FAQ
Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions section. In this section, you will find answers to many common questions dealing with local, long-distance, and Internet services.
Services
- What services are offered by La Jicarita?
- How do I sign up for phone and/or Internet service?
- When will online signup forms be available?
Paying Your Bill
- Can we pay our bills over the phone?
- What type of Credit Cards do you accept?
- Can I pay my bill by ACH or electronic banking?
- Can I pay for all my services on one bill?
Technical Questions
- What is the number for technical support?
- Does La Jicarita help install my computer network?
- How do I block solicitor calls?
General Questions
- What is a “cooperative” telephone company?
- What are capital credits?
- Can I pay for all my services on one bill?
- What is a patronage allocation?
- What is a distribution?
- Why are patronage allocations not paid-out when allocated?
- How often does the Board of Directors declare that a distribution should be made?
- Do I need to contact the cooperative each year to see if any distribution has been declared?
- What services do I receive patronage dividends for?
- Are payments of patronage dividends taxable?
- What are the Bylaws?
Question: What services are offered by La Jicarita?
Answer: La Jicarita offers basic telephone service as well as calling features, Long Distance and Voice Mail. La Jicarita provide Internet access services through its subsidiary, Northern New Mexico Telecom (NNMT).
Question: How do I sign up for phone and/or Internet service?
Answer: To sign up for service, please visit the La Jicarita business office located at 455 State Hwy. 518 Mora, NM 87732
Business Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:45 am – Noon • 12:45 pm – 4:30 pm
Question: What type of cell phones or plans are available?
Answer: Choice Wireless by la Jicarita offers a variety of cell phones and calling plans to suit every need.
To find out about cell phones, plans, and special offers, please visit the La Jicarita business office located at 455 State Hwy. 518 in Mora, NM.
Business Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 7:45 am – Noon • 12:45 pm – 4:30 pm
Question: When will online signup forms be available?
Answer: We are in the process of updating our web site and online forms.
Question: Can we pay our bills over the phone?
Answer: Yes. You can call us at (575) 387-2216 Monday – Friday: 7:45 am – Noon • 12:45 pm – 4:30 pm.
To assist you in payment of your bill, we will need your name, account number, and your security PIN.
Question: What type of Credit Cards do you accept?
Answer: We accept MasterCard, VISA, Discover and American Express for bill payment.
Question: Can I pay my bill by ACH or electronic banking?
Answer: Yes! Automated Clearing House (ACH) is an electronic network for financial transactions in the United States. ACH allows for direct debit transfers include consumer payments on your La Jicarita and NNNMT phone or Internet bill.
Click here to download our ACH Authorization form. Please bring the completed form to our office at 455 State Hwy. 518 in Mora, NM, Monday – Friday: 7:45 am – Noon • 12:45 pm – 4:30 pm.
Question: What is the number for technical support?
Answer: During regular business hours Monday – Friday: 7:45 am – Noon • 12:45 pm – 4:30 pm please call our office at (575) 387-2216. Outside of business hours please call (575) 387-9999
Question: Does La Jicarita help install my computer network?
Answer: We can help you install your computer and home office network. Our fees are $60 per hour. Please call our technical support line at (575) 387-2216 Monday – Friday: 7:45 am – Noon • 12:45 pm – 4:30 pm to schedule an appointment.
Question: How do I block solicitor calls?
Answer: You can block unwanted calls by adding calling features to your line:
- Caller ID
- Selective Call Rejection
- Anonymous Caller Rejection
- Robocall blocking
- Add your number to the do not call registry by calling (888) 382-1222
We’ll be happy to help you decide which calling feature best suits your needs. Call us at (575) 387-2216 Monday – Friday: 7:45 am – Noon • 12:45 pm – 4:30 pm.
Question: What is a “cooperative” telephone company?
Answer: When you sign up for phone service through La Jicarita, you will pay a nominal membership fee and become a member of the cooperative. This establishes your equity interest in the cooperative. In other words, you “own” a piece of the business. The membership elects a board of directors to represent member’s interests, set policies and ensure the company’s success.
Question: What are capital credits?
Answer: La Jicarita is a cooperative. When you signed up for telephone service with us, you paid a $10.00 membership fee to join the cooperative. This establishes your equity interest in the cooperative. In other words, you become a part owner of La Jicarita. As a nonprofit organization, La Jicarita seeks to provide members with the highest quality service at the most affordable rates. At the end of each fiscal year, La Jicarita allocates margins to each member on a prorated basis according to the total amount paid for telephone services. These allocations are known as patronage dividends. Upon approval of the Board of Directors, these allocations are refunded to our members through patronage distributions.
Question: Can I pay for all my services on one bill?
Answer: Yes.
Question: What is a patronage allocation?
Answer: Patronage allocation is the term applied to the act of determining each member’s share of the margin and the notification to the member of what their individual allocation for the year is.
Question: What is a distribution?
Answer: Actual payments, called distributions, are made at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Question: Why are patronage allocations not paid-out when allocated?
Answer: Net margins are a source of working capital provided by the members and are used by the cooperative for any proper purpose such as facility/plant upgrades and payment of debt.
Question: How often does the Board of Directors declare that a distribution should be made?
Answer: According to the cooperative bylaws, “Credits” may be retired by the Board of Directors at its discretion and direction as to timing, method and type of retirement.” There is no schedule as to when distributions are made. Previous distributions were made in the years 1992, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010.
Question: Do I need to contact the cooperative each year to see if any distribution has been declared?
Answer: Current customers of the cooperative (those who currently get their local phone service through the cooperative) will automatically get any distributions declared mailed to them at their billing address. Those members who no longer get local service from the cooperative will be mailed a distribution notice to their last known address. This notice will contain a form to sign and return to the cooperative letting us know that it is okay to send the check to that address and to notify us of any address change. It is important to keep the cooperative informed of any change of address.
Question: What services do I receive patronage dividends for?
Answer: Patronage dividends are based on a percentage of all billed La Jicarita services.
Question: Are payments of patronage dividends taxable?
Answer: If the cost of the service was not taken as a deduction on your tax return when the service was received, the return of the excess paid for the service (patronage dividend payments) is not taxable income. However, most businesses claim telephone service provided to the business as a business expense and therefore would have to claim patronage dividends as income. The cooperative cannot advise its members on tax issues. You should check with your tax advisor.
Question: What are the Bylaws?
Answer: “Bylaws” refers to the document that governs the cooperative. Click here to read La Jicarita’s bylaws.