Credit or Debit Phone Cards

Convenience vs. cost

Like other forms of credit or debit cards, direct debit or credit phone cards can be risky. Since they are linked directly to a bank account of some kind, they have a considerably greater risk of abuse in the event that the card is lost or stolen. Most major credit cards can be used as calling cards in telephones equipped with card readers, but credit-based calling cards are usable in other phones as well, simply by telephoning the access number (often toll-free) listed on the back of the card. You will have to enter a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) and sometimes a password or other verification number, both of which are generally chosen by the customer to ensure that they are unique and memorable.

If your sole - or at least major - goal is convenience, a credit or debit phone card will likely make the most sense. With such a phone card, you will not suffer the abrupt disconnections that occur with prepaid long distance cards or other types of phone cards, when the funds run out. Also, you won’t be forced to dial a series of different local access numbers, and you may not need a variety of PIN numbers and passwords. But beware, there is a downside - the rates that you pay for both local and long distance service will generally be higher than those of even the most comparable no fee calling card. Also, the absence of a PIN or user-defined password could leave you more vulnerable to theft and abuse than you would be with a more secure (and also less valuable) alternative.

Depending on the phone card itself as well as the company that issues it, the long distance and local rates can vary with credit or debit phone cards- these cards actually represent a whole different type of service compared to the phone cards that are most frequently used throughout the world. Just remember, if you wish to save money and have flexibility in terms of the destinations you can call, a direct debit or credit phone card probably isn’t your best bet. They’re extremely convenient, but are not particularly economical.