Phonecards - What to look out for

First, lets establish the facts. Phonecards are the cheapest method for calling the greatest number of countries. So if you are looking for cheap calls to your country, you're right to choose phonecards.

So what should you look out for when you are choosing a phonecard?

When buying a phonecard you need to read the terms and conditions carefully. For many phonecards, the terms and conditions state that the minutes quoted are based on "single use of card".

What this means is that if you use the card to make a single completed call, you could talk for the specified number of minutes before the card would run out of credit.

For example, You may see a phonecard with 500 minutes to a particular destination country. What the card supplier is saying is that if you called the specified country using this phone card, you could speak to your contact for 500 minutes before the phonecard runs out of credit.

At a glance this may appear to be a good deal.

However, it is necessary to strike a note of caution here. Why?

The answer is that almost all phonecards come with fees and charges attached.

What are some of the fees and charges to look out for?

Phonecard Fees and Charges

Connection Fee

The connection fee is an amount deducted from the phone card's balance once a call is connected. As a general rule of thumb, the higher the connection fee, the lower the destination call rate. Therefore, if you make only occasional calls and tend to speak for a long time, a card with a connection fee may provide the best value. If you make regular calls it is recommended that you use a phonecard with low or no connection fee.

Maintenance Fee

The maintenance fee is an amount deducted from the phone card's balance daily/weekly/monthly having the effect of reducing your minutes. Most phone cards carry a maintenance fee which usually coincides with the expiry period after first use of the card.

Call Completion Fee

Some phonecards have a call completion fee which is a fee applied every time you complete a call. This has the effect of reducing the number of minutes on the card. Calling Cards Direct does not currently stock any phonecards that have a call completion fee. If we ever do, we will be sure to make clear in the phonecard information whether there is a call completion fee and how much it is.

Rounding

This is the basic unit for measuring duration of a phone call. Our phone cards are generally rounded one minute. Some phonecard suppliers have a stepped series of charges where for example the first 10 minutes of a call may be rounded to one minute and the next ten minutes are rounded to 2 minutes etc. Call the phonecards customer services number to check these details if uncertain as to the phonecard's rounding policy.

Which Access Number to use

When you buy a phonecard in the UK, you are usually given several access numbers that may be used to make your international call. The numbers may be prefixed by 0800, 0845 or 020.

Which access number should you use for the most minutes?

We have provided a helpful paragraph on each to help you to decide.

1. 020 Local access numbers - 020 numbers are charged at a standard rate for calls made from UK phones. Most mobile telephone service providers allow calls to 020 numbers to be made from free inclusive contract minutes. BT allows free calls to 020 numbers for up to an hour at weekends, Evenings and Weekends or Anytime depending on the BT Call Plan to which you are signed up. You can therefore call internationally at just the quoted phonecard rate at Calling Cards Direct. If you have a contract mobile with free minutes, we recommended that you call via your phonecard's 020 access number.

2. 0845 National Access numbers - Calls to 0845 access numbers are charged on BT and most other phone providers at Daytime: 2p/minute and Evenings: 0.5p/minute. You can therefore call internationally at just the quoted phonecard rate on Calling Cards Direct plus 0.5p/minute. For example, a call to India from your BT landline anywhere in the UK would cost you just 3p/minute if made in the evening (after 7:00 p.m.).

3. 0800 Toll free access numbers - Calls to 0800 numbers are free from most UK landlines. These numbers have a slightly higher rate than local access numbers, but they are more reliable and of course would not usually incur a charge (please check with your phone provider if unsure and always obtain the bill payers permission before using an access number).

We hope this has helped you to decide which is the best access number for you to use when you call abroad using a phonecard.

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Welcome to Calling Cards Direct News, your source for phonecard price updates, news, hints and tips on using international phonecards in the United Kingdom. You have received this email either because you have subscribed for updates or have registered and bought a phonecard from www.callingcardsdirect.co.uk.

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We have great news!

We have made huge reductions on the price of Speak n Save Phonecards!

Speak n Save £5 phonecards are now available on Calling Cards Direct at the incredible price of £3.99. Click here now

Speak n Save £10 phonecards are now available on Calling Cards Direct at the the unbelievable price of £6.99. Click here now

Speak and Save phonecards are great for occasional international callers. They come with the lowest per minute call rates to many destinations. There is a connection fee however, which is why if you only call abroad occasionally and tend to speak for a long time, you may find the low call rates very attractive. Click here now to check the call rate to your destination and see the great savings that you can make!

Other great reductions are coming soon, so don't forget to keep checking back for news.

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