Consumer Tip of the Week: Beware of Pitfalls When Choosing Pre-paid Phone Cards (86 hits)
Hi! I'm an employee of the FTC and ask that you share this information with anyone you know who uses phone cards.
Pre-paid calling cards can be a convenient way to stay in touch. But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), wants people to be aware that hidden costs and other problems can leave consumers with less call time than they were promised. The FTC offers this advice:
Look for added fees that may diminish the value of the card, like disconnect fees, maintenance fees, or pay phone surcharges.
Check whether the advertised minutes only apply if you make one call and not more.
Find out whether the advertised minutes still apply if you use the “toll-free access” number rather than the “local access” number, and whether the advertised minutes can be used to call cell phones.
Ask whether there is an expiration date for minutes.
Make sure that the explanation of fees makes sense to you.
If possible, select a card that comes with a toll-free customer service number. Consider buying a card of a small denomination first, because if something goes wrong, your loss is limited.
To learn more, read the consumer alert When Minutes Matter: Choosing a Pre-paid Phone Card. The alert is also available in Spanish.
