Long Distance Phone Service: Reviews

Reviews favor ECG's 2.5-cents-per-minute domestic plan. Billing is in six-second increments with a minimum 18-second charge per call (many providers charge you for a minute). There's a $1.58 monthly charge, which includes… expanda 59-cent recovery fee, and you must pay your bill with an automatic debit withdrawal or credit-card charge each month. ECG's low rate beats competitors, including AT&T and Verizon. One drawback is that ECG long-distance service isn't available everywhere. Entering your local phone number on the ECG website will determine eligibility. Total Call International (below) is more expensive, but it is your best option if you live outside of ECG's coverage area. collapse

Telna (formerly 3U Telecom) beats other long-distance services when it comes to international rates. Although its 4.8-cents-per-minute domestic rate is higher than ECG's, you can call many countries (including Australia,… expandGermany, Japan and the U.K) for the same 4.8 cents. Other companies charge twice as much. There are no monthly fees or minimum usage charges. However, you must pay automatically each month with a credit card or direct debit; you can't pay by check. You have about three days to review your online bill before your card is charged. Telna also provides a special access number that will allow you to make international calls with your cell phone. collapse

TCI has a 3.9-cents-per-minute rate plan with six-second billing increments and no minimums or monthly fees. TCI requires online billing and payment. Customer service is available in six languages, including Spanish.… expandAlthough it is more expensive than ECG, reviews say TCI is a good choice if you're outside ECG's area of availability. Telna, above, has better international rates. collapse