The Top 5 Questions to Ask Your New Conference Call Provider

1. Do I have to sign a contract? Find out if if they want you to sign a contract, and if so, get a full list of what you are getting for signing the contract. If the conference call company isn't giving you a large break in price for signing the contract, then don't do it. With some conference call providers now offering toll free conference calling for 2.5 per minute without contracts or minimums, for conferences with 100 users or less, so unless you're having conferences of more than 100 people, a contract isn't usually worth it.

2. What are the prices for your services? Get a full list of the features that the conferencing account offers. Make sure the list includes prices for everything, so that you don't use a service that they said comes with your account, but they didn't mention it was an extra 3 cents per minute. With a copy of the complete feature list of prices in hand, you will have a better idea of the true cost of the conference calling services that you are comparing.

3. Are there any hidden fees? Some carriers require you to use at least a minimum amount of minutes to keep your account open, or have a monthly fee, even if the account wasn't accessed during the month in question. Ask upfront for a list of all fees, and for a sample invoice. Make sure you check everything on the bill, and that you aren't paying extra fees that you should be paying.

4. How many people can you have on a call and still have good sound? Get a list of the number of people they can handle in your conference, and still give you high quality conference calling.

5. Can I try it before I buy it? Most conference calling companies that offer decent service want you to try their services because they're proud of their network and their technology. Most companies will give you a test account, so you can test their features and services on a live call. Try out a few companies to see which one you like the best, then use them for your conferencing needs.

Greg Anliker is a phone sales agent, and answers telecom related questions on http://www.calling-plans.com.

Calling-Plans.com reviews, compares and has links for phone companies, so that consumers can sign up for the best plans for their calling paterns and locations. Visit Calling-Plans.com to compare rates for conference call companies, toll free service plans, long distance companies and carriers offering local phone service.