The "Single Bill Fee" in Your Phone Bill

If you are billed for both local and long distance service on one phone bill, you may be charged by your long distance provider for this convenience. Many long distance companies are now adding a "single bill fee" to the phone bill of customers who are billed for long distance through their local telephone companies. This is sometimes referred to as LEC billing. This fee is not mandated by the Federal Communications Commission nor is it a FCC charge.

While some long distance companies are notifying consumers before they add this fee, some are not. Therefore, consumers should read their bills carefully each month to see if there are new charges.

Consumers who do not want to incur this charge should notify their long distance carrier and tell them that they wish to be billed separately for long distance service which will eliminate this fee.

Depending on the company, consumers may have the option of paying their long distance phone bills online or having the company bill their credit card. Consumers may also have the option of directly debiting their bank accounts.

Remember, a Smart Consumer will:

Read their bill and any correspondence from their long distance and local phone company carefully.

Call their long distance carrier and ask to be billed separately for long distance service if this fee is not acceptable.

Communicate any concerns directly to their long distance carrier.

Shop around for telephone services and carriers that best suit your needs like those with Chamberlain Communications' Local Providers and Long Distance Providers.