays in their local calling area, usually no more than 20 mile circle, there is no ADDITIONAL FEE above the monthly required fee. But if they call outside of their local area there will be long distance charges.
Some plans will charge five cents for every time the phone connects to any number so that would be in addition to the monthly fee.
Most pay at least $35 per month and then caller ID is extra, call waiting is extra, voice mail is extra, so it could easily end up as high as $55.00 for the monthly fee even if you don't use the phone.
2006-12-12 16:22:30 · answer #1 · answered by mindbender - seeker of truth 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No not true at all we have to pay for both and long distance calls can be expensive internatinal calls way to expensive their are lots of phone companies to choose a plan from we have vonage it goes through the computer hope you are doing good tonight or day it is 12:23 am here( now 2:23 am) but when you posted your question it was 12:23 am:) maybe the person meant we don't pay by the call though some plans are that way we pay a set amount and it includes free local but see it is not free because we have to pay for their service plans are from $19.99-69.99 depending on added features and long distance
2006-12-13 02:24:00 · answer #2 · answered by katlady927 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, this is not true. Americans pay for short distance calls and long distance calls. They pay for land lines and cellular phones.
Some people say that America is the land of the free but the best we can hope for is the land of the inexpensive and that is becoming rare. But there is hope coming from China. We have a growing trade deficit and with it, China may, at last conquer America.
2006-12-13 00:16:45 · answer #3 · answered by valcus43 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In North America, local calls are normally included in the monthly fee for telephone service. For example, a telephone company may charge a fee of $30.00 per month to have the service turned on at your house. For that $30, you may make as many calls as you want, for as long as you want, to your local calling area, which is typically within about 15 miles/25 kilometers from the town where you live. But "long distance" calls are billed per minute.
2006-12-13 00:11:50 · answer #4 · answered by Rusting 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, we pay all right, they get us in all of the bullshit taxes and fees. My phone service is $50 a month for "free" local and continental US long distance but after the taxes and fees my bill is $85. So we are really paying now aren't we? I just try to balance it out by making as many phone calls as I can ;)
2006-12-13 00:17:25 · answer #5 · answered by Roni 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If it is a local call (usually within the same county or sometimes state) then no, we do not have to pay for those calls. However if it's long distance (usually out-of-state or sometimes even in-state but far away) then we have to pay for the long distance charges. Keep in mind that everyone needs to pay a basic monthly telephone bill which can be at least $10-$15.
2006-12-13 00:11:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Canadians and Americans pay a monthly rate for the phone services. You can call as many local calls as you wish for as long as you can. Long distance calls is were the charges start. But we can buy long distance packages that can help us save money.
NOTHING in life is free.
2006-12-13 00:14:40 · answer #7 · answered by Jane D 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. There are different choices in your local calling plans. Some offer free local calling with packages that have thing such as call waiting and/or voicemail and others charge but its usually less than a penny a minute.
Cellphones though are starting a trend of free cellphone-to-cellphone calling when you're calling the same carrier.
2006-12-13 00:11:20 · answer #8 · answered by PointToThaSky 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, we do. We have to pay for a base cost for a service. Mine was $20/month and included free local calls. I had 100 minutes of long distance, but then it was 35 cents/minute after that.
2006-12-13 00:09:29 · answer #9 · answered by FaZizzle 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES it is true. If it is a local call then it is free. If is is long distance (out of state or area) then we are charged "long distance fees.
There is a monthly fee we have to pay for the phone service, usually between $15-$30 a month, depending on service/options, etc.
Hope that helps!
:)
2006-12-13 00:09:53 · answer #10 · answered by Boodie 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