Although this is not the keyfactor for you to distinguish a reliable shared hosting provider from a bad one and a reseller from a real provider, the option to call and consult with a live person is an indicator that you are not dealing with a one-person firm and that you will be able to get in touch with somebody if you're in need of assistance. The telephone support for web hosting services may vary from general to experienced, so the problems which can be resolved through a phone call vary based on the specific company. In the general case, these issues are simpler and include billing or 1st level tech issues as more complex problems generally need a support ticket where both you and the administrators can follow what is going on with a particular issue. Nonetheless, being able to call your supplier can save you a lot of time and efforts for the countless small things which may eventually appear at the time you manage your hosting account.