Are you thinking about buying a pre-paid calling card? Calling cards are a means of pre-paying for telephone minutes. They can be convenient to have in an emergency or just to talk to friends and family. However, there are certain things that consumers should be aware of when buying a pre-paid calling card. The Federal Trade Commission is a good source for valuable information about calling cards and any potential problems.
Advantages and Disadvantages to Calling Cards
There are many advantages to buying pre-paid calling cards. They're very handy and can be kept in your pocket. They're easy to buy and just as easy to use. You also can control how much you spend on telephone minutes and don't have to worry about monthly bills.
There are also many disadvantages to buying calling cards. They're easy to lose because of their small size. It may cost you more money in the long run if you talk on the phone frequently. You're susceptible to scams and fraud.
Common Complaints with Calling Cards
There have been many complaints from consumers about pre-paid calling cards over the years. Knowing these complaints will help you when you search for your own calling card. Common complaints include:
- Hidden charges
- Rates are higher than expected
- Invalid personal identification numbers (PINs)
- Poor customer service
- Invalid customer service numbers
- Calling cards became useless when the issuing companies went out of business
- Connections through the calling cards are of poor quality
- Higher than one minute rounding
- Short expiration dates
Choosing a Calling Card
Plan ahead before you choose a calling card. You may be able to avoid many of the complaints that consumers have had with their calling cards. If you discover a problem after you buy a calling card, it may be too late to get your money back.
Always read the advertisement of the calling card completely. This includes the fine print. It'll be tough to argue you were misled if the advertisement was truthful.
Look for certain fees that'll diminish the card's value. Examples include disconnect fees, maintenance fees and pay phone surcharges. Disconnect fees, or hang-up fees, are charged every time you use the calling card and hang up your phone. Maintenance fees are charged at regular times throughout the use of the calling card. Some companies have pay phone surcharges if you use the calling card at a pay phone.
Check to make sure the minutes advertised for the calling card aren't just for a single call. Some cards will penalize you if you make multiple calls.
Is there an expiration date for the calling card minutes? Some cards give you a very short window of time to use their minutes once you use the card the first time. You'll waste your money if you fail to use your minutes within this time frame.
Check to see if there's a customer service number on the card. Is it toll-free? You could even try the number to see how quickly and efficiently the customer service is set up. A busy signal is a sign of poor customer service or a scam.
Do you understand the instructions? Make sure the instructions look clear on how to use the calling card. The more complicated the instructions, the greater chance you'll be misled.
Find out if the retailer will support you if you receive poor telephone service. You'll have less worry if the retailer usually attempts to make their customers happy.
Poor Calling Card Service
Always try to work out any problems with the company that issued the calling card first. Your problems may be solved by just calling the customer service number. If that fails, you can contact the Federal Communications Commission or the Federal Trade Commission.
Questions for Your Attorney
- Can I use any phone for the calling cards or do I have to buy a special phone?
- Can I use my minutes anytime I want under a prepaid calling card or is there a time limit?
- What should I do if I believe the company that issued my calling card had hidden charges and fees?