Local Phone Service FAQs

Use one of the following methods to make an operator-assisted call:

• Dial 0 + area code + 7-digit number.
• Dial 0 to talk to a telephone company operator.
• Dial 00 to talk to your long distance company’s operator.

Collect Calls

A collect call is paid by the party you are trying to reach, provided they agree at the beginning of the call to accept the charges.

Procedure
Tell the operator you’d like to make a collect call and then give your name.

Third-Party Calls

A third-party call allows you to bill someone other than yourself or the owner of the phone line you’re using.

Procedure
Tell the operator you’d like to make a third-party call and give both the area code and telephone number to which the call should be billed.

Person-to-Person Calls

When making a person-to-person call, you pay a higher rate if you reach the individual you’ve specified to the operator; but if the individual is not available or refuses the call, you pay nothing.

Procedure
Tell the operator you’d like to make a person-to-person call and give the name of the person you are calling.

Calling Card Calls

If you have a calling card, you can charge calls to your calling card account. Using such a card comes in handy when you are traveling; using a pay phone and don’t have enough change with you; or you are using someone else’s phone and don’t want them to be billed for your calls. If you don’t have a calling card but would like one, contact Customer Service.

Procedure
Calling card procedures vary. Follow the instructions for the particular calling card you are using. Usually instructions are printed on the back of the card.

For local listings within your area code:

Dial the area code + 555-1212

You will be connected to your regional toll carrier’s Directory Assistance service. You will be billed at their Directory Assistance rates.

Residential customers who have selected D&E Communications as their regional toll carrier can call Directory Assistance two times each month at no charge. Each additional call is 75 cents. Business customers are charged 75 cents per call. (Rates are subject to change.)

For Listings Outside your Local Calling Area Code:

Dial 1 + area code + 555-1212

You will be connected to your long distance company’s Directory Assistance service. You will be billed at their Directory Assistance rates.

For Toll-free Listings:

Dial 1-800-555-1212

A direct-dialed phone call is either local, regional, or long distance, depending on the geographic location of the phone number you dial in relation to your own geographic location.

Local Calls

Local calls are those that take place within your local calling area. These calls do not require any toll charges and are handled by your local telephone company. See “Local Calling Areas” for a listing of call destinations that are considered local for you.

Regional Toll Calls

Pennsylvania is divided into six regional calling areas (also known as Local Access and Transport Areas or LATAs). Calls you make to other people located within your region but outside your local calling area are regional (or intraLATA) toll calls. These calls result in a toll charge, although the toll rate may be different from that of long distance calls. Your local telephone company provides regional toll calling service, or you may select another regional toll carrier.

Long Distance Calls

Calls with destinations located outside your regional calling area are known as long distance (or interLATA) calls. These calls result in a toll charge. A long distance company handles and bills these calls. You may choose your long distance carrier. If you choose D&E as you toll carrier, then you can receive only one bill for your phone service and long distance service, saving you time and effort.

It is a crime under both Pennsylvania and federal laws for anyone to make obscene or harassing phone calls. These laws impose penalties of fines or imprisonment or both. If you receive obscene, harassing, or threatening calls, follow these suggestions:

• Hang up at the first obscene word or if the caller does not say anything when you say hello.
• Give no information, such as your name or address, until the caller has been identified.
• Advise your children to give no information to strangers. If you’re not home, they should say, “Mom/Dad can’t come to the phone right now.”
• Consider Call Trace, an easy-to-use feature available on a per-use basis that tracks the caller’s number — information you may need if the problem continues and you want to press charges. Click here for more information on Call Trace.
• If calls persist, call the D&E Security Department at 717-738-8233 for further instructions. In an emergency, contact your local law enforcement agency.

Taking Action

If you receive two or more live solicitation calls from an entity within any 12-month period after the time you requested to be added to their do-not-call list, consider taking one or more of the following actions:

• If the solicitor provided a phone number or address, as is required by the FCC, call or write the organization and ask them to add you to their do-not-call list.
• Contact your local or state consumer protection office or your state Attorney General’s office.
• Find out if your state permits you to file suit to stop solicitation calls and/or file suit for actual monetary loss. The penalty is $500 in damages or actual monetary losses (whichever is greater).
• Send a letter regarding suspected violations of the TCPA or FCC’s rules to:
  

  Federal Communications Commission
  Consumer Information Bureau, Complaints
  445 12th St. SW
  Washington, DC 20554

The letter should contain:

• your name, address, and daytime telephone number
• telephone number the solicitor called
• name, address, and phone number of the organization placing the calls
• date you requested to be added to their do-not-call list and the name of the individual with whom you spoke
• dates and times you received calls from the organization
• whether or not you have filed suit in state court

Deceptive Telemarketing Sales Practices

To request information about the Federal Trade Commission’s telemarketing sales rule, which protects consumers from deceptive and abusive telemarketing practices, look up http://www.ftc.gov on the Internet or write to:

Federal Trade Commission
Public Reference Branch
Drop H 240
6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580

If you believe you are a victim of false or deceptive phone solicitation sales practices, send a complaint to:

Federal Trade Commission
Consumer Response Center
Drop H 285
6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580