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Everyday Cheapskate

I kissed my long-distance service goodbye

It could have been the dinnertime phone calls begging us to switch or the junk mail with 10-10-XXXX stickers to stick on our phones. Or the confusion and constant concern that we didn't have the best deal on a long-distance telephone calling plan.

It might have been any one of those things that finally pushed me over the edge. But it was, in fact, the monthly bill.

I thought we had a decent long-distance plan. But on closer look and factoring in all the additional fees (national access fee, federal universal service fee, current taxes and surcharges, federal excise tax, federal, state and local surcharges to name just a few), the effective rate of what AT&T promised was their best plan zoomed to more than 30 cents a minute. That's it, I said. I've had it!

I picked up the phone and kissed my long-distance service company goodbye! I told the customer-service person to cancel my long-distance service. Yes, I said, cancel it. I jumped in the car, drove to Sam's Club and bought two prepaid calling cards right off the rack. These cards are co-branded by AT&T and Sam's Club -- both familiar names that I could count on. I parked one card in a convenient place right by the telephone and the other in my wallet.

I like paying cash for our long-distance calls. especially when it's only 3.47 cents a minute, 24 hours a day to any spot in the United States, Canada or the Caribbean. No hidden fees, no monthly long-distance bill to deal with, no minimums or additional taxes. No surprises. It's working out beautifully. And the best part is a new awareness. Because I have to call the 800 number printed on the card (you don't need long-distance service to call toll-free numbers from your residential phone), I pay more attention to where I'm calling and I'm more aware of how long I'm talking.

Yes, it is an extra step to get the card out and go through the steps (takes about 30 seconds), but I got used to it after the second call. To me, it's the difference between paying cash and using credit. I pay more attention to what I'm doing and that's good.

There are two types of prepaid phone cards: disposable and those that can be "recharged" and billed to a credit card. My advice is to stay away from "rechargeables," and to consider only cards with major carriers like AT&T, MCI or Sprint. Avoid prepaid cards that tell you nothing about minutes, but state a number of "units" (which might not be equal to minutes), and those that expire.

Yes, I'm a huge fan of prepaid long-distance phone cards -- a $480-a-year fan! That's how much I figure I'm not spending in a year's time when I use AT&T long distance for $.0347 cents not $.30 a minute. Other long-distance alternatives with similar savings can be found at www.onesuite.com and www.bigzoo.com.

Denominations and full prices of prepaid phone cards from Sam Club's vary, but currently a 600-minute card is $20.82. That's 10 hours of talk to any number in any state, Canada or the Caribbean, any time day or night, for 3.47 cents a minute. And there are no fees and no surprises.

Dubya, this is the card I use from Sam's Club. Only I get the 1250 minute one. And I can call any where in the States for $.0347 a minute. But I had to learn the hard way which ones EXPIRE! MCI expires. I "lost" about 450 minutes.

Hey Brian, do you guys need prepaid calling cards?

If so, do you know what kind works for you?

You are soooo right about pre-paid phone cards. I used them for years. Now if I could just convince my hubby they're the way to go.....