Expert: DebiN - 10/5/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello.  I use my land line phone to return calls made from cell phones that turn out to be long distance calls for me ( this is even with calls from my neighbors etc.)  Is there a way to know in advance if its long distance before returning the call?  Thanks for any help!

ANSWER: Hi Marie -

If the phone number you are calling does not have the same area code that your landline phone has, then the call is going to be long distance for you. Only in situations where there may be a couple of area codes that are considered "local" would this not be the case. For example, in LA, there are several area codes covering the LA metro area - calls within those area codes are local. If you want to tell me the city and state you are in, I can confirm for you the local area code. Anything else would be long distance. You may want to consider getting a bundled long distance package for your landline phone which through many providers is a set rate and you won't get charged separately for long distance. Hope this helps. Thanks.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you so much for all that info.  My area code is 541.  I called my long distance company ( Pioneer Telephone)  and they said if there is a call that I make, their system recognizes it when it is long distance and I get charged for it.  Thanks for your additional help!

Answer
Glad that I could help. I might suggest that if the call you are returning is long distance, that you use your cell phone and just press *67 to block your number if you don't want people to know where you are calling from and just use your home phone for returning local calls. Otherwise, consider getting a long distance package that is all inclusive and you don't get charged for every long distance call. I hope that helps.