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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