Due to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the competitive market has greatly changed long distance pricing. The law also allows phone companies to increase the price for using a pay phone, typically $.35 or $.50 per call and even higher. The prices will only increase, not decrease. There may also be a future trend to charge pay phone calls by the minute instead of the current per use basis. Presently, some pay phones limit the number of minutes for the local phone call requiring additional money for extending the time for the local phone call.

     The extra charges will require you (the consumer) to carry more change to make a phone call. You can reduce your costs and eliminate the need to carry change by using a prepaid calling card. Many instances occur in which a call will last only one or two minutes. The cost when using a prepaid calling card can be less than the $.35 for using a pay phone. Simply use the card as though a long distance call, give the person you are calling the pay phone number, then have the person you are calling return your call. The calling cards add a great deal of convenience and flexibility by having the costs deducted from an existing account as opposed to carrying or searching for change.

     Another option to save on local phone charges is to make use of special deals offered by cellular phone companies. Some companies offer a monthly fee providing you with a certain number of minutes. The resulting cost may be an even greater money saving opportunity than pay phone charges.


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