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Telecom Expense Management - Spotting Telecom Billing Errors

Whether a business has only ten employees making a few long distance calls a day, or is a burgeoning enterprise with hundreds of employees conducting thousands of calls and data transfers every hour, it is important for that business to carefully manage their telecommunication costs. Telecom Expense Management, or TEM, involves the constant monitoring of telecom expenses that accrue monthly. The goal of TEM is to ensure that invoices match agreed upon contract rates and tariffs, and to optimize the services offered by the telecom provider with the needs of the individual business. Effective TEM is an essential accounting task that must be conducted by companies and firms working in virtually all industries.Billing errors lead businesses to overpay for the services rendered by the telecom provider. These errors can waste money on services that were neither asked for nor used and will significantly eat into profit margins over time. Billing errors can range from honest mistakes made by the telecom provider, to more insidious and deceptive practices that rely on a business"s preoccupation with other matters to sneak changes into the billing terms.Here are some errors that have been known to occur.1. Simple Human or Computer MiscalculationsA common error is one in which either a computer or human miscalculation leads to an incorrect total on a billing invoice. The miscalculation may only affect the amount charged for a single telephone call, or it might be one that substantially alters all the monthly charges. These miscalculations can be fixed by bringing them to the attention of the telecom provider.2. Duplicate BillsLarge telecom providers are susceptible to the same issues that negatively affect any other bureaucracy. With multiple agents handling the same account, confusion and mistakes are likely to eventually occur. If an account is not properly flagged as being billed, or communication between employees is poor, duplicate bills can accidentally be sent to clients. And unless your company is vigilant in detecting duplicate billing, you might be overpaying. Once again, this error can be fixed by bringing it to the attention of the provider.3. Incorrect Contracted RatesThe agreed upon terms between the business client and the telecom provider may not always be honored. Due to miscommunication between the client and provider or sloppy account management, the rate assigned to the business may differ from the contracted deal that was negotiated when the telecom services were first acquired. This error - especially if the difference is relatively minor - can continue unbeknownst to the client for months at a time. Keen and meticulous oversight of billing statements is needed to spot this error.4. Unnecessary SurchargesSurcharges on services that should be included in the contracted plan are sometimes added to an account without the client"s knowledge. Surcharges related to limits on data transfer, available phone lines or long distance use could be tacked onto the monthly bill. These additional fees unreasonably inflate communication costs, and unfairly penalize the client for using services to which he should already be entitled. Knowing what"s in your contract is important here and keeping on guard for any additional fees.5. Cramming, Slamming and Modem HijackingThe most unethical of billing errors is the intentional altering of the agreed upon terms between the client and provider. "Cramming", as it is commonly called, involves additional fees that are unrelated to any actual use or services. The provider will select and choose additional "phantom" services and amend them to the original contract. They may be labeled as a "Membership Fee" or "ISP Service Fee", but are in fact nothing more than boldfaced attempts to slyly bilk more money from clients. Occasionally the terms of the original contract are ambiguous and reserve the provider"s right to increase or otherwise manipulate future rates and options. A client must take charge and directly confront telecom providers that engage in this practice. They shou

Free Internet Calling: Leveraging Pc Phone Calls

Voice over IP is a digital technology that is used to forward calls in digital packet forms to others at distant places of the world. As the technology is completely digital and makes use of satellites, so several service providers have found it possible on their part to offer free services to their customers. The move has generated world wide applause and people have started to abandon traditional telephone networks. An incredible number of users have subscribed to the services offered by VoIP networks.

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