| Calling
Cards |
Calling cards are indispensible. Even if you have a cell phone, you need to
keep one as a back up for times your cell phone isn't working or you're out of
network.
Cards can come in several different forms, from a plastic card with an access
number and PIN on it, to a 'virtual' card, where you order a card on line and
the access number and PIN are emailed to you. Cards can be purchased online or
at your nieghborhood convenience store.
When considering a calling card, we prefer post paid cards, where your calls
are billed to you after the call made (usually through a credit card).
Why don't we like prepaid calling cards?
- Busted - We've been in this business for over ten years and seen to
many prepaid calling cards companies go out of business. When that happens,
your prepaid balance is gone.
- Breakage - Expiration dates and unused balances. Having a prepaid
card expire, or a monthly charge that eats away the balance, or even a balance
going unused or forgotten, is called 'breakage' in the industry. It's an easy
way for a prepaid calling card company to make big profits at your expense.
- Loss - A prepaid card is like cash. If lost, stolen, or destroyed -
it's gone. There's no way to cancel or close a prepaid calling card.
- Quality - In most cases, once you've used a card, it's yours. No
going back and getting a refund if the call quality or services is not what you
expect.
We're not saying all prepaid cards are bad. There are many good ones out there,
but post paid cards avoid many of the potential dangers that buying a prepaid
card entails.
When getting a calling card, whether post or pre-paid, look for:
- No Expiration - On prepaid cards.
- No Monthly Charge - During months that the card is not used. Many
companies will charge a small service charge during months that the card is
used. That reasonable and fair. But in months you don't use the card, there
should be no charges.
- No Connection Fee - Some cards charge a low rate, but have a high
'connection' fee: a per call fee charged at the time the call connects.
Sometimes a connection fee can be justified - ie: when you know it will be a
long call, but overall they are kinda risky.
- Per Minute Billing - Avoid cards that charge in larger billing
increments. Some will offer a low rate but have three, or five, minute billing
cycles. You might talk for just a minute, but be charged for five!
The card my family uses is
AccuGlobe. It's a great, post paid, calling card. US
calls are just 5.9¢ per minute. Calls are billed in 6 second
increments, and a $1 monthly charge is billed only in months that you use the
card. This is also a great card for international travel, as you can use it to
call from 45 different countries.
Another highly recommended card is the
CogniCall calling card. It has a rate of 6.9¢
per minute for US calls. There is no monthly service fee. CogniCall can be used
from about 50 different countries and has very good international rates. If you
need a card for international calls, be sure to compare rates of both this card
and the
AccuGlobe card.
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