Calling Cards

If it’s true we’re all accustomed to see “made in China” in a lot of cheap products, it’s also true that the same can apply to china calling card phone charges when you’re placing a call from the US to China. In fact, this happens not only from the US but nearly from every other Western country too. So, how can you keep in touch with your Chinese friends, suppliers, or customers, without spending a fortune on phone bills?

The answer is quite simple and has been available for a while now: a china calling card! Just like the international phone cards from MCI and AT&T, it will greet you with the best phone rates every time you make use of a china calling card. You can now spend all the time you want over the phone, without worrying about how many minutes have elapsed since you began the call.

The important part of any phone conversation is what you have to say (and listen) – so, why should you be worrying about how much you’re paying for each minute, or how much it will affect your next phone bill? Using a “china calling card” is your best option, to keep your phone costs under control, and be able to have some relaxed conversation over the phone, just like it was any other local call.

If you want to purchase a prepaid calling card online or over the counter, you will quickly see that there are thousands of cards available. So, how do you choose the right phone card for your individual needs?

Begin by asking yourself the following questions, or go directly to the Basic Usage & Suggestions portion of this page. You may also want to consult the Glossary of Terms.
Questions to Ask Prior to Purchasing a Prepaid Phone Card

1) What rate does the card offer to my calling destination
(typically shown as ¢/min)?
Confirm rates before you call and remember that some rates may fluctuate. Also, calls made to international cell phones are generally billed at a higher rate.

2) Do the rates vary depending on the hour of the day?
Be sure that the rate you receive remains constant throughout the entire day. Unless otherwise stated, the advertised rate should be constant no matter what time of day.

3) What is the Minute Billing or Minute Rounding schedule for the card?
Rounding (mintue billing) refers to the increments in which phone calls are billed. For example, with 3 minute rounding, a 4 minute phone call would be billed as a 6 minute phone call. With 1 minute rounding, the same 4 minute call would be billed as a 4 minute call.

4) Will I be charged for calls that do not connect?
Know in advance if you will be charged for attempting a call that does not connect. Please confirm this with the carrier by contacting their customer service department.

5) Are there any additional fees or taxes?
Some phone card s include additional fees and/or taxes. Adding these fees allows carriers and retailers to to keep their advertised rates extra low. You can avoid many types of additional fees and taxes by using all of your minutes in one call. Remember… fees and taxes effectively reduce the number of minutes you’ll receive.

Further, not all calling cards retailers are created equal. Many will not disclose all fees and taxes, so be sure to ask before you buy. A retailer using best business practices will reveal all known taxes and fees to you up front.

6) Can I reach a customer service operator 24 hours a day?
Being able to get a hold of your phone card ’s customer service department is important because they will be able to help you with any unforeseen issues that may arise at any time during the day.

7) Does the phone card have an expiration date?
If yes, any remaining minutes on the card past this date will be lost.

Does the merchant/retailer offer any form of guarantee?
Most prepaid phone card companies do not offer any guarantee on their products. There are , however, a handful of companies that do. A guarantee will further ensure that you get the minutes you pay for.

9) Does the company I am researching appear to be trustworthy?
Look for signs of generating trust: Visible phone numbers, privacy policy, BBB membership, secure transactions, warranties and guarantees.

10) How will I receive my prepaid phone card after purchase?
Typically, if purchasing over the Internet, your phone card will be presented to via email or right on screen pending a successful transaction and acceptance by your bank. Some companies may send you a physical card, but in most cases the delivery occurs by email or right on your screen.

Every month, millions of people buy thousands of different calling cards from over-the-counter retailers such as convenience stores, gas stations, liquor/beer stores, and large retailers like Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, and Costco. With such a wide variety of options available (locations to buy from and number of cards), trying to find the right calling card for your needs can be a daunting task. Fortunately, a small number of savvy online calling card retailers have made buying a calling card easier than ever before.
It’s also a good idea to find out if a guarantee is offered. Do not settle for anything less.

Here are three reasons to consider buying your next calling card online vs. over the counter.

   1. Total Shopping Convenience
   2. Accurately Advertised Rates
   3. Dedicated Customer Support

1. Total Shopping Convenience

From the comfort of your home via your personal computer, quickly and easily compare prepaid calling cards that are ideal for calling to any country worldwide. Most calling card retailers offer multiple cards for you to compare by displaying them in an easy to read top-down format, which aligns card details, rates, and available denominations.

After finding the right calling card for your needs you can buy it within a few clicks. Leading retailers make your purchase secure and easy by offering trusted payment options like PayPal or Google Checkout, in addition to credit cards or debit cards. Some even allow you to purchase with a money order or personal check. Upon approval, your calling card PIN and dialing instructions will be sent to you via email and posted to your online account for future access.

    TIP: Before purchasing a calling card from any online retailer, look for trust symbols and seals related to safe shopping (i.e. Verisign), business associations (i.e. Better Business Bureau), guarantees and even third party security partners (i.e. McAfee Secure).

2. Accurately Advertised Rates
The Internet makes it very easy for online calling card retailers to publish rate updates for any of their products in real-time or near real-time. As a result, you will see much more accurate advertised rate schedules for any of the calling cards you are interested in comparing or purchasing. Some retailers even publish a time stamp to let you know when a card’s rates last changed.

    TIP: Research indicates that most advertised rates are based upon exhausting all available minutes on a calling card in a single call. If there are not any minutes left, on a calling card then the carrier cannot assess any additional fees; fees directly reduce the number of available minutes on a calling card. As such, customers should consider purchasing the lowest available denomination, which will allow them to enjoy their conversation and exhaust all available minutes in one phone call. If you plan to leave minutes remaining on your calling card, consider purchasing one with no fees beyond the advertised per minute rate. These are known as “clean calling cards.”

3. Dedicated Customer Support
Buy a calling card online and get the benefit of having access to two customer support teams (Retailer and Carrier). The carrier is your primary contact for card performance inquiries and the retailer can help you with any purchase related questions.

    TIP: Consider buying a calling card from a retailer that clearly publishes customer support and contact information for the carrier and themselves. It’s also a good idea to find out if a guarantee is offered. Do not settle for anything less.