Rule Number 1: Compare, compare, compare. There are numerous prepaid phone cards out there and yes, there are some major differences between the fees they charge. If you're serious about getting the most out of your hard earned dollar, take the time to compare different cards.
Rule Number 2: Read the small print, always.
Be aware of why prepaid calling cards are so profitable for long distance carriers: Let's say you purchase a prepaid calling card for $50 and this card has an extremely low per minute rate but a $2.25 connection fee for each call. You make your calls until you have $2.00 worth of minutes on the card. Guess what? You can't use the card anymore because the connection fee is $2.25. All you can do is throw the card away, and the company that issued the card just made a free $2.
Protect your Personal Identification Number (PIN): This is your personal number and should not be shared with anyone unless you have given them permission to use your card. If you lose your PIN, most companies will not replace it.
Know if there is a connection fee: This fee is billed for every call that is connected. If answering machines, fax machines, voice mail, or pagers picks up, the call is considered to be connected. Connection fees vary wildly between different calling cards. If you are planning on making only short calls, the connection fee alone can “eat up” your cards minutes.
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