Pre-paid calling cards have become a recent trend in the U.S., but are they good for the consumer? The cards are being sold everywhere from the Internet to the convenience store. The card is essentially a debit card which you buy for a specific amount of money and is good for a specific amount of minutes. The major benefit of using a debit card is the price. These cards do not have a surcharge like most other calling cards. However, consumers should realize that the per-minute rates are usually higher than other calling cards and calls you would make from home. Debit cards are most economical for consumers who tend to make short calls away from home.

Consumers should consider the following before purchasing a pre-paid calling card:

• What is the actual cost per-minute?
• Where can I call to and from? Not all cards allow you to call internationally or may be good only for calls outside of your own state.
• Is there a sign-up or activation fee?
• How reputable is the company? Many companies have recently gone out of business leaving their customers with unused minutes and without being reimbursed by the defunct company. 

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