Why Audit

If you had sixty different billing systems to invoice your customers, would you feel confident about the accuracy of your invoices?

Telecom carriers want you to think so…

With the changing landscape of telcom carriers, i.e. mergers, acquisitions, new service plans, broadened services, convergence of long distance and local service, the complexity of telecom billing rivals our Federal tax code.

  • Industry reports estimate that 80% of all commercial telecom bills are incorrect.
  • Common overcharges are from 15 – 25% of annual telecom budgets.
  • Pursuing an overcharge with the carrier is a daunting task if you don’t know the carrier’s process for reviewing and crediting overcharges, and the legal basis for claiming refunds. It usually results in less than the full credit due.
  • There are numerous “hidden” charges buried in most commercial bills. Current law allows carriers to consolidate numerous charges.
  • Do you know with certainty that you are being billed for all
    services according to your negotiated contract, or tariff?
  • Have you closed sites or made major circuit changes in the
    past year?
  • Are you constantly adding, or changing services?

The Changing Landscape of Telecommunications

It’s no secret the telecom industry has seen significant change over the last few years.

  • Changes in technology, with increased data services, and increased wireless services.
  • Changes in vendors, with consolidating companies, and financially strapped long-distance providers.
  • Changes in services and billing structures, with the convergence of long distance providers offering local service, with local providers offering long distance, and with some vendors offering all-in-one, one-stop shopping.

All of this change, and its inherent complexity, have made analysis of telecom plans and bills an amazing challenge.

  • Are you on the best plan for your needs?
  • Are you being billed for services you no longer use?
  • Do you understand the tariffs, taxes and other hidden charges?
  • How do you negotiate with the carrier when you do have an overcharge problem?

Again, short of our federal tax code, nothing is more complicated, and ever changing as the telecom industry’s service rate structure. And never has there been such a need by businesses for an industry expert to ensure that they are getting the best possible service at the best possible price.

And with all of this change, one thing has remained the same – the telecom carriers' commitment to customer service continues to erode.

“Statistics show that carriers have decreased their customer service centers by 65% over the past three years. In some cases, personnel have been replaced by Internet customer care centers.”
M.S. Mastel, Telecom Audit, copyright 2003 McGraw-Hill

Shouldn’t our government enforce proper billing by the telecom industry?

“The Government is ill equipped to address the multitude of errors and billing excesses.”
Susan Hess, former Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission

"We thought our telephone bills were clean. I never expected we would see a 20% reduction in our total telecom spending."

John Freeman - CFO
VistaPharm

The solution: Tri-Solve is a customer advocate, and engages your telecom vendor, on your behalf, to negotiate credits and refunds for overcharge. Tri-Solve also takes action to ensure that erroneous charges are removed from future invoices, potentially saving your company thousands of dollars.