How to Purchase International Calling Cards?

By Jackie Johnson

Overview

If you do business internationally, have friends in foreign countries or are going abroad for a visit, you can save a bundle by buying international calling cards. These calling cards are easy to buy online, and they can be recharged over the Internet at the site from which you bought the original cards. They work domestically with cell phones to call foreign countries cheaply, although your cell phone may not work in a foreign country because of lack of service.

How to Purchase International Calling Cards?

Step 1

Determine which countries you call the most, and search for the best prices on those cards by looking at different websites and comparing prices (see Resources below). If you have a spreadsheet program on your computer, put the site's URL in one cell and the rate for the cards in another in order to keep track of the different prices. If you don't, write the information down on a sheet of paper.
Step 2

Determine whether you want the flat rate for calling or if you would be better off choosing a plan that charges you a connection fee but lower minute charges. If you don't make a lot of calls to different numbers, you'll probably save money with a plan that charges the connection fee. These work best for long phone calls. However, if your phone calls are short, you'll probably do better with a plan that has no connection fee but slightly higher per minute rates. If you're keeping research in a spreadsheet, add the rates for the connection fee and the minute rate, as well as the flat fee plans' rates.

Step 3

Choose the best plan for you. Sort through the worksheet or spreadsheet by choosing the column that contains your entry for the minute rate for both the flat rate cost and the connection fee cost.
Step 4

Use your credit or debit card to purchase your card. Print the receipt and keep it somewhere safe. It will have the 800 number to dial to connect to the international long distance provider. Once you reach that number, you'll have to follow prompts to put in your PIN number and the number you are calling.

Skill: Easy
Tip: If you plan on traveling out of the country, call your cell phone provider to see if your phone will work where you are going. They may need to put a chip in it so you can access providers at your destination.
Warning:
Many of these international calling cards have expiration dates for the minutes. If you do not make many calls internationally, buy the fewest minutes you can to save money.

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