Prepaid Calling cards is another way to save money on international calls and it is portable.

To use:

1. Dial the toll-free number.
   
2. Enter your personal identification number or the PIN number that is on the card, or follow the instructions.
   
3. You will hear your balance and a prompt then just dial your destination number.
   
4. If you want to make another call you can press the "#".
   

Charges:

1. Billing Fee - A billing fee is commonly charged by standalone monthly-billed telephone cards. A set amount is charged for each month of service.
   
2. Maintenance or Service Fee – a fee most common in prepaid cards. It is a set amount charged each week or month regardless of how much you use it.
   
3. Payphone Surcharge – a charge set when you call from a payphone. This was set by the FCC to compensate payphone owners for using the payphone to make the call. A payphone surcharge is typical to calling cards.
   
4. Per Call Surcharge – it is a certain amount charged regardless of the duration of the call. This may vary depending on the area you are calling to. This is usually found in prepaid cards but rare in billed cards.
   
5. Universal Service Fund Fee - charged by most monthly-billed calling cards.

These are the common charges found in prepaid cards so you need to review what other charges before purchasing the calling card.

Common Complaints:

1. Hidden connection charges, taxes and surcharges on cards that claim to have "no fees".
   
2. They have large billing increments so that calls get rounded to the "nearest 5 minutes".
   
3. Monthly service fees being deducted automatically from your balance each month.
   
4. Rates are being charged higher than advertised.
   
5. Access numbers or PIN codes that do not work.
   
6. Toll-free access numbers that are constantly busy, preventing use of the card.
   
7. Customer service numbers that are constantly busy or simply do not work.
   
8. Calling card issuers that go out of business, leaving cardholders with a useless card and no way to recover the money spent.
   
9. Poor quality connection.
   

To Avoid:

1. Consider getting a billed calling card that you do not have to pre-pay.
   
2. Ask about guarantees.
   
3. Check rates carefully aside from the ones being advertised. Pay special attention on extra connection surcharges like: call completion rules, USF fees, time restrictions and distance restrictions.
   
4. Check other surcharges. Many pre-paid cards charge a first minute penalty, minimum call lengths, large payphone fees, monthly service fee, recharging fee, or set expiration dates which you have to pay to extend or to save unused time.
   
5. Check the customer service number of the provider and verify that it works before purchasing the card.
   
6. Make sure the card has the full amount of time promised by verifying that it comes in a sealed package and that the PIN is not visible.
   
7. Ask who the underlying provider is to know which company will be carrying your calls.
   
8. Be careful of prepaid card providers that do not answer your basic questions in a professional manner.
   
9. Ask trusted sources (friends, family, lawyers) if they have a card to recommend.
   

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