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Calling Card Plans:
Frequently Asked Questions about Phone Cards.
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Calling cards are the easy and convenient method to stay in touch with your family or office when you are away from home or your business. Simply dial a toll free number from any phone and you are connected.

If you can one or several numbers frequently, examine getting an 800 toll free number in addition to your calling card that rings directly to home or office - it is more cost effective than a phone card. If you use your cellular or PCS phone and are seeking a phone card alternative, look at our callback alternative. 

CLEVER WAYS TO USE YOUR CALLING CARD. (See how many of the following apply to you!) 

• Companies can receive a concise management report detailing long distance usage by each employee.

• Management can immediately disable a calling card for a terminated employee. 

• Why pay $1-3 for a single minute of interstate calling from a payphone? 

• Why pay $1-3 for a single minute of collect calling from anywhere? 

• Call from anywhere in the US to anywhere in the US (including Hawaii and Alaska) using any phone. 

• Call from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the world using any phone. 

• Receive low, low instate and interstate rates. 

• Receive low, low international rates. 

• No (bong) surcharges! 

• Pay only for what you use, no monthly fees. 

• Crystal-clear connection. 

• 99 speed dial numbers. 

• Toll free number if you have any calling card questions. 

• Cost effective, six second billing. 

• Use your calling card for international callback to to foreign countries when making overseas calls.

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LOWER YOUR CALLING CARD COSTS BY LOWERING YOUR RATE (Nobody said this is rocket science). Take a look at your calling card invoice. Most carriers charge a "bong" (you'll hear the "bong" sound on your receiver at the pay phone-it means we just charged you 25-75 cents extra for your call) to use their service, in addition to full minute billing. 

Most of our calling cards are without a surcharge and WITH six second billing. Use our cost effective calling cards.

PREPAID CALLING CARDS vs. NON PREPAID CALLING CARDS

An advantage of a stand alone phone card, as compared to a prepaid phone card is that if you are on an important call and your prepaid card runs out of minutes, the call is terminated; while a stand alone card continues.

LONG DISTANCE & CALLING CARDS. 
Frequently the calling card plan that comes with your residential or business phone service is not your most cost effective option. It pays to shop for phone cards. If you would like a calling card with your home or business long distance service, please visit our 1+ discount long distance phone rates site to select the lowest cost plan for your calling needs.

If you are looking for a direct dial with a calling card and good international rates, Buyers United, 00 Long Distance, Five Star Long Distance and 5 Pennies Long Distance have great plans.

CONTROL USAGE OF YOUR CALLING CARD. 
If you look close enough, you will see all those calls to Grandma in Kansas. If you have many people using company calling cards, you can control usage a number of different ways. First, limit the number of people with access to calling cards. Second, issue a unique account code to each card so that you know how much each individual is spending. Third, you can place dollar limits on monthly usage. In this example, you can set a maximum usage, by card at say, $50 or $100 per month, so you can budget monthly expenses. 

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COLLEGE STUDENTS: DON'T GET STUCK USING THE CAMPUS PHONE RATES! (Better yet, get the ol' parents to put in an 800 number to your home - we have low rates - so it is on their invoice.) 

TRUCK DRIVERS, OUTSIDE SALES PROFESSIONALS, ROAD WARRIORS, TRAVELERS; SAVE MONEY WHILE YOU ARE ON THE ROAD! Just use your calling card from any payphone!

GET AN 800 NUMBER TO LOWER YOUR CALLING CARD COSTS. Yes, if you use an 800 number in conjunction with your new calling card, you will save a lot! If you find you are making many of your calling card calls to just a few locations (i.e., office and students at college), you can lower your calling card costs even more. In example if you are calling your office and your spouse most frequently, just put an 800/88 number to your work and one to your home. Even your mother-in-law can call you on your dime. 

Our lowest calling card rates start at less than 10 cents per minute, which are exceptional rates. Our our 800 toll free rates begin at about $0.06 per minute for most normal people, plus you don't have to dial a long sequence of numbers. And if you haven't guessed it by now, yep, we have 800 toll free numbers, and at great rates! For information on our 800 - 888 - 877 - 866 services, visit our 800/888 web page.

HAVING AN AFFAIR, NEED TO MAKE DISCRETE CALLS?
If you have a need not to have calls that will show up on the home or work phone invoice, use one of our calling cards. A calling card, both regular and prepaid, are great ways to keep your personal phone activity from being recorded on your phone bills. Another way, is to have an 800 number ring at your home, if it is your partner that requires the discretion. 

A small disclaimer: ALL long distance carriers now charge approximately $0.30 per call originating from a payphone. (If you don't like it, write the FCC!) Yes, you can have a calling card AND an 800 number! We have more cost savings tips. Visit our web page on long distance secrets.

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INTERNATIONAL CALLING VIA CALLING & PHONE CARDS.
If you would like a phone card to place international calls from overseas please examine our callback service.  It is typically more convenient and more cost effective than calling cards.

DO I NEED TO CHANGE MY LONG DISTANCE SERVICE AT HOME?
No. The prepaid phone cards and stand alone calling cards are separate from your home or business phone service. You don't need to change your home long distance carrier.

HOW DO I MAKE A CALLING CARD CALL?
Simply dial a toll-free access number, from any phone, and then enter the number you are trying to reach, and then dial your personal authorization number to start the call. You receive your PIN (personal identification number) when you sign up.

CAN I USE THE CALLING CARD WITH A MOBILE PHONE?
Yes, but we recommend using 800 service or callback from your cellular or PCS phone.

HOW DO I RECEIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE?
Each calling card plan has its own toll free customer service number for you.  If you have a problem or question about your phone card, just contact your carrier directly.

CALLING CARD CHECKLIST
Check rates for your specific phone card needs; i.e. if you only call within your state, don't be as concerned with a low interstate rate.

Check to see if there is a monthly fee - often the lowest cost calling cards have a small monthly fee, so if you are a heavy user, the fee is nominal, but if you are a casual user look for a slightly higher rate and no monthly fee

Check to see if there is a per call connect charge or a minimum minute usage requirement.

Other factors to examine are USF fees, time restrictions, payphone surcharges and distance restrictions. 

If you have a prepaid phone card determine if there is an expiration date which can render the phone card useless after a specific period (usually 6-12 months).

Make sure that you a toll free customer service number for the provider.

We have more cost savings tips. Visit our web page on long distance secrets.