Phone Bill Audit: Do What Your AP Can’t
What is a phone bill audit and why do you need one?
The task of paying a phone bill seems quite simple. When your AP receives a phone bill, or a series of telecom bills, they check the system to make sure the bill hasn’t been paid, and then proceed to pay the bill. The problem here is that an AP does not verify the content of the invoice thoroughly, as they are not trained for this type of in-depth analysis.
A phone bill audit provides the business with a detailed summary of errors or even fraudulent charges on phone bills that an accounts payable clerk overlooks. Mistakes that, if left unchecked, can cost businesses thousands of dollars per month.
Unfortunately, in the field of telecommunications, the good is often left as “good enough”. Even when external experience is readily available, and at best, this experience may even be contingently obtained.
In addition to uncovering discrepancies in charges, phone bill audits are a great way to: discover services that are no longer being used, learn how to eliminate various contractual penalties, and file disputes for you regarding contractual rate inconsistencies, which results in great savings and rebates. .
WHICH TELEPHONE BILL AUDIT COMPANY WILL WORK FOR YOU?
Finding the right phone bill audit company for you may seem like a daunting task, but narrowing down your search makes it less time consuming. Here are a couple of things you want to look for:
CREDIBILITY
If the company doesn’t have an impressive list of clients who are very satisfied with the audit and the savings found, you may not be satisfied with the results. Look for a history of clients and check their references to confirm that the company has successfully established itself in your niche. You’ll also want to find a company that showcases its auditing skills and methods, rather than one that promotes switching service providers like main source of savings.
PRICES
Some auditing companies may try to sell you packages, ask you to pay fees up front, or hide proof of savings or lack thereof on billing. It’s important to find a company that will present a detailed but comprehensive list of their findings and only charge you a percentage of the savings they provide. Finding a company that charges on a profit-sharing basis eliminates the risk of paying phone bill audit savings you don’t get or refunds you don’t get. There’s no risk of being charged more than you’ll save in the future, because you only pay after the monthly savings voucher is provided. Look for a phone bill auditing company that performs an audit every month to check savings and bill accuracy, so you know you’re getting what you pay for.
With any business, it’s important to look for savings opportunities, and in a world increasingly connected to telecommunications, it’s invaluable to be able to extend data and phone services with the protection and security that telecommunications expertise can provide.