Q: I’m trying to minimize expenses. My Qwest telephone service, with taxes and fees, is $25. I also have a $25 charge every three months from AT&T for long-distance service I don’t use. How can I avoid paying too much for all those fees?— Patricia O’Sullivan, Denver
A: First off, you should cancel the AT&T long-distance service you’re not using.
That’s an expense that’s simply money down the drain, especially since your note said you use a prepaid calling card, which often is cheaper.
Everyone with a home telephone can choose — or not — to have a long-distance provider, and some plans are affordably priced. But it’s wasted if you don’t use it.
The taxes and surcharges on your telephone bill — even if you never pick up your phone — can’t be avoided as long as you have phone service, the folks at Qwest say. The government sets the fees and Qwest passes them along.
Be careful with cellphones with out-of-state area codes. Taxes in other areas might be higher than in Denver and you pay based on the area code rather than where you are physically located.
There are a number of Internet alternatives catching on, such as Skype, where you can video conference for free or call long distance directly to a telephone at reduced rates. They’re worth checking out.
