How to Make the Most of a Prepaid Phone Card

You can buy prepaid phone cards everywhere. The assumption is that these cards are for people without cell phone plans, and therefore allow them the convenience of calling from anywhere any time. But many people are attracted to phone cards because there are other advantages to buying them. Learn about them here.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

How to Make the Most of a Prepaid Phone Card

1. Do some research comparing prices on long distance calls you make within the country from home. Look at the breakdown on your last phone bill. Calculate how much money and how many minutes you spent on long distance. Divide the cost by the minutes for your per-minute dollar amount. Many phone cards allow you to make long distance calls for less than three cents per minute. If your figure is above that, consider using your prepaid phone card at home.
2. Compare prices on international calls. Do the same calculations as before. You will most likely be spending more per minute without a phone card for those international calls. If you make enough international calls, it will be worth the money to buy a card just for those calls.
3. Buy a phone card just for international trips. They are easy-to-use and will let you travel with that “Help is just a phone call away” feeling.
4. Investigate the feature that allows you to make calls without having to enter a PIN number. With some cards, it’s possible to identify special numbers, which, when called, will not require the entering of any personal identification number. The availability of this feature, as well as how many special numbers are allowed, varies with different phone cards, so see if this feature exists before you select a phone card.
5. Use the speed dial feature. Some phone cards allow you to name often called numbers, each assigned one particular number on your phone. Again, whether or not the feature is available, or what number of favorites are allowed, varies with different phone cards, so check out this feature before you select one.
6. Some phone cards have a feature which alerts you when you are running low on minutes, and allows you to add more minutes simply by having them charged to a debit or charge card.