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All living spaces on campus have pre-installed phone lines maintained exclusively by AT&T. All local calls (that are within the 824, 691 and 228 area) are free. To dial anywhere on campus you need to dial only the last four digits of the number. To be able to call and receive phone calls from off-campus (that is outside the 228 area) you or a roommate, need to sign up for basic service with AT&T, which is about $20 monthly, which is split between everyone in the room.
You are provided with your own seven-digit PAC (Personal Account Code). You need to use this code to make long-distance phone calls. PAC calls can be made from any phone on campus and are charged to your own personal account.
Basic service of phone line maintenance is charged every month in addition to your long-distance charges. Basic service is about $25 a month. You will receive information about the contracts for telephone service over the summer from the Office of Residential Life. Your telephone number will be given to you at that time. (001-315-228-xxxx).
AT&T also provides a "voice mail" system free of charge. You do not need to bring or buy an answering machine.
Cheapest rates are station-to-station calls in the evening or on holidays (check your phone directory or your long distance phone company for details). To place a station-to-station call you must know the number of the party called. If the number is unknown, you should dial 1, the area code of the party being called (for example, Hamilton's area code is 315), and digits 555-1212. An information operator will give you the party's number if you have the correct name. It also helps to have the party's address. You may then dial your party station-to-station and be charged if the call is answered. Person-to-person rates are much higher but you'll incur no charge if the party you request is unavailable. You may also dial direct on international calls.
Use your telephone directory for all local calls. If the party is not listed, dial information (315-555-1212).
For more detailed information on long-distance calls and various phone services, consult the New York Telephone Directory Customer Guide or the AT&T telephone guide.
Toll Free Calls
Any telephone number that begins with a 1-800 or a 1-888 prefix is a toll free number; there is no charge to call. To find the toll-free number of a company or a service, dial 1-800-555-1212 for toll-free directory assistance.
Telegrams
Telegrams in the U.S are sent by Western Union, which has offices in almost every community and most large railroad stations or hotels. If telephoned, the cost of the telegram will be charged to the person whose telephone is used. The basic rate for a telegram is based on a fifteen-word message.
Use Directory Assistance Sparingly
Look in the telephone directory for phone numbers instead of calling Directory Assistance. There is a charge for calling Directory Assistance.
Call Long Distance During Off-Peak Hours
Make your long distance and overseas calls at off-peak hours. The charge for long distance and overseas vary according to the time of the day your call is placed. The rates can vary substantially. Ask your long distance company representative for more information about the most economical times to place your overseas and long distance calls. The most economic times for calling overseas will not necessarily be the same as for domestic long distance. Generally, there are three different calling rates: full weekday rates, evening and night/weekend rates.
Dial Direct Whenever Possible
Operator-assistance calls are generally more expensive than self-dialed calls.
Request a Refund
You can get a credit or refund by calling the operator. Dial "0" when:
- You reach a wrong number
- You have a poor connection or
- You lose money in a pay phone
Read The Telephone Directory
Read the first pages of the telephone directory for additional money-saving tips such as calling cards.
Call Waiting
"Call Waiting" is a customer service option. It allows you to know when someone else is trying to call you when you are already talking on the phone. Instead of getting a busy or engaged signal, the caller will hear the customary ring and you will hear a beep to indicate that someone is trying to get through to you. Many Americans subscribe to this service, so do not be surprised when they ask you to "hold on for a minute, I've got another call." This service is available free of charge on campus.
Please refer to the telephone booklet issued by ACC for more information about this and other custom calling services available to you.
Calling Cards
Many companies provide cheaper long-distance rates than the ones offered by AT&T. You can either buy an actual calling card or sign up for the service over the phone. In the latter case you might need to have a credit card. In order to make a phone call you need to dial a toll free number (a 1 800 number). You will next be instructed to enter your personal account number and finally the phone number you wish to dial.
Search over the Internet or ask "experienced" international students about calling cards and cheap rates.
Time Zones
There are four different time zones in the U.S. They are from East to West: Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific. We fall in the Eastern time zone, that is 4 hours behind GMT in the summer and 5 hours behind GMT in the winter.
Expensive Toll Calls
CAUTION: Calls placed to "976," "900," and "915" numbers will connect you with a variety of pre-recorded and live programs. The cost of these toll calls vary; some can be extremely expensive (e.g., over $25 per minute).
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