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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Switching To Lightyear

Need an answer for a question that is not listed here? We'll be glad to help, click here to send us an email or call us at 502-721-9690 or 800-320-6829.

How soon will our service be switched for outbound calling?

Normally, an order takes five to seven days to process. When you agree to switch to Lightyear we send an electronic order to your local telephone company requesting that the Carrier Identification Code ("CIC") on your lines be switched from your current long distance carrier to the CIC that Lightyear uses in your area.

Please note that the Carrier Identification Code ("CIC") that our order will request depends on your geographical location and it may not be associated with the name Lightyear. (Example, you are a Lightyear customer and your calls are being carried for Lightyear by WorldCom using Worldcom's Carrier Identification Code (CIC) of 0555.)

Lightyear uses several different Carrier Identification Codes (CIC's) including:

0555 - recognized by your local telephone company under the name of WorldCom or WilTel.

0811 - recognized by your local telephone company under the name of Vartec.

5957 - recognized by your local telephone company under the name of Lightyear.

It is not generally necessary for you to know which Carrier Identification Code ("CIC") Lightyear will be using on your lines, but if you need to know for IntraLATA calling purposes or if you'd just like to know, give us a call at 502-721-9690 or 800-320-6829. [Back to Switching To Lightyear / UniDial FAQ Table of Contents]

We already use Lightyear and have added (or plan to add) some new line(s) through our Local Telephone Company, do we need to inform you?

YES, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to let us know when you have added new line(s) through your Local Telephone Company. Why? Because Lightyear is a Switchless Reseller. When your Local Telephone Company adds your new line(s), they will ask you if you want the long distance Carrier on your new line(s) set up with the same Carrier that is on your current line(s). You will more than likely tell them yes. When you provide us with the telephone numbers of your new line(s) we will add the new number(s) to your Lightyear account and register them with the Carrier that we use to handle your calls. Without this registration process, the Carrier may not know that you are a Lightyear customer. In this situation, the Carrier may bill you directly for any long distance calls made on your new line(s) from the date your Local Telephone Company installed the new line(s) through the date that you inform us that you have added the new line(s). In most all cases, direct billing from the Carrier will be at very high rates.

Please call us immediately at 502-721-9690 or 800-320-6829 if you have added or plan to add new telephone line(s). You can also inform us whenever you add new telephone line(s) through our web site, just click here to do it. [Back to Switching To Lightyear / UniDial FAQ Table of Contents]

Is there a charge to change long distance carriers?

Yes, most local telephone companies do charge you to make a change. This one time charge is usually less than $5.00. There are no charges from Lightyear switch our service. [Back to Switching To Lightyear / UniDial FAQ Table of Contents]

Do I need to notify my local telephone company that we intend to change carriers?

Only if you have a PIC Freeze. If you have a PIC Freeze, you should call your local telephone company and ask them to remove it so that Lightyear's electronic order will be processed correctly. After your service has switched to Lightyear, you will need to call your local telephone company back and request that the PIC Freeze be re-added to all of your lines. [Back to Switching To Lightyear / UniDial FAQ Table of Contents]

Do I need to notify my current long distance carrier that we intend to switch?

This is normally not necessary since Lightyear’s change order, when confirmed by the local telephone company, will replace your current carrier with Lightyear. [Back to Switching To Lightyear / UniDial FAQ Table of Contents]

Is there a way that I can tell that our service has been switched?

Yes, if you dial 1-700-555-4141, a recording will indicate who your state-to-state long distance provider is on that particular line at the time of your call. When you switch to Lightyear, you may hear Lightyear, WorldCom or Vartec depending on which underlying carrier Lightyear uses to carry your calls.[Back to Switching To Lightyear / UniDial FAQ Table of Contents]

Will we ever need to dial an Access Code to use Lightyear's service?

You do not need to dial an Access Code for most state-to-state calls, off-shore or international calls or for many in-state calls.. If IntraLATA presubscription is not available through your local telephone company in your area and you would like Lightyear to carry your IntraLATA calls (sometimes also called local long distance calls), you will need to dial an Access Code. Please call us at 502-721-9690 or 800-320-6829 to confirm the Lightyear Access Code you would use for this purpose.

Please note that the nationwide dialing convention for Access Codes changed from 5-digits to 7-digits effective July 1, 1998. Click here for more information about the change to Access Code dialing convention.

A map of your LATA (Local Access And Transport Area) can usually be found in your local phone directory. [Back to Switching To Lightyear / UniDial FAQ Table of Contents]

How do we reach a Lightyear Operator?

Simply dial "00" from any line on our service. [Back to Switching To Lightyear / UniDial FAQ Table of Contents]

Is there an extra charge for "operator assisted" calls?

Yes, all operator assisted calls, regardless of your carrier, are much more costly than direct dialed calls. [Back to Switching To Lightyear / UniDial FAQ Table of Contents]

We have a special rate plan with our local phone company for calls within certain areas. Can we use this plan with Lightyear’s long distance?

Yes, however, you must notify your local service provider so that they can switch all of your long distance service to Lightyear except your local calling plan. Neither Lightyear nor your local telephone company will assume any liability for calls that are billed in error in the absence of specific instructions from you, the end user. [Back to Switching To Lightyear / UniDial FAQ Table of Contents]