Sarbanes-Oxley:

It appears from certain sections of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (Sec 302 and Section 404) that corporations that are required to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley must have certain internal controls and processes in place.  The services supplied by ATI will enable compliance with this act. Contingent fee auditing supplied by ATI in most cases will yield a positive savings above all costs associated with the compliance efforts.

Services and  rates:

SBC's rate increases have now been permanently stopped in  Illinois.  The courts have ruled against SBC and will not allow the inordinate rate increase to take effect.

What should I do to protect my company against the never ending rate free-fall?  Understand that when the rates are too low the service provided by the carriers will deteriorate.

At present account teams have all but disappeared and getting an order completed, obtaining critical information, receiving an accurate quote and just getting any kind of service from major carriers has gone the way of the dinosaur...becoming extinct.

Finding a knowledgeable person who has been with the company for more than several hours has become a skill that is attributable to the gifted.

First, never never never sign anything that you do not fully and completely understand.  Do not rely on an attorney who is not a telecommunication expert. You must work with people who come from the industry and understand the tricks used by the carriers to maximize their revenue.

Second, sign only very short term contracts with very very very low commitments. 

Third, be prepared to check every aspect of your bill and compare every unique item with your contract to make sure that you are paying the correct rate. Never sign an agreement based on tariff or on rates that can increase.

Fourth, be prepared to work for many many many hours just trying to get the smallest item fixed. The hours and empty promises are the most frustrating part of the project.

Which carrier is best and which program should I sign up for?  This is the dilemma that is frustrating all decision makers in the Telecommunication Industry.  The answer is the carrier with the simplest agreements with the lowest rates with the best staff.  Checking out the staff is very difficult...ask for references in your industry, ask for written procedures for elevating complaints and talk to various individuals that can work on your account when the need arises. This will help you determine if you want to work with the existing staff.

Cell Phones:

What do I do with my cell phones to obtain the best rates and service?

All phones must be analyzed often.  Corporate bulk rate programs are not always the best programs and can cost clients substantially more than necessary.

Each phone should be analyzed at least quarterly and put on the best program that fits the users calling pattern.

We find unused phones where our clients are paying as much as $99/month for a phone that was lost many months ago.  The Cellular Industry estimates that 10% of the wireless phones are no longer in service however businesses keep paying....what a waste....

We spot these phone by looking for phones with zero usage.  When we call them we expect someone to answer or for voice mail to be present.  If we get no answers and no voice mail it indicates that it is a lost phone.

Lastly, the area you are in will determine which phone will work best.  You need to test the carriers phone or use an expert that will be able to predetermine which phone will work best.

ATI:

Please visit our updated Web site  ( www.auditbills.com ) ...new services are available to serve you better including software to track, manage and automatically audit all of your telecommunication expenses.

OUR PROMISE TO YOU: "ATI is able to work with your existing carriers and/or make cost saving suggestions that will reduce your telecommunication costs between 10% to 40%.  We do not work for the carriers.  We design networks with backup in mind so  you will have the most reliable communication services possible.  We fully inventory your voice/data services and make recommendations that best support your telecommunication goals.

We hope you will look forward to the Communicator and would appreciate any feedback that you would like to provide. 

Please email comments to dc@auditbills.com

ATI Telecommunication Accounting and Management Services

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