http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/ Articles at The Article Planet en-us http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/business/communication/bt-and-o2-in-conflict-over-lower-phone-bills.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/business/communication/bt-and-o2-in-conflict-over-lower-phone-bills.html Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:20:34 -0500
Ofcom, is to look at the issue of mobile termination rates - which is the charge levied by mobile networks on each other and fixed-line operators to connect calls. O2 has warned that as a consequence the mobile phone companies would have to raise prices and potentially introduce "use by" dates on top-up credit.

They claim this would be particularly painful for low-income households and younger consumers as many are solely reliant on pre-pay mobile phones and do not have a BT line.

BT claim however that we have been here before, In 2002 when Offcom first proposed limits on termination rates. O2 made similar claims which have been proved untrue with the benefit of 20 - 20 hindsight, with the usage of prepaid phones actually rising since that point in time.

BT and the UK's newest mobile phone network 3 have joined forces to call for a scrapping of mobile termination rates through their "terminate the rate" campaign. More than 70,000 people have already signed their petition and 198 MPs have expressed their support for an early day motion calling for termination rates to be axed.

"They know that excessive mobile termination rates are unfair, distort competition and prevent fixed phone companies from offering low-priced calls to mobiles," John Petter said in his letter to the Guardian. "It's no wonder that O2 and the other mobile operators want to hang on to the current regime and are resisting change. But the sky won't fall."

O2 questions whether a reduction in mobile termination rates would actually bring the desired drop in call charges from fixed-line phones. They have stated "In 2007, when mobile termination charges fell significantly, both BT's and Virgin Media's [cable] average retail prices actually rose. Mobile termination charges fell again, significantly, from April 2009, but this has had no effect on BT's and Virgin Media's standard retail charges; they remain stubbornly high. If there is a problem in fixed retail markets, it is not one that lower mobile termination rates would solve. ]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/business/communication/telecom-expense-management-spotting-telecom-billing-errors.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/business/communication/telecom-expense-management-spotting-telecom-billing-errors.html Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:17:39 -0500
Telecom Expense Management, or TEM, involves the constant monitoring of telecom expenses that accrue monthly. The goal of TEM is to ensure that invoices match agreed upon contract rates and tariffs, and to optimize the services offered by the telecom provider with the needs of the individual business. Effective TEM is an essential accounting task that must be conducted by companies and firms working in virtually all industries.

Billing errors lead businesses to overpay for the services rendered by the telecom provider. These errors can waste money on services that were neither asked for nor used and will significantly eat into profit margins over time. Billing errors can range from honest mistakes made by the telecom provider, to more insidious and deceptive practices that rely on a business's preoccupation with other matters to sneak changes into the billing terms.

Here are some errors that have been known to occur.

1. Simple Human or Computer Miscalculations

A common error is one in which either a computer or human miscalculation leads to an incorrect total on a billing invoice. The miscalculation may only affect the amount charged for a single telephone call, or it might be one that substantially alters all the monthly charges. These miscalculations can be fixed by bringing them to the attention of the telecom provider.

2. Duplicate Bills

Large telecom providers are susceptible to the same issues that negatively affect any other bureaucracy. With multiple agents handling the same account, confusion and mistakes are likely to eventually occur. If an account is not properly flagged as being billed, or communication between employees is poor, duplicate bills can accidentally be sent to clients. And unless your company is vigilant in detecting duplicate billing, you might be overpaying. Once again, this error can be fixed by bringing it to the attention of the provider.

3. Incorrect Contracted Rates

The agreed upon terms between the business client and the telecom provider may not always be honored. Due to miscommunication between the client and provider or sloppy account management, the rate assigned to the business may differ from the contracted deal that was negotiated when the telecom services were first acquired. This error - especially if the difference is relatively minor - can continue unbeknownst to the client for months at a time. Keen and meticulous oversight of billing statements is needed to spot this error.

4. Unnecessary Surcharges

Surcharges on services that should be included in the contracted plan are sometimes added to an account without the client's knowledge. Surcharges related to limits on data transfer, available phone lines or long distance use could be tacked onto the monthly bill. These additional fees unreasonably inflate communication costs, and unfairly penalize the client for using services to which he should already be entitled. Knowing what's in your contract is important here and keeping on guard for any additional fees.

5. Cramming, Slamming and Modem Hijacking

The most unethical of billing errors is the intentional altering of the agreed upon terms between the client and provider. 'Cramming', as it is commonly called, involves additional fees that are unrelated to any actual use or services. The provider will select and choose additional 'phantom' services and amend them to the original contract. They may be labeled as a 'Membership Fee' or 'ISP Service Fee', but are in fact nothing more than boldfaced attempts to slyly bilk more money from clients. Occasionally the terms of the original contract are ambiguous and reserve the provider's right to increase or otherwise manipulate future rates and options. A client must take charge and directly confront telecom providers that engage in this practice. They should ask their provider why they were charged those specific fees and attempt to have them removed.

