Q:
Why are there errors?
Q: How do local phone companies make billing errors?
Q: What Does an Audit Cost?
Q. Who will actually be looking at my phone bills?
Q. What do you need from me to get started?
Q. When I sign the Letter of Authority do I give up my rights
on my phone bills and services? Q.
How long does the entire recovery take after I submit my bills to you?
Q. What assurances does my company have about confidentiality?
Q. If my company does not get a refund, will we owe anything
for the audit?
Q. If the Telecom Company issues a credit instead of a refund
how does my company pay you?
Q: Why are there errors?
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A: Telecom landscape and constantly changing tariff's and pricing plans.
For the most part, long distance and data providers are more loosely regulated than local phone service companies. Local phone service providers such as Verizon, SBC, Pac Bell, Bell South, Southwestern Bell, etc. are and have always been considered more of a public utility. Meaning they are essential to the well-being of the country in general. This is why they are very restricted by the FCC as it pertains to pricing. Local phone service needs to be affordable to the public. Without it, as you know, this country would basically cease to operate. Just like your electric company. It is essential to everyday life, thereby needs to be highly regulated. You may be of the opinion that local phone service is over-priced and that may be true. However, their flexibility to increase or decrease pricing is restricted. This is also partly due to the Telecommunications act of 1984. This is when AT&T was broken up into what is now known as the baby bells. When a monopoly is broken up, the resulting business practices are monitored and closely examined.
Long distance and data companies are regulated and watched, but with less scrutiny. They are constantly changing pricing plans and tariffs. Although they are required to publicize their changes, they always bury it in some kind of public forum that is never obvious to the public. Perhaps a small announcement in a newspaper. Even then they refer to a tariff that is filed with the FCC that is difficult for even industry insiders to find, much less you.
However, the business customer generally has a contract or a pricing plan for a set period of time. A long distance company has hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions of customers. It is not to difficult to imagine that billing errors are made. Even if you are looking for errors in your bills, many long distance companies make their bills so difficult to interpret that billing errors go unchallenged. We have seen and deciphered all types of bills from all of the telecommunication companies.
Furthermore, there are plans offered by telecommunication providers to special customers. These plans are not advertised because they are intended only for these special customers. However, the law states if you offer something to one customer, you must make it available to all. We know how to find these special offers and make you aware of them and determine your eligibility.
Q:
How do local phone companies make billing errors?
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A: Since local phone bills for businesses are so complex to the everyday person, they can not accurately assess what they're actually paying. The confusing billing system used by local phone companies are written in a language called Universal Service Order Code (USOC).
The USOC language is used to create a coded computerized report called a CSR (customer service record), which in turn, is used by the phone company to create and translate your monthly bill. This unique billing language is copywrited by the phone company for their exclusive use only. Accountants, lawyers, engineers and I.T. people do not have this complex coded information-- only the phone company, a few select professionals and us.
If your company's telecommunications expenses have not been audited within the last 2 years, you owe it to yourself and your bottom line to let our team of experts analyze and audit your bills. Don't be one of the 8 out of 10 businesses being over billed. 8 out of 10 of our clients end up with positive results. Don't forget, this will also protect you against future billing errors as not only are you being compensated for past inaccuracies, but you are fixing a future problem.
If you are an employee of a qualified company, this is a great way to get involved in your company's suggestion program.
Q:
What Does an Audit Cost?
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A: A typical audit results in a 10-20% immediate monthly cost savings plus retroactive refunds for errors detected. Our fee consist of either a percentage of funds recovered, or a percentage of the savings.
Unlike other
outsourcing consultants, we work strictly on a contingency basis. If we
do not find any billing errors resulting in refunds or credits, your company
owes National Voice and Data nothing. Worst case, you have piece of mind
knowing your providers have not been over charging you for the last year
or longer!
Q.
Who will actually be looking at my phone bills?
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A. A staff of highly qualified telecommunications auditors. Their job is to do just one task: audit telecom invoices, identifying errors while optimizing for future cost savings.
Q.
What do you need from me to get started?
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A. Please sign and return to us the contingency Audit agreement, a signed Letter of Authority (copied on your organization's letter head), and use our checklist at What-You-Do for specific items needed. Priority mail is best for sending us your phone bills as it can be traced and delivered usually within three business days. Our fax number is (212) 558-2488. Our mailing address is: National Voice and Data 336 E. 86th Street, Suite 6H, New York, NY 10028.
Q.
When I sign the Letter of Authority do I give up my rights on my phone
bills and services?
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A. No. Even though you give us the power to represent your company when dealing with the telecom company, under no circumstances will any changes or recommendations be initiated without your prior approval.
Q.
How long does the entire recovery take after I submit my bills to you?
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A. Usually 1 to 3 months, depending on the volume of audits taking place at the time. Larger accounts take longer.
Q.
What assurances does my company have about confidentiality?
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A. Your company confidentiality is assured with a signed confidentiality agreement
Q.
If my company does not get a refund, will we owe anything for the audit?
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A. No. Unlike other outsourcing firms, we work strictly on a contingency basis. In other words, if we do not find any billing errors resulting in refunds, your company owes nothing. You simply have the comfort of knowing you are not being overcharged.
Q.
If the Telecom Company issues a credit instead of a refund how does my
company pay you?
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A.
Your company would issue a check to us based on a percentage of your total
recovery. However, should your company decide to switch to a new service,
the Telecom Company must cash refund the money owed to your company in
a form of a check or electronic transfer.