sehling99 asked:
I mean pre-purchased long-distance or international calling cards with which you dial an access number first, and then your destination number.
Jose Bishop
Hayi Mansoor asked:
If your local telephone operator charges you the moon for making international calls, don’t sweat! Help is at hand and international calling cards are the way to go. Not only can you make calls to various countries across the world, you also have to pay less for talking more!
International calling cards, as the name suggests, are telephone cards that allow you to call over long distances as well as dial your friends and family residing abroad from the comfort of your home or office. No longer do you have to pay huge bills for speaking to your loved ones abroad, or your client in some other country. With international calling cards you can enjoy complete freedom and low rates.
Types of International Calling Cards
Typically, calling cards are available as disposable or refillable cards. Some of these calling cards also come with a PIN printed on them. Whenever you make an international call, the charge is applied to your land line telephone billing account. Payment can be made using a prepaid credit system or by credit card. While different calling cards have different payment methods, you can use these cards in many different ways to make the necessary calls, but this would depend on the company that’s offering you the calling cards.
Currently, the market has two types of international calling cards. One is the stored value calling card, while other is the remote memory calling card. Now, stored value cards already have a pre-fed amount of money that can be used for making international calls. For ex: if you buy an international stored value calling card worth $10, you’ll be able to make calls until that amount runs out. The pay-phones read the balance available on your card every time you make a new call and inform you of the available balance once you have completed your call.
On the other hand, remote memory calling cards work on a toll-free number access. Every time you need to dial the toll-free number, follow the instructions to call the number of your choice. The toll-free number also informs you on the available balance and duration of the call.
Why Use International Calling Cards
If you are travelling aboard for studies, business, or just fun chances are you will get homesick. Calling back home can be an expensive deal especially if you want to talk for more than just a quick hello. Using international calling cards, you can call home or call from home to anyone, any where in the world. Opt for pre-paid calling cards or post-paid calling card plans, but either way you’ll be able to fulfill your desire to talk to your loved ones whenever you want without having to worry about the clock ticking away!
There are several companies that offer international, travel, and other such calling cards. Each of these has different plans, different rates, and different denominations of calling cards for places across the world. Choose the one you like the best and that suits your requirements and pocket.
Cecil Hudson
Dean Caporella asked:
The international prepaid phone card has come to the rescue of thousands of international travellers and immigrants who have taken advantage of the extremely low and cheap rates to stay in touch with family and friends.
Once upon a time, picking up the phone to dial overseas was almost a social event; it just wasn’t done on a regular basis given the exorbitant costs facing consumers. Well, it seems consumers are having the last laugh over traditional calling methods.
Reuniting with Loved Ones Over The Phone
For immigrants, the international prepaid phone card allows new migrants to phone relatives for cents in the dollar. People who have lived in their adopted countries for 30 to 40 years have been able to contact friends and relatives they haven’t spoken to for a similar length of time.
The downside is the amount of options available to people. Options are usually a good thing but in the world of phone cards, it has created a lot of confusion. The phone card industry has received bad publicity over the years with “fly-by-nighters” and scam artists causing problems and while it’s cleaned up it’s act, there are still some well worn guidelines you can follow to ensure you find the right company and card best suited to your needs.
Phone Card Checklist
Here’s my shortlist of international prepaid phone card checks when I’m shopping for a card.
1. How long has the company been in business? You can check online and if the they’ve been plying their craft for any reasonable amount of time then they get a plus in my books.
2. Can the company be contacted? This is vital. Recently, I required a copy of my phone card records for immigration purposes. I rang my company and following a request, the information was provided to me within a week. The big factor here was I was able to call them.
3. Customer service was touched on in the previous point. It was excellent. Being able to talk to a real live person when you require assistance makes such a big difference.
4. Can the card be topped up over the phone? Being able to dial a central number when you haven’t got internet access is another plus factor for me.
5. Check for hidden fees… these can eat away your payments in no time. Avoid them.
This is a shortlist of things to look out for but in the end, the first three points are the most important in my book for shopping for an international prepaid phone card. When you find a phone card company you like and it works well for you, stick with it and resist the urge to change to a cheaper rate. Sometimes, cheaper is definitely not better!
Stanley Ryan
