How to Avoid Hangups With Prepaid
Phone Card
the holidays ... a time for family, friends and an increase in complaints about
prepaid phone cards.
Many people buy the cards this time of year to call loved ones in other states and
other countries from pay phones.
If you buy the right card, it can be both convenient and economical. Otherwise, the
cards can be frustrating and disappointing a "real ripoff," complained
Kamini Rivera of the Bronx.
Rivera said her widowed aunt was able to make only a single call with the card she
bought, even though there should have been enough money left to make several more.
What's worse, she can't reach the customer service department. "All I get is a
busy signal," she said.
Since prepaid phone cards came onto the market almost a decade ago, government
regulators have fought numerous battles against unscrupulous operators.
Last year, the Federal Trade Commission and the New York State attorney general's
office imposed hefty fines on the seller of one prepaid phone card for deceptive
practices.
Some purchasers couldn't get through to the access numbers.
Others said the cards wouldn't work or that they stopped working before the prepaid
value was depleted.
These are not uncommon complaints.
Understand that all prepaid cards are not created equal. They're only as good as the
company that issues them.
Ask yourself: Do I know and trust the company? What will it cost per minute? Are there
any other surcharges, monthly fees or per-call access fees? Is the card in a sealed
envelope or at least have a sticker covering the PIN?
A few checks now could save you from calling for help later.
(Sourece: Daily News: Tuesday, December 28, 1999)
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