Phone Card Buyer’s Guide – Top Tips to Help Avoid Getting Ripped Off

Do you want to buy phone cards for making international calls? Are you sure? After?all I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of stories about people?who buy cards with minutes?that magically disappear. It’s true that it does?and it can?happen.?But if you really think?about it getting shafted can happen?in any place of business. So how do you minimize?your chances of getting victimized while buying phone cards? By choosing a reputable company, that’s how. When?most of us go buy?tires for our cars, where do we go? We go to?Sears,?Auto Zone,?or where ever everyone else goes. The same goes true for buying?cards. Go where everyone else goes.?

Americans spent $4 Billion dollars on phone cards back in 2007. It’s expected to go up to $6 Billion dollars in 2008 (this is in the United States alone).?That’s a big chunk of change. So either there are some very reliable phone card companies out there with loyal returning customers, or a lot of people with useless?junk cards. The truth is there are a lot of reliable phone card companies on the Internet.

How?do I?find these reliable phone card companies?

The best place to find a trustworthy company is on the Internet. Do not buy cards from your local convenience stores. Matter of fact don’t buy any phone card with cash. Internet?phone cards, or electronic phone cards can only be purchased?with?credit cards or PayPal. With these payment methods you?are at least covered?by?consumer?protection. With cash, once it’s gone, it’s gone. Once your online transaction is completed a PIN number and access telephone numbers are emailed to you. Here’s a tip, check to see if they charge you extra for toll free access numbers.

Part of the reason why there are so many complaints filed against a card company is because most people are?not educated about buying?phone cards. We always read?reviews?before we?buy a new HDTV?or skim through the Consumer Reports?to find information about which brand of Toaster?is the best. When it?comes to?buying cards, consumers are clueless, there’s no “Buying Phone Cards for Idiots” to guide us.?

Phone card companies don’t make it any easier for the consumer when they sell cards with fees.?However they also sell cards with no fees, which?are the ones that I buy because I don’t want to worry junk fees.

Why?do companies sell phone?card’s with fees??

Phone cards with fees are meant for short time use only. I bet you didn’t know that. But now you do. Cards with fees?offer the lowest call per minute rates. However, you better use these cards up fast or the weekly maintenance fee will take your card’s?balance down to zero whether you use it or not.? Cards with fees also carry taxes and surcharges which are deducted every time you hang up. Unfortunately most phone card consumers are not aware of this.?Because after years of shopping?they instinctually zoom in on the?cheapest prices.

My suggestion is use cards?with no fees only. These cards can be used up to a year and?the value?of your card’s credit is only deducted when?you use it.?You’ll be paying a slightly higher call per minute rate (believe me it’s not much?higher in most instances) but at least you’ll be getting the minutes you?pay for.

Why don’t?card companies just?discontinue?carrying?phone cards with fees?

As I mentioned?earlier phone cards with fees are meant for short time use.?You?would?think card companies are just plain dishonest. But they are?not. It’s just business.?When you go to a supermarket?you?can?find?inexpensive inferior cleaning products?next to the?expensive superior cleaning products. We all know?in most instances the cheap ones may not clean so well. But?it’s still on the shelves right?

In conclusion?whenever you buy something, especially phone cards, make sure you read the full?details and know what your are?buying. Do not?let the cheap low rates?tempt and fool fool you. Matter of fact be suspicious when?the?rates are too good to?be true.