"Slamming" is the practice of switching a telephone customer's long-distance service provider to another carrier without the customer's permission. In recent years, this practice has lessened because customers now have to go through a series of verifications to change their long distance service.

"Modem hijacking" is a variation on cramming. It occurs when software, usually delivered through a pop-up ad, is downloaded onto a business computer over the Internet. It then uses dialing software to reroute the computer modem to dial long-distance numbers. The fees charged for this can be ridiculously high.

6. Unreimbursed Refunds or Credits

Another error involves a late or absent refund or discount from a telecom provider. This occurs when billing errors have been brought to the attention of the provider, but the expected refund is not given. A special rate or discount reserved for business clients may likewise not be actualized. These delays and errors can be frustrating, increasing the animosity between client and provider.

The wide range of errors that can effect your bottom line, and the subsequent monitoring that preventing them entails, is a time and resource drain that is sometimes best managed by professionals who have the industry experience to know both the needs and demands that business clients have. Though it is possible for some small clients to adequately manage their telecom expenses on their own, for most the task is demanding. Effective TEM should not be relegated to beleaguered employees already busy with other daily obligations. Using experienced experts provides the peace of mind to focus on the more important task of successfully managing your business. ]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/business/communication/take-advantage-of-comcast-special-offers-for-new-customers.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/business/communication/take-advantage-of-comcast-special-offers-for-new-customers.html Mon, 07 Sep 2009 02:19:59 -0500
Most affordable phone, internet,and cable providers use a one size fits all mentality which leads to the disappointment in services. With Comcast, the answer lies in the friendliness of their customer service and product offerings. Searching for a high quality service provider is frustrating and annoying for many new buyers. The Comcast special offers for new customers extends their appreciation in discounts never seen by communication firms.

By expanding and conquering the Jacksonville, Florida market, Comcast has improved its service offerings by leaps and bounds. New customers have access to 24 hour customer service, online support, technicians, and excellent products. Customers are given an opportunity to save thousands of dollars in phone services by switching to Comcast. It's a no-brainer when some introductory offers are 'almost' free for people to try.

Older as well as newer customers find their products exceptional. Other telephone providers offer services almost 20% higher than Comcast. What does this say about the competition's belief in customer-oriented business? The fees of competitors can eat up a good amount of a customer's income in today's economy. Comcast has considered this issues and decided to keep their high quality offers affordable for all.

Interested in what products and services they have? Comcast presents a strong line of communication services such as high speed internet, high definition cable, and unlimited calling plans. You can decide to use their Triple Play offer or purchase the services you require separately. Small business owners can use their reliable services to keep their business running smoothly too. Their offers are suited for residential and business accounts with more to come.

By taking a closer look into the companys success, Comcast special offers is only a gesture of respect and appreciation for considering their company. Current clients understand and love the dedication team members place by prioritizing their needs. More communication firms could learn a lesson from this outstanding company and it begins by picking up the phone requesting a trial offer to become a new customer of the Comcast family. ]]> http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/business/communication/calling-features-you-may-not-realize-you-have.html http://articles.mychoicedeals.com/business/communication/calling-features-you-may-not-realize-you-have.html Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:04:45 -0500
When You're Not Available

It's impossible to be available for every person calling your line. You may be involved in a project, away from home, or spending time with your family. You might simply be unable to reach your telephone before the caller hangs up. Your provider should offer a number of features which help ensure you don't miss important calls. For example, voicemail lets callers leave messages that you can return later. You can even retrieve them remotely. Call forwarding lets you forward connections to any phone you wish - valuable if you're traveling.

Creating Helpful Obstacles

Because your available time is limited, it's valuable. You don't want to spend it talking with telemarketers, survey takers, and unfamiliar calling parties. Services like Caller ID, blocking and anonymous rejection can help you raise obstacles between you and others. For example, if a telemarketing firm is relentlessly calling your line, ask your carrier to block them based on their phone number. If a survey organization blocks their number from showing on your Caller ID display, your provider can automatically forward them to an anonymous rejection message.

By using these services to create obstacles between you and unfamiliar callers, you can manage your time while talking to the people from whom you actually want to hear.

For Convenience Sake

Your phone carrier likely offers a number of features that are designed for convenience. For example, speed dialing lets you connect to predefined telephone numbers without dialing the entire number. Repeat dialing allows you to easily reconnect to the last destination you called. Three-way calling is a feature that allows three people to connect on the same line. That's helpful for planning events; rather than coordinating plans with individual callers, it's a free alternative to teleconferencing.

Many of the features we've described above can help you save time, eliminate frustration, and be more available to important callers. What's more, your home telephone provider likely makes some, if not all, of these services available to you at no charge. Oddly, even though these services are simple to activate, most customers remain unaware that they can take advantage of them. Check with your residential phone line provider to determine which of the above services you may be neglecting. ]]>