Rechargeable Prepaid Phone Cards
There's no doubt about it: modern technology has broken down the
major barriers to communication, which is geography. Through
emails, faxes, telephones and cellular phones, people now manage
to maintain open communication lines to others no matter where
they are in the world.
As time passes, more and more means of communication emerge to
give us the ultimate convenience that we need. Aside from
electronic mail, online chat and exchange of text messages, one
of the breakthroughs in the communication industry is the phone
card, the prepaid phone card to be exact.
By definition, a prepaid phone card is a card that you can
purchase for a set price and which is used to make domestic
and/or long distance calls. Usually, these cards are sold by the
number of consumable minutes or in specified dollar amounts.
Whether you are a college student, a business traveler, a sales
representative, or even a truck driver, you must have one
for making calls. But, before buying one, make sure to identify
your phone card needs, so you won't waste your time and money in
buying an unreliable phone card.
Like batteries and other high-tech gadgets which in a sense are
reusable, many phone cards are now reloadable or rechargeable.
To avoid replacing plastic cards very often, more and more
companies made reloading phone cards possible by letting the
card holder add value to the used card even when the present
value has been consumed.
These rechargeable phone cards are often initially issued with
no value at all. Since it is reusable, most of these cards
require an activation processes.
In some cases, damaged cards do not function properly because
the codes and serial numbers are not being identified and read
by machines. With most phone cards, though, this is not a
problem, because the user manually enters the access phone
number, usually toll-free, and a PIN number. As long as the user
knows those numbers, a phone call can be place, even if the card
is not physically present.
To avoid being a victim of unreliable rechargeable phone cards,
define your phone card needs. Making sure that you know what
type of card you really need will allow you to achieve maximum
savings. If you are confident that you can carry around a card
without damaging it, then by all means get a rechargeable phone
card.
Make sure to double check the expected life of the card through
the type of material that is used. One of the major differences
between a regular phone card and a rechargeable phone card is
the type of material used in making the card. Since rechargeable
cards are expected to last for a long time, try to look for
cards that are made of durable material.
Another nice feature of rechargeable phone cards is that these
pieces are often considered collectibles. If collecting the card
is one of your goals aside from the convenience it brings, make
sure that the rechargeable phone card is produced as a limited
edition collectible that has quality and is in good condition.
Aside from the material used, check whether the card is issued
in the original plastic envelope or blister pack. Since these
cards are expected to have a longer life span, check if the
container is good enough to protect the card. Aside from the
possible defects in packaging, be meticulous about the printing.
The printing is quite significant especially for the collectors
because this will add more value to the card. Make sure that the
image you choose is clear and sharp along with the letters it
bears. Aside from image, check if the back cover is in good
condition like the front cover.
Double check the overall physical state of the card such as
holes, scars, scratches, bends, chips, and other identifiable
marks before purchasing it.
Regardless of whether you prefer to choose a rechargeable or a
regular one, look at the basics. You must be able to confirm the
rate or the cost of conversation time per minute. This is very
important to avoid problems when making important calls. You can
verify this by doing inquiries and research on the actual rates
through the dealer or through the Internet.
Also, make sure that there are no hidden charges. You can ensure
this by reading everything about the charges before you pay for
it. This is quite important so you will know if the usual
charges like activation and access fees or service fees are
already included.
Through this, you can also discover if there are hidden or
additional charges when you call from a pay phone and if the
actual costs are higher compared to the advertised ones.
Another thing to watch out for is the availability of a toll-
free customer service number. The presence of toll-free customer
service numbers in the packaging is crucial because they are the
ones who can help you when problems arise regarding the card.
Here's a good tip: try calling the number first and if the
number is still busy after a series of attempts, do not buy it.
Aside from the customer service number, look for the expiration
date of the card. Although most cards do not have expiration
dates, some do, so it's important to take that into account when
choosing a prepaid phone card to best fit your needs.
Also, check out the packaging of the card before you purchase
it. Make sure it is sealed in a plastic envelope and the PIN
number is covered. Otherwise, someone else might copy down the
PIN number and drain time from the card that you
purchase.
Lastly, ask around for reliable phone cards and buy in small
denominations at first in case the service is unsatisfactory.