For a few key reasons, calling cards (also known as international calling cards) are still a feasible choice for consumers wishing to make international calls today:
Calling many nations may be prohibitively costly.
Calling cards, like your home landline, use good old-fashioned copper lines, which provides excellent quality and consistent connections.
If you’re phoning an elderly person, it’s probable that they still have a landline at home.
One of the drawbacks of the calling card market is that it has a negative image due to a few companies providing subpar service, such as:
- Call quality is poor.
- Fees that are hidden.
- Expiration dates that are unreasonable.
- It’s possible that these calling cards won’t operate at all.
In this post, we’ll look at some of the finest methods for finding the correct card without getting ripped off.
What does the best calling card look like?
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When we say “best,” we mean “best” in the sense that it applies to your unique scenario.
For example, most people avoid calling cards that charge a connection cost, and while this is generally fair advice, calling cards that charge a connection fee frequently provide lower calling rates for calls that tend to be longer in duration.
It may be a suitable alternative if your phone calls last more than 40 minutes for example.
“Not all international calling cards are made equal; ensure that they have a customer service staff and that there are no hidden costs,” advises JT from nzphonecards.co.nz.
I tend to agree with such advice.
Reputable calling card providers will be upfront about their price and will have a customer support team on hand to answer any queries you may have.
In the next part, I’ll go over some things to look for as well as how to select a good calling card service provider.
How long do your phone calls last?
Before choosing a calling card, it’s a good idea to assess your calling requirements. If you frequently chat for longer lengths of time, generally more than 40 minutes, you may be able to discover calling cards that waive connection costs in return for reduced per-minute rates.
On the other hand, if you anticipate you’ll be making shorter calls, avoid international calling cards that charge a connection or disconnection cost, as your funds may soon deplete.
Take a look at the Rate Per Minute
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International calling cards are often charged in 1-3 minute ‘blocks,’ meaning that if you have a card that costs 10 cents per minute and charges in 3 minute blocks, you will be charged 30 cents every 3 minutes, even if you only make a 1 minute call.
To be sure you’re getting your money’s worth, look for calling cards that come with 1-minute calling blocks.
Watch out for administrative costs
Admin fees are simply a waste of time.
The purpose is to improve the overall value of each client; they will generally be utilised by organisations who appear to have the lowest calling rates but are operating on razor-thin margins, necessitating the employment of alternative methods, one of which is this one.
Calling card companies have been pretty inventive in incorporating fees into their cards, so check the tiny print carefully.
When it comes to innovative methods to generate extra money…
Avoid calling cards that are based on units
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Instead of minutes, some calling cards employ ‘units.’
This is a convenient technique for calling card providers to make it harder for their clients to figure out how much money they’ve spent.
Even if a conversion tool is included on the back, it makes it more difficult for the client to determine if they are receiving a fair bargain or not.
Purchase calling cards that give the best rates for specific countries
Typically, calling cards are intended to make rates cheaper for select nations or areas, which means they might be overly expensive in others. Make sure to select calling cards with the best rates for the country you’re calling.
How quickly can they resolve a problem?
This goes under the category of having a responsive customer support personnel on hand to assist you, which is really beneficial.
Technical problems might occur from time to time, and it can be quite unpleasant to try to reach family and friends using a calling card that isn’t working.
High-quality calling card businesses can usually handle difficulties the same day, if not within 30 minutes, so if you go out of your way to speak with the customer care team, enquire about the time it takes to resolve technical issues.
Pay attention to the fine print
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As I previously stated, before purchasing from a store, make sure you can see the information on the calling card.
Hidden costs, expiry date, when the expiration date begins, customer support number, calling rates, and is it rechargeable are all things to watch for. Inquire with the store assistant about what happens if the card is defective; are you eligible for a complete refund? Call the customer support number on the card if at all feasible.
This may sound excessive, but with so many defective cards on the market, it’s well worth the time and effort to discover a dependable calling card that you can use again and again.
Check the date of expiration
A calling card that has previously expired can be purchased. Because calling cards are a slow-moving commodity, make sure you check with the business owner to see if you can get your money back if the card has expired.
Even better, testing the card after purchase to check that it works as stated is always a smart idea.
Conclusion
Cheap calling cards should be avoided.
As a customer, inexpensive is always appealing, but it nearly always comes with some extra “goodies” that you hadn’t budgeted for, which often include:
- Additional fees – administrative fees, strange calling charges, not being able to utilise all of your credits, and so on. The list is extensive.
- Frustration – not being able to acquire a good connection, or perhaps not being able to connect at all! Yes, any calling card firm may experience technical difficulties from time to time, but the finest ones will be able to resolve problems the same day.
