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Looking around to buy a phone card or calling card is not an easy thing and moreover is confusing. There are so many providers and calling card companies that advertise rates as low as 1 cent/minute and other such wonderful rates, and on top of that there is a wide range of choice of different calling cards. Here are the basic 7 Tips to make your choice easy.
Do not go just by the advertisement - When you start searching for a calling card, you will see advertisements of calling cards with calling rates as low as 1 cent/minute to various destinations around the world. Be cautious and make sure if it is really true. Check the connection fee - Always look at the “more information” or “term and conditions” links on websites to see what the other charges there are. One of the most common charges is a connection or disconnection charge. Check for other hidden charges - Few calling cards has hidden charges such as surcharge, hang-up fee, or maintenance fees. Be aware of these charges before you buy the card. Billing increments calculations - The billing increments is the time scale you are billed at when you make calls. The best increment to get is second increment or a minute increment. If you have a phone card that offers 3 minute billing, and you use only 1 minute on a call then you will still be billed for 3 minutes. Calling card expiry - Some calling cards will have an expiry date on it, so once you have passed that date the calling card is dead and it cannot be used anymore. Try to look for a card that never expires, so you can use your minutes when you want to. Look for additional features - The sign of a good phone card is one that offers other features apart from just the usual calling service. These features could include online account management, speed dial, voicemail, etc. If a provider has taken the time to add these services, it can often be a sign they have been in business for long and value their customer and they can provide a good customer service. Customer support email - If you see a phone card you like, you can try sending an email to the address they provide on the card or on their website to check how quick they respond to the customer queries.
Looking around to buy a phone card or calling card is not an easy thing and moreover is confusing. There are so many providers and calling card companies that advertise rates as low as 1 cent/minute and other such wonderful rates, and on top of that there is a wide range of choice of different calling cards. Here are the basic 7 Tips to make your choice easy.
Do not go just by the advertisement - When you start searching for a calling card, you will see advertisements of calling cards with calling rates as low as 1 cent/minute to various destinations around the world. Be cautious and make sure if it is really true. Check the connection fee - Always look at the “more information” or “term and conditions” links on websites to see what the other charges there are. One of the most common charges is a connection or disconnection charge. Check for other hidden charges - Few calling cards has hidden charges such as surcharge, hang-up fee, or maintenance fees. Be aware of these charges before you buy the card. Billing increments calculations - The billing increments is the time scale you are billed at when you make calls. The best increment to get is second increment or a minute increment. If you have a phone card that offers 3 minute billing, and you use only 1 minute on a call then you will still be billed for 3 minutes. Calling card expiry - Some calling cards will have an expiry date on it, so once you have passed that date the calling card is dead and it cannot be used anymore. Try to look for a card that never expires, so you can use your minutes when you want to. Look for additional features - The sign of a good phone card is one that offers other features apart from just the usual calling service. These features could include online account management, speed dial, voicemail, etc. If a provider has taken the time to add these services, it can often be a sign they have been in business for long and value their customer and they can provide a good customer service. Customer support email - If you see a phone card you like, you can try sending an email to the address they provide on the card or on their website to check how quick they respond to the customer queries.