Are there any signup fees, monthly fees or minimum usage required?

A monthly fee will apply depending on the billing option you choose. Please refer to billing options below for more details. We do not charge a "sign up" fee; but local phone companies normally charge a fee to switch your service that is not reimbursed by CST.

How long does it take to switch to CogniPhone?

This varies and is primarily based on how long your local phone company takes to process the change order. The average time is 2 weeks, but in some areas it may take as little as 2 days.

What is the process after the online order is submitted?

Assuming that your credit card is approved, an automated system known as Third Party Verification - ( TPV ) will call the Billing Telephone Number (BTN) and ask you a few questions to verify your line switch order. A completed TPV will allow us to perform the final line switch. We know that you may not be at the Billing Telephone Number - ( BTN ) at the time you fill in this signup form. Look for a special web link in your activation email from Cogniphone which will allow you to trigger a TPV phone call 24 hours a day. This option is recommended for quickest account activation.

For a multi-line business or if Third Party Verification is not possible, please complete the online order form. After that, you will receive the confirmation email message from Cognigen Switching Technologies that will instruct you how to download the "Letter Of Authorization". (This is in case that you have many lines to switch or just want to skip a TVP phone call).

How do I know when I'm switched to CogniPhone?

You can dial 1-700-555-4141 and a recording will announce who your long distance carrier is.

Who do I contact for billing and technical questions?

What is a PIC freeze?

This is when a customer makes arrangements with their local exchange carrier (local telephone company) to prevent unauthorized changing of their long distance telephone carrier (oral or written). This feature is free of charge and most of the customers don't know that they have it, which may cause the long distance order to be delayed up to several weeks. If you are unsure whether you have it or not, we strongly recommend you to contact your local phone company and check. If you do have a PIC freeze on your line, please remove it before submitting the long distance order.

Can I get a calling card?

What are my billing options?

There are three billing options. 1)"Bill Me" option allows you to mail in your payment and includes a monthly invoice mailed directly to your physical address. These accounts are subject to credit approval. 2)"Auto Pay" monthly with credit card with online invoice. 3) "Auto Pay" monthly with credit card with a monthly invoice mailed directly to your physical address. To receive a paper invoice in the mail with any option a monthly fee of $1.99 will apply in any month where usage is lower than $20. When choosing the online option you can conveniently view your statement online by using our Online Account Management System. All customers have access to the online account management system regardless of how they pay.

How about the line quality?

CogniPhone uses one of the nation's largest interstate carriers with complete fiberoptic networks that provide the crystal clear connection - actually one of the best in US.

Can I order a toll free service with CogniPhone?

Yes. After your CogniPhone account is created you will be able to place an order for toll free service. You have the option to set up a new number or transfer an existing toll free number to your CogniPhone account. The monthly service charge for each toll free number is $1.50, no minimum and no setup fee. Current state to state rate applies to all toll free service calls. Toll free service to originate and terminate in US only.

How can I add more lines to my account?

After your CogniPhone account is created you can have additional lines added to your account through your secure online account access web site.

Am I protected by law from unauthorized phone line switching?

The phone line you enter must be an existing phone line for which your name or company name appears on your phone bill. Federal government imposed fine for knowingly trying to "Slam" or switch a phone line without proper authorization can be up to $25,000 per line. Please be sure to enter only your own phone lines.

What is Third Party Verification?

In the last few years there have been many cases of telephone customers having their Interstate Carrier changed without the customer's authorization. Because of these abuses, a Federal regulation was created that requires a customer to provide a written authorization or verify their desire to switch their carrier through a third party. "Third Party Verification" (TPV) is required whenever a telephone customer switches their Interstate Carrier. Cogniphone uses VoiceLog, an authorized TPV vendor to perform our verifications. We cannot switch your lines until we receive a Voicelog TPV confirmation, or a written "Letter of Authorization" (LOA) form directly from the customer.

Does Cogniphone reimburse for charges made by the local phone company?

Cogniphone does not reimburse customers for fees charged by the local provider for switching to CogniPhone.

Is operator and or directory assistance available through CogniPhone?

CogniPhone does not provide operator assistance. When dialing 0 (zero) from a registered phone number you will be connected directly to your local telephone company. Any operator assistance charges incurred will applied by your local provider on your local phone bill. Directory assistance is reached by dialing 1+ area code+ 555+1212. The service is provided by a National Directory Assistance company. The cost of each directory assistance call is $0.60 which will be applied by Cogniphone.

If I switch to CogniPhone does this include my International calls?

Yes, unless you have other arrangements in place with your local provider. If there are any restrictions on your lines, international service will not be switched. If you are not sure of any existing arrangements, you will need to contact your local provider to confirm.

Is there a limit applied to my CogniPhone long distance account?

A limit applies as follows only to your calling card and dial around usage. If you are placing only 1+ calls, no limit applies and billing is done automatically to your credit card at the end of the billing period.

Your CogniPhone calling card or dial around registered phone numbers start with a limit of $100. Every time you reach 90% of your dial around or calling card usage limit, your credit card is set to be charged automatically. To avoid multiple charges to your credit card during a single month or even temporary deactivation during a call, you are encouraged to raise your usage limit at time of activation to the estimated amount of monthly usage.

Via our online customer support management system, you will be able to view your daily dial around and or calling card raw call detail report as well as a comprehensive payment history for you to print out for your records.

Long distance and direct dial international (1+ and 011+ ) calls can be viewed 3-7 business days after calls are placed. The delay is due to the time it takes for the local telephone company to relay the call data to the interstate carrier who then sends the call data to Cogniphone for processing.

Does CogniPhone come with a dial around feature to place calls while waiting to be switched?

Yes, after you have submitted and activated your online order, you can use CogniPhone's dial around feature from your registered phone number. Rates charged can be viewed by clicking on the Rates link from CogniPhone's home page.

What is the carrier code for CogniPhone?

In order to switch to CogniPhone customer must submit order online and allow Cogniphone to process the order automatically. Customers cannot contact their local provider and provide them with a carrier code before the order is processed completely by Cogniphone. This will only cause you to be billed directly by the carrier or your local provider at higher rates. Cogniphone is not responsible for any charges incurred by your local telephone company or other long distance service company. If customer is required to contact local telephone company to complete the switching process Cogniphone will provide necessary instructions to follow.

If you advertise 3.9 cents per minute why are you charging me 4 cents for a 1 minute call?

Unfortunately, the price will be rounded up to the nearest cent due to us
being unable to collect exactly 3.9 cents. If you were
to make a 10 minute call, then the rate would compute to exactly 39 cents.