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Home > Consumer Information > Calling Card Scams
Calling Card Scams
Prepaid calling cards are sold in stores, phone
companies and online. You can pay as little as $5 and as much as $100 or more for the card. You can use it with any phone by dialing a toll-free
access number and entering a Personal Identification Number (PIN). This activates the card's account and prompts you to enter the number you wish
to call. So if you don't mind dialing a lot of numbers, you can save a lot of money with calling cards.
Companies that sell prepaid cards are just one
player in the game. Other players include:
- A long-distance provider who sells a number of minutes to resellers.
- Resellers who sell to or work with card issuers who set the card rates, set up access numbers, provide customer service, and maintain the
PIN numbers and account information.
- Distributors and retailers who then sell the cards to their customers.
In most cases the long distance provider
behind the calling card is unknown.
The number of minutes for calling cards
can vary quite a bit, as well as the price per minute. There can also be additional fees included and certain restrictions that limit the
use of the calling card. Some calling cards are good deals, while others are scams that unsuspecting customers might not be aware of.
The most common scams involve:
- call connection charges
- monthly fees
- minimum call lengths
- quick expiration dates
- activation or setup fees
These fees eat into the total dollar value
of the card, making that 120 minute card you bought disappear a lot quicker. However, if you made a single call for 120 minutes, perhaps you would get
the advertised deal. Be aware that short calls can add up lots of connection fees and higher charges because of the minimum call lengths. This will result
in getting far less minutes for the calling card.
Related Products:
International Prepaid and Post Paid Phone Cards
International Prepaid Internet Access
Prepaid Long Distance - Better than Prepaid Phone Cards.
Related Articles:
Understanding Prepaid Phone Cards
Tips for Using Prepaid Phone Cards
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