MCI's 'The Neighborhood' (1 Viewer)

[Garrett Lundy]

It seems too good to be true. Unlimited local and long distance calls for $49/month. With free caller-ID, call waiting, 3-way calling, and call forwarding.
I could give a rodent's rectum about 3-way calling or call forwarding, but almost "free" long distance is intriguing! (My last Verizon bill was $45 without any LD calls).
I was wondering if any forum members, or people you know use MCI's 'The Neighborhood'. Are there any secret fee's or charges on top of the monthly base-rate? If the service runs anything like advertised, I may have to make a 25-day call to the other half the country, for no real reason

 

[MickeS]

http://www.theneighborhood.com/res_l...ps/default.jsp
Seems pretty good. I guess they need to compete with the cell phone companies that give you long distance for a flat monthly rate in most of their plans.
This was an intriguing feautre that I haven't seen before:
But it's $59.99, at least for me, and then I'd have to add the international calling plan, which is $4. International calls aren't included. So I'd be at $63.99 + taxes and fees + international calling rates. Still if I called long distance a lot it would be worth it, I think. But then I'd probably just get a cellphone with a LD plan.
/Mike

 

[Larry Seno Jr.]

Unlimited Long Distance is the present. AT&T also has a package called AT&T unlimited where your calls to other AT&T customers are only $19.95 unlimited every month.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

The catch is that the person you are calling also has the be a customer of the same carrier. The carriers are hoping to convert some folks from the competition, since the chances of all your "friends and family" being with the same long distance carrier is pretty remote.

 

[MickeS]

Scott, that's the case with AT&T, but I didn't see that mentioned on the MCI site. It just says:


I've had MCI long distance, and have been very pleased with their customer service and clear and concise contracts, so I'd be surprised if they didn't mention this if that's the case.

/Mike

 

[Daniel Swartz]

Mike:

The carrier limitation only applies to the cheaper MCI plan (~$30 I think). The $50 one has unlimited calls to anyone ... MCI customer or not.

 

[Scott Merryfield]

Mike,

If MCI removed the restriction of only applying to other MCI customers, then it's a decent deal for someone with a lot of long distance calls.

Personally, I have been using my cell phone for all my long distance calls, since my 300 minutes per month includes local and long distance calls at anytime for $30/month. I have yet to go over the 300 minutes in any month.

 

[Michael*K]

I love resurrecting old threads. So I'm thinking of switching over to this MCI "Neighborhood" plan for $49.99 a month. It includes:
•Unlimited long distance calls
•Unlimited local toll calls
•Unlimited local calls
•One company for everything
•Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call Waiting ID, Speed Dial 8 and •Three-Way Calling at no extra charge
•Personal Voicemail & Message Center
•Low rate calling card
Now my SBC Ameritech local bill runs about $50-60 a month and my MCI long distance bill runs about $20-30 a month, so $49.99 a month for everything sounds pretty damned appealing. I've been more than satisfied with my MCI long distance service.
Has anyone gotten this "Neighborhood" plan? The main question I have is how badly you are being socked with the ubiquitous "additional taxes and surcharges" that apply. Judging by the information I see, it looks like it might add an additional $12 or so a month. Does this sounds right or should I set the estimate higher or lower? Sound off on your opinions. Thanks.