A pre-paid phone card is a card you purchase online or at the store and use to make long distance or international
phone calls. These cards are usually sold in dollar amounts or by number
of minutes.
Why Do People Buy Pre-paid Phone Cards?
Prepaid cards offer several advantages for consumers. These include the following:
Excelent Rates to call international locations.
Strict budget control.
Flexibility in choice of long distance carrier.
Cost-effectiveness for travelers, students, workers and others who are away from home.
What about International Phone Cards?
Rates for international calls can vary dramatically, based on the country
that you call or the way that you make the call. Pre-paid phone cards often
offer rates that are much lower than a telephone company’s basic international rates.
What Do I Need to Know Before Buying a Pre-paid Card?
All pre-paid phone cards have a toll-free access telephone number and a personal identification number (PIN).
Pre-paid phone card companies have computers that use your PIN to keep track of your card usage - how much phone time you have on your card in minutes or units.
To make a phone call, you dial the access number, enter your PIN, and at the voice prompt, enter the phone number of the party you're trying to reach.
A computer tells you how much time - or how many units - remain on your card, and how to use other features your card may offer.
If your pre-paid phone card can't be recharged - that is, if you can't buy additional minutes by phone for the card - you'll need to buy a new card once you've used up the time or minutes..
How Can I Avoid the Problems Associated with Pre-paid Phone Cards?
Make sure you understand the rates for your particular phone card.
Look for the toll-free customer service number and make sure you understand the instructions
on how to use the card. Also check the expiration date provided with the card so you don’t lose unused minutes.
You may also want to ask your friends and family to recommend cards they have used and liked.
What Should I Do if My Phone Card Doesn't Work as Expected?
Calling the customer service number provided with the card is the best way to fix the problem.
If that doesn’t work, you can also file a complaint or research
the company through your local Better Business Bureau, or contact the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC).
