1 - What is a phone card?
Phone cards are a great alternative to costly long distance phone plans. With a prepaid phone card, you pay for the phone time in advance and each time you make a call, the prepaid balance is reduced by the amount of time you used. No phone bills. No confusing statements.
2 – Why buy phone cards?
With phone cards, you're always in control of how much you spend, which makes budgeting easy. As there are no monthly bills, you decide, ahead of time, how much you will spend on long distance phone calls. Phone cards are also less expensive than using you long distance phone plan and convenient.
3 - How do I use a phone card?
An access phone number and a personal identification number (PIN) are usually provided with each phone card. To make a phone call, you dial the access number and then enter the PIN. An automated voice will ask you to enter the phone number you are trying to call, and it will tell you how much time you have left on your card.
4 - How do I know how much money I have on my phone card?
Phone card companies keep track of how much of a card’s phone time is used by the card’s PIN number. To check how much time or money you have remaining on your phone card, call the access number provided with the card and enter you PIN when prompted. You should be provided with this information before each phone call you make.
5 - Can I add more money to my phone card?
You can add time to some Phone cards, and the added cost can usually be billed to a credit card. If you cannot add time to your card, you will need to buy a new one once all the time has been used.
6 - How do I know if I've used all the money my card?
With most cards you should hear a warning message during your call indicating you have a certain number of minutes left. This generally happens when there is 1 minute of talk time remaining on the card. Once you have used the total value of your phone card, your call will be disconnected.
7 - Can I make international calls with a phone card?
Yes! However rates for international calls vary based on the country that you call and the phone card you are using. Phone cards often offer rates that are much lower than a telephone company’s basic international rates. When using phone cards to make international phone calls, be sure you are using the right card. Check out our phone card reviews to find the card that’s best for you.
8 - Can I use a pay phone to make calls?
Yes! Calls can be made from pay phones. Usually there are some charges when making phone calls from pay phones. These charges are to help compensate the company that owns the pay phone. If you are making a lot of calls on pay phones with your Phone card, be sure to choose the best card for this type of use.
9 - Are phone card rates competitive?
The rates for phone cards are almost always better than the rates you would get if you were using a phone card provided by a long distance company. To determine if you are getting the best value for your dollar, calculate the per-minute rate by dividing the card's price by its minutes. For example, a $10 card with 100 minutes of phone time charges 10 cents a minute.
10 - What is a "virtual" phone card?
A virtual phone card is a web-based phone card that you can purchase on the Internet. Instead of a physical plastic phone card, you will receive a PIN number and phone card information electronically. Virtual phone cards are exactly the same as phone cards you would purchase in a store. The only difference is you can purchase them online and can use them instantly.
11 – How do I get my card if I buy online?
If you buy a phone card online you will receive a virtual phone card. With these cards a PIN number is emailed to you instantly once your credit card has been charged. Receiving your pin instantly via email makes buying phone cards online easy. You never have to go to the store and best of all, you can buy one anytime you want.
