Using Prepaid Phone Cards from Pay Phones

Dialling long distance from a payphone is done through Operator Service Providers (OSP), at their long distance rates. In order to save on long distance, the caller must either follow the instructions on the payphone to connect to a different service provider, or use a prepaid phone card with a local or toll-free access number. If the caller just dials long distance from a pay phone without following the specific pay phone instructions to change the service provider the default OSPs rates will be used. The FCC requires that the caller be able to select a different long distance provider, so directions on dialling a different long-distance caller are legally required to be listed on the pay phone.

Prepaid phone cards are much better than using the default OSP of the payphone because these OSPs usually charge much higher per-minute rates and connection fees. Calling cards enable you to by-pass the default OSP and connect to the long distance carriers specific to that phone card.

Most calling cards charge calling card fees when using a payphone. a 3 cent premium on the per minute rate when using a payphone, and then another per minute premium to use the toll-free number. So remember, to maximize your long distance minutes always try to use the local access number supplied with your calling card to call.

Tavis McKenzie
GM, Phonecarddepot.com
http://www.phonecarddepot.com/blog

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Using Calling Cards from Pay Phones