Puzzling Over Pre-Paid Phone Calls
Are you fed up with paying too much for long-distance calls while traveling? Consumer Action's Linda Sherry says most pre-paid phone cards will save you money but the surcharges can add up. Use the card at a pay phone and you'll be charged an additional 24 to 75 cents.
Use the card to call a mobile phone and sometimes a different rate structure kicks in. Weekly and monthly maintenance fees are common. All these charges can eat up your minutes fast. Fees must be on the card itself or packaging, according to California law. The best deal I've found is the card sold at Costco.
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Consumer Advocate
Known as The Savvy Consumer, Chris Bjorklund has been a Consumer Advocate for over 35 years. She has worked with KPIX-TV, KGO, The Better Business Bureau, Consumer Reports, and as an Investigator for the Consumer Fraud Unit of the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. Chris puts her incredible consumer experience to work for you!
