Calling Card Plans
Talking Dollars & Sense
Away from home, calling cards let you make calls that appear on your phone bill later. The big carriers’ calling cards are among the best known, but other companies offer competitive programs. With flat-rate calling card plans, you pay the same amount no matter what time of day or day of the week you call. Peak/off-peak plans assess different charges for peak times (i.e., normal business hours in the area from which you place a call) and off-peak times (i.e., evenings, weekends, and holidays). The rate per minute can vary, both for domestic and international calls. Surcharges can be especially high on international calls. When per-minute rates are comparable, check out the surcharges and avoid monthly service fees.