Prepaid Phonecards

[PacificBlue]

Somebody please check my math here... I currently carry AT&T long distance service, I have a different service/company for local phone service and pay all the same fees and taxes. It just dawned on me tonight that I'm paying the same fees and taxes twice...aarrrggghhhh!!!

Back to my story...In order to get a decent per minute rate I had to sign up for a calling plan...here's the breakdown:

$4.95 per month for AT&T One Rate
$4.70 for the Universal Connectivity Charge
$1.62 for Federal Tax
$1.69 for Oregon USF Surcharge
$10.36 for 148 minutes of long-distance useage
(2 hrs. & 28 min. @ .07 per minute)

Total Cost: $ 23.32


However...if I buy a Sprint Prepaid Phonecard at Costco I get

480 minutes (8 hrs) @ .04 per minute with no fees or taxes.

Total Cost: $ 19.99


Hmm, what am I missing? Why carry long-distance service on my phone?

~PacificBlue~

 

[lickerish]

Hi Pacific Blue..

isn't Costco awesome? I'm also from Oregon, and I bought those Costco/Sprint phone cards ALL the time back when I had a need to call out of the US. It definitely was cheaper than having LD w/ Quest...

*This is so cool, I actually have a neighbor on here... *

 

[PacificBlue]

Nice to meet you neighbor!

On the phone thing, I feel ripped off...I've been under the impression that it was cheaper to carry long-distance service and it seems that really isn't so. I'm thinking I'm going to call and drop the service. Even if I could get that rate (.07 per minute) without the "fees and taxes" it would still cost $33.60 for 480 minutes. SHEESH!!!

I knew those personal finance books would pay off! I've been analyzing all my expenditures to find out EXACTLY where all my money is going.

~PacificBlue~

 

[Innocencefound]

You just answered your own question.

Go with the calling cards, it's cheaper.

 

[Bob Peale]

PB,

The phonecard is cheaper, but not as convenient. If you know you are always going to stay within the minutes, and you don't mind the hassle of always having the card available, it's definitely the way to go.

The other option some people use is a national wireless carrier (like voicestream), where there are a certain amount of anytime minutes wrapped in.

 

[p_p_man]

Even if I could get that rate (.07 per minute) without the "fees and taxes" it would still cost $33.60 for 480 minutes. SHEESH!!!

I've been analyzing all my expenditures to find out EXACTLY where all my money is going.

~PacificBlue~

I've just been working on an account that uses Microsoft Money. I've never come across it before but it's designed for business and home accounting.

Usually I'm quite wary of MicroSoft Products but this programme really is superb. It will give you analysis and price comparisons, work out the interest you should be paying on any loans and a host of other functions that could save you money.

In the UK it's £100 inc tax which is about $160 in USA.

It's worth checking out for your own purposes, bearing in mind though that it is designed for both business and home. There are cheaper programs around that are for one or the other only.

 

[*Lazer*]

<-----Queen of the calling cards esp overseas

Word of advice on the prepaid calling cards. Make sure to check and see if they company is solvent. I have used a ton of these cards and found some that offer 2248 min for twenty bucks. The trick with these cards is to call for LONG conversations. Since mine are generally two to four hours this is no problemo. I used an ATT card that fucking sucked the rate was like 42 cents per min. and sprint was a wopping 45 cents per min overseas. There is a prepaid phone card site you can check for updates. BTW watch out for anything with Axistel on it. They filed chapter 11 but some vendors are still selling their cards. If you see them anyplace call your state attorney or BBB asap.