CUB has won a $10 credit for consumers who switch to a low-cost long-distance plan offered by Pioneer Telephone.

CUB's extensive analysis of Illinois' long-distance market has found that Pioneer Telephone's "Rate Buster" plan is the best deal for most consumers. To obtain the $10 bill credit from Pioneer, consumers must sign up for long-distance service with the company by calling
1-877-492-6878 and requesting the CUB discount. The discount will be paid as an automatic $10 bill credit.

Note: AT&T will charge a fee of around $9 to make the switch to a new long-distance carrier. Yes. Like many carriers, Pioneer charges a 99-cent Regulatory Recovery Fee in months when customers make long-distance calls. It also charges a $1.99 "paper-billing fee." Customers have the choice of either a separate paper bill or online billing. Online billing is offered free of charge, but customers who wish to be sent a paper bill will have to pay the $1.99 fee in months they make less than $20 worth of calls. When the Maine-based telephone company discovered that CUB's long-distance analysis was leading to many new customers from Illinois, the company notified CUB that it was eligible for compensation. CUB declined the offer and proposed the money be given directly to consumers instead. Now Pioneer offers the $10 credit to any customer who requests the CUB discount. No. Pioneer Telephone's service operates over the phone lines owned by your local company. The quality of the service is the same.