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Question: I知 thinking about dropping my
long-distance phone service altogether and purchasing a prepaid phone
card. I know I知 in the dark ages, but how do they work?
Answer: Prepaid phone cards are amazingly simple to use and can be quite
inexpensive. You can use these cards to make long-distance calls from
home and work. Some cards work in pay phones.
Each phone card has a short series of steps to follow before your call
goes through. The one I use starts with a toll-free number. Then I push
1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then I enter my 12-digit card number.
Now I select either 1 for calling within
the U.S. or Canada or 2 for calling other countries, and I知 ready to
dial my number. Since the directions are written on the card, I don稚
have to worry about remembering the sequence of steps.
When you buy your card, you will purchase a set amount of minutes for a
fixed price. When you make a call, the number of minutes that you use
will be deducted from your balance. If you make calls to foreign
countries, you will be charged more for each
minute you talk.
Some cards have a Personal Identification Number, or PIN, that you can
scratch off to keep others from using your card. Other cards have the
entire number on the card and could be used by anyone if you lose the
card. After you enter your PIN or card
number, you will hear a recording telling you how many minutes you have
left on your card.
Cards can be purchased at grocery stores, convenience stores, gas
stations, pharmacy chains and lots of other places including the
Internet and discount shopping clubs. The price per minute on prepaid
cards varies widely, so it pays to compare prices.
When you池e shopping, ask about in-state, state-to-state and
international rates. You値l also want to know about fees such as service
and maintenance fees and connection charges. Ask if the card has an
expiration date. Look for a card with a toll-free
number that you can use if you have problems with calls.
Some cards are disposable and can be thrown away after the minutes are
used. Other cards allow you to add new minutes by recharging.
For more information, contact your local
Colorado State University Extension office. |
