AT&T Ups International Rates

MARTINEZ, Calif. -- A consumer advocate is once again reminding people to check rates before placing calls to other countries from the US. "With many long-distance carriers' domestic rate plans, you do not get discounted international rates," said Rich Sayers of rate comparison site 10-10PhoneRates.com. "This includes new long- distance offerings by SBC and BellSouth and applies to AT&T, MCI and other companies."

Although AT&T gives discounts to non-subscribers via their 10-10-345 service, regular AT&T long-distance subscribers without a specific international plan get charged extremely high rates. For example, with the new increases March 1, 2003, it will cost between $4.18 and $5 a minute to call China. AT&T's 10-10-345 currently charges just 17 cents a minute to China, plus a 30-cent connect fee. Basic rates to Germany will be $1.71 to $2.56, but 10-10-345 charges 17 cents. Mexico $0.95 to $2.62 on basic rates or just 15 to 19 cents with 10-10-345 (plus .30 connect fee).

"Consumers can get even better rates with other 10-10 dial around numbers listed in the objective comparisons at http://10-10PhoneRates.com " according to Sayers.