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This is one place where 'if it sounds too good to be true' doesn't apply. Local rate ISP service, sometimes called 'pay as you go internet', really is as close to free as it gets. All you pay is your telco's local rate for a phone call - that's it. There's no monthly subscription fees, no yearly access fees, no usage restrictions - nothing. No strings at all.

So how does a local rate ISP service work? It's easy as pie for you, the consumer. All you do is dial up a local 0845 (or 0844) access number with your modem, and you're online. All you pay is the usual local rate that your telephone provider charges, and it will be billed to you along with your regular bill. You pay only for the amount of time that you spend online - at as little as 1p per minute.

A local rate ISP will give you everything that you'd expect from an internet service provider - reliable internet access, one or more email addresses, FTP access, spam control, virus protection and web space for your own web page. How does a local rate ISP give you all of that - for free? Your local telco pays them a fraction of your local rate fee for every minute that you're online. Obviously, it's in their best interest to give you unlimited access and plenty of reasons to be online.

Because a local rate ISP makes their money on the number of user minutes that are billed on its lines, competition is fierce for your business. Most make it very easy to configure your computer to use their ISP service - as simple as clicking a 'configure my computer' button on their web site. If you'd rather configure your computer yourself, it's as simple as dialing up their 0845 number to sign on. Many offer excellent 24/7 support to help you with any problems that might arise, and some offer special incentives like software to boost your browsing speed and unlimited email addresses.

If you're still using metered internet or an ISP with a monthly charge, local rate ISP service is the way to go for affordable internet access that lets you pay for just the time that you're actually online.