stukoleg
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Re:Which phone card do you use ? - 2006/11/22 00:37
Hello Raj,
I not sure which one works better for India. But would like to post general tips about buying calling cards that I learned on the "buy&try" basis. If somebody do not agree, you may correct me.
1. Guelph Smoke in the Stone Road Mall cary very good selection of calling cards. If somebody knows other place in Guelph as good as that, inform, please.
Go to the store and ask for calling cards flyers. The flyers are listings of call rates for particular calling cards brand names. Normally you are looking for the cheapest rate. Peak several of those, but remember that finally cheapest may be the most expensive, or sound quality and stability is not good. You never know until you try.
2. There are a lot of hidden fees . Most cards charge extra money for usage of toll-free dial number (starts with 1-800- or something like this). From this point it is always cheaper if the particular calling card has local dialing number in Guelph. Nevertheless, I seen several cards where "toll-free" number was really free. You have to check this on the flyer, or by looking on back side of the card.
Another hidden fee when you charged for not using your card for a extended time after first call. It varies, but may be something like 0.50 CAD per each week after first call. Then you ma be charged for just placing new call using the card. So, it is always better to talk with your card one time until it lasts. This way you save money. I found it is cheaper to buy 2 cards for 5 dollars and use each for one separate call than one card for 10 dollars and use it for two calls.
Calling cards normally have expire date. It will be not working after certain time period from FIRST use. So, do not wait.
Remember, in most cases the rate you see on the flyer is lie. The best card I got for my country (which is Belarus) promised 35 minutes for 5 dollars, normally it is no more thatn 25 minutes. So imagine not very good ones.
I found a lot of "good" cards become not good anymore after 6 months or so. It seems when the card became very popular they increase rate. So it will be time to hunt for new one since players on this market keep producing new cards.
3. There are the ways to save money  Some cards in the Guelph SMoke store sold for less of nominal if you pay with cash or debit. For example they sell 5-dollars Euro Express card for 4.50. Plus you can get extra 50 cents for your calling card if you register old used Euro Express card before your place the call with new one.
Another way to save money is to buy calling cards online. In this case you pay online with your credit card and they send you PIN number by emai. In this case you are not getting actual card, only PIN.
One of the best deals for calling cards in Ontario is this http://www.ecallingcard.ca You are getting best deal (such as getting 5 dollars card for 4 dollars) if you pay by debit card through the third company. So you pay first, then you are getting the PIN two-three days later. It sounds scary. I did NOT test it, I hope they are not lying, it is their business. Unfortunatley, this way to pay does not work with CIBC and President Choice Bank customers. It is still possible to pay with credit card, but deal is not that good.
ANother source is www.ontariophonecards.ca. They have online listings of rates, so info about hidden fees, so good place to investigate.
4. The cheapest way to talk to your relatives is using Internet and online-phone programs. You're normally getting the best quality when call from computer to computer. You will need speakers and microphone to do so. I know two of those Skype.com and www.vbuzzer.com. SO, if your relatives have Internet access - forget about calling cards. I use Skype for computer-to-computer talks all the time, tryied to call to the land, but quality is very bad. There was previous informative message from Raj about VOIP.
As always, people who tried some cards already are the best source for info. So lets hope that students will post their experience. So far I can recommend Euro Express for calling to Eastern Europe (http://www.ecallingcard.ca/item.php?id=1188). It became little bit worst over the last month. So I will hunt for a better one and inform you.
Enjoy,
Oleg Stukalov
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