Telecom Auditing Practices Page 3
Featured Article and Excerpts from ...
Cut the Cost! A Guide for Telecommunications Expense Management
By Jack Bogle
The first crucial steps are identifying and understanding what you are paying for as shown in your telephone bill. Once you know why you are paying for certain services, you will be armed to identify which services are not needed and which services are being overcharged. However, identifying what services and charges are excessive is only the beginning of the process necessary to recovering the money. "In my experience, telephone companies will generally do anything they can to avoid rectifying overcharges and delay as long as possible any efforts to credit billing errors. Many businesses have simply abandoned any efforts of trying to get money refunded because the process is so arduous."
Rates should be evaluated and negotiated annually to insure that the
best rate is being had. Frequently telephone companies don’t reduce
rates for existing customers even though market rates may have
fallen substantially. "New customers often receive better rates than
current
customers." In addition, companies should eliminate any payment for
services and equipment
that is not currently being used. Frequently telephone companies
will continue billing for
services and equipment that is not used after accounts are upgraded,
especially when there
has been no express order to discontinue them.