Rategate Service & Help

Dear user,
Rategate.com wants you to make a well educated caller. We want you to find and navigate through the telecommunication jungle. Thus we tried to collect many usefull infos concerning telecommunication issues. We continously try to collect all telecommunication data to help you explain all the different telecommunication terms. One example is your telphone bill. You will find tons of different terms, rates and prices allthough you really do not understand what you should pay for. If you navigate through our help and service section, you will find a lot of explanation for all those terms. Please feel free to navigate through Rategate and make yourself a well educated caller.

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Collect Call Information

Consumers spend millions of dollars a year making collect calls and most people have no idea of the cost until the bill arrives. You should never make a collect call or third party call if at all possible. Carriers make a fortune from consumers on collect calls because consumers don't carry a calling card.
Collect call is a telephone call in which the calling party wants to place a call at the called party's expense. In the past, collect calls were only possible as an operator-assisted call, but with the introduction of computer-based telephone dialing equipment, it is now possible to place a collect call without using an operator.

Collect Call Provider List

Below you can find a list of current Collect Call Providers. Collect Call is a relatively unknown field of telecommunication. Therefore you can always be sure that we continuously strive to update and further develop this particular page. Realize that for all these services you will have additional charges for taxes, the Universal Service Fund (USF) charge, payphone surcharge, and any other charge the carrier can legally place on you. Because collect calling rates could change at any time, always ask for a rate quote before placing your call. NOTE:To make sure you never have to pay such high rates for a collect call, always carry a calling card for emergency use. A card issued to you by your long distance carrier or a prepaid card will be up to 95% cheaper than making a collect call. Collect Call Provider List

AT&T (1-800-CallATT)

Possibly the most well known collect calling provider due to the numerous TV commercials for "dial down the centre". Although the commercials extol the benefits of using their collect calling service, you will never see the rates advertised on TV, and for good reason: If using an automated service:
$4.99 per call surcharge
99 cents per minute
If using a live operator:
$7.50 per call surcharge
99 cents per minute
MCI (1-800-COLLECT)
If using an automated service:
$4.99 per call surcharge
$1.15 per minute
If using a live operator:
$6.49 per call surcharge
$1.15 per minute
Verizon (1-800-USE THE VZ)

Note: If using this number, it is important to get a rate quote beforehand. According to Verizon, rates are based on exactly where you are calling from. For example you point out a rate of $3.30 connection and then 79¢ based on being in Philadelphia.
If using an automated service:
$4.09 for the first minute
79 cents each additional minute
If using a live operator:
$5.78 for the first minute
79 cents each additional minute
SBC

If using an automated service:
$0.00 per call surcharge
65 cents each minute
If using a live operator:
$3.95 per call surcharge
65 cents each minute
Sprint
Other than the standard "00" access, Sprint has two toll free access options.
Using 1-800-288-2272:
If using an automated service:
$4.99 per call surcharge
99 cents each minute
If using a live operator:
$4.99 per call surcharge plus an additional $1.15 charge
99 cents each minute
Using 1-800-ONE-DIME:
If using an automated service:
$4.99 per call surcharge
10 cents each minute
If using a live operator:
$4.99 per call surcharge plus an additional $1.15 charge
10 cents each minute

How to make a collect call

Collect calls are ideal for when you're stranded and out of change... or for when you just don't want to pay for your own phone calls.

Pick up the receiver, listen for the dial tone, then dial "0" followed by the area code and phone number of the person or place you are trying to reach
Listen for a tone followed by recorded instructions about making a collect call
Speak your name when prompted.
Alternatively, talk to an operator. Pick up the receiver, dial "0" then inform the operator that you would like to place a collect call. Follow his or her instructions

Tips:

Use the area code even if the call is local.
Some phone companies offer alternatives to dialing "0" to make a collect call.

How does a collect call provider bill?

Charges for all calls will be billed directly to the party you called through their local phone company and will appear on separate pages of their home phone bill.

Collect Call Scam

The collect call scam involves scam artists calling, generally late a night, impersonating an operator. In order for the householder to receive the collect call, the householder must give out their credit card or calling card details to allow the call to be billed. Once the caller has the credit card details, they hang up, and either sell the credit card details, or use the information themselves for fraudulent purchases.
The caller is hoping to catch the householder off guard by calling late at night, and often claim the call is coming from a hospital or for some other emergency, to entice the householder to receive the call.

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