CUB Issues Consumer Alert: Illinois Phone Customers Have Until April 1 to Take Advantage of $20 Long-Distance Credit

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Mar 22, 2010, 12:36 ET

CHICAGO, March 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) on Monday issued a consumer alert reminding Illinois phone customers that one of the best long-distance deals in the country can help them save hundreds of dollars a year, even as a $20 credit connected to the offer is set to be reduced on April 1.

After negotiations with CUB, Pioneer, a South Portland, Maine-based company, first offered the $20 credit to Illinois consumers in January of 2008. The company plans to reduce it to $10 on April 1.

CUB, a nonprofit consumer group, gets no compensation from Pioneer, but the watchdog's ongoing analysis of the long-distance market has consistently ranked Pioneer's Rate Buster Plan as among a handful of excellent long-distance deals in the country—even with a reduced credit.

"No question, Pioneer Telephone's Rate Buster plan is a good deal, and it will still be after April 1," CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. "But Illinois consumers who want to get the company's one-time $20 credit need to sign up before the end of the month."

Pioneer charges Illinois customers living in AT&T and Verizon territory 1.9 cents per minute for in-state "local toll" and long-distance calls (to Illinois locations beyond 15 to 17 miles from home), and 2.7 cents per minute for calls to other states. There's a 99-cent monthly fee, but it is waived for consumers who choose online billing, or in any month they make more than $15 worth of calls.

Residents of other parts of Illinois pay 4.9 cents per minute for an in-state long-distance call and 3.3 cents per minute for a call to another state. Although these rates are slightly higher, they're still among the best in the long-distance market.

The Pioneer offer is featured on CUB's Phone Savings Center, which is at www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org. Other tips include:

Use the CUB Cellphone Saver (www.CUBCellphoneSaver.com), a state-of-the art online tool that automatically analyzes wireless bills. The Cellphone Saver, created by a Texas-based company called Validas, has been showing consumers how to cut their bills by an average of more than $300 a year.
Drop Line-Backer, or other optional inside-wire protection plans. The plans, which range from a few dollars to $7.50 a month or more, cover repairs to wires inside the walls of a home. The service, however, is rarely needed. In fact, such problems happen on average only once every 20 to 30 years.
Avoid paying $2 per call for traditional "411" service. Call 1-800-FREE 411 or 1-800-INFO FAST for free residential or business listings.
AT&T customers can switch to a Consumer's Choice plan for local service. AT&T is required to offer the plans, which were designed by CUB under a legal settlement. For help choosing the right plan, call CUB's Consumer Hotline, at 1-800-669-5556, or visit the Phone Savings Center, at www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org, and use the Local Phone Cost-cutter tool.

"Most people are overpaying on their phone service, but CUB's guidance has been saving Illinois consumers an average of about $200 a year," Kolata said. "Pioneer's deal, along with CUB's other tips, can cut your costs almost immediately, and that's great news in this economy."

CUB also has created a special webpage at the Phone Savings Center where people can learn more about Pioneer's offer and sign up for it. Residents also can call the company directly, at 1-877-492-6878, or call CUB, at 1-800-669-5556.

CUB is Illinois' leading nonprofit utility watchdog organization. It was created by the Illinois legislature in 1983 to represent the interests of residential and small-business utility customers. Since then, CUB has helped save consumers more than $10 billion by blocking rate hikes and securing refunds. For more information, call CUB's Consumer Hotline at 1-800-669-5556 or visit www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org.

SOURCE Citizens Utility Board