Dealing With Prepaid Phone Cards - Concerns And Worries
Prepaid phone cards are truly appropriate and reliable communication devices people use today. These types of devices are helpful to many folk, especially travelers: immigrants, tourists, friends, relatives or those who simply love talking on the phone.
Since most standard telephone services have usually very high rates and surcharges,these call cards give consumers affordable rates particularly for international calls. At present, there are a lot of companies which sell many variants of these call cards, with each one having different service providers and affiliates.
Serious Concerns Consumers Have About Some Call Cards
For some customers, they might not get exactly what they're paying for when it comes to using these phone cards to reach distant family and friends, according to a consumer affairs study. One study tested 45 international prepaid call cards for efficiency and customer satisfaction, and found that the average card delivered only 60 percent of the call times it promised.
A third of the 45 cards delivered the full call-time advertised; seven, or 15.6 percent, didn't work at all; and eight had call completion rates of 50 percent or less. Lastly, three cards provided less than 20 percent of the minutes advertised and promised to consumers. Dropped calls, poor sound quality and post-dial delays of up to 50 seconds were also common concerns that many consumers howled about, and only 15 cards allowed callers to use the entire time balance.
Dealing With Phone Card Fraud And Hidden Call Charges
The study made by consumer interest groups also noted that some phone card consumers were misinformed and sometimes deliberately misled by confusing terms and conditions of use, excessive fine print, or plain omission of vital card usage information. Consumers who are hit hardest by phone card misinformation or fraud are mostly immigrants who see these cards as an affordable alternative in keeping in touch with family and relatives overseas.
According to industry observers, the call card market has grown into a $4 billion industry, and was responsible for 11 billion calls in the past year alone. Its a fact that some call cards have additional fees, such as connection fees and others. A connection charge applies to the card's balance every time a connection is established. The connection charge may vary depending on the country being called, calling to. Connections fee reduce the advertised number of minutes on the call card. Another common card fee is the maintenance fee. This fee is deducted from the card's balance if there is still enough balance.
There are some phone cards that offer extra features and innovations, such as Web or SMS callback, conference calls, SMS refill services, Toll-free numbers and a lot more. It's features expand the use of a particular card, and offers many extra additional perks, aside from simply calling your family, friends or relative overseas. These devices can be purchased from convenience stores, markets, vending machines or on the Internet. They also allow consumers to make international or domestic calls from practically any telephone. Most individuals find using these devices as convenient means of handling most or all of their call requirements.
Since most standard telephone services have usually very high rates and surcharges,these call cards give consumers affordable rates particularly for international calls. At present, there are a lot of companies which sell many variants of these call cards, with each one having different service providers and affiliates.
Serious Concerns Consumers Have About Some Call Cards
For some customers, they might not get exactly what they're paying for when it comes to using these phone cards to reach distant family and friends, according to a consumer affairs study. One study tested 45 international prepaid call cards for efficiency and customer satisfaction, and found that the average card delivered only 60 percent of the call times it promised.
A third of the 45 cards delivered the full call-time advertised; seven, or 15.6 percent, didn't work at all; and eight had call completion rates of 50 percent or less. Lastly, three cards provided less than 20 percent of the minutes advertised and promised to consumers. Dropped calls, poor sound quality and post-dial delays of up to 50 seconds were also common concerns that many consumers howled about, and only 15 cards allowed callers to use the entire time balance.
Dealing With Phone Card Fraud And Hidden Call Charges
The study made by consumer interest groups also noted that some phone card consumers were misinformed and sometimes deliberately misled by confusing terms and conditions of use, excessive fine print, or plain omission of vital card usage information. Consumers who are hit hardest by phone card misinformation or fraud are mostly immigrants who see these cards as an affordable alternative in keeping in touch with family and relatives overseas.
According to industry observers, the call card market has grown into a $4 billion industry, and was responsible for 11 billion calls in the past year alone. Its a fact that some call cards have additional fees, such as connection fees and others. A connection charge applies to the card's balance every time a connection is established. The connection charge may vary depending on the country being called, calling to. Connections fee reduce the advertised number of minutes on the call card. Another common card fee is the maintenance fee. This fee is deducted from the card's balance if there is still enough balance.
There are some phone cards that offer extra features and innovations, such as Web or SMS callback, conference calls, SMS refill services, Toll-free numbers and a lot more. It's features expand the use of a particular card, and offers many extra additional perks, aside from simply calling your family, friends or relative overseas. These devices can be purchased from convenience stores, markets, vending machines or on the Internet. They also allow consumers to make international or domestic calls from practically any telephone. Most individuals find using these devices as convenient means of handling most or all of their call requirements.
posted by global take off at
3:48 AM
<< Home