Billed Phone Cards

With billed phone cards you pay for the time you talk at the end of each month. Billed calling cards are best suited for businesses or individuals who want itemized billing and who don't want the hassle of constantly recharging a prepaid calling card. These phone cards are ‘stand alone’, meaning that you don't have to switch your current long distance carrier to take advantage of the great rates. You must have a credit card to order these phone cards.

Monthly Billed Phone Cards
Company	USA 48 Anytime Rate	Minimum Call/ Billing Increment	Call Origination	Monthly Fee	Learn More
	* 6.9¢	60 sec / 6 sec	50 Countries	$0.00	CogniCall
CogniCall is a monthly billed calling card that allows you to make calls from more than 50 countries through an extensive worldwide fiber-optic network. The card has ultra-low international rates, no activation fee, no monthly fee, no hidden costs and convenient online billing. The 6.9¢/min rate is available any time of the day to, and from, anywhere in USA-48. The CongiCall phone card is a ‘virtual calling card’ which means you will receive emailed instructions when you activate service. All calls are billed in 6 second increments with a 60 second minimum call. * 6.9¢ per minute to anywhere in USA-48 from USA-48. Call charges that compute to less than one cent will be rounded up to the nearest cent. There is NO connection or monthly service fees but a 55¢ FCC mandated payphone surcharge is applicable.
	* 9.7¢	30 sec / 6 sec	All Countries	$0.00	Powernet Global
All PNG phone cards come activated with the ‘International Access’, meaning you can call from anywhere in North America (Continental USA, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, USVI, and Canada) to anywhere in the world. You pay only for the time you talk and there are no monthly fees or sign-up charges. All calls are billed in 6-second increments, the minimum call length is 30 seconds, and - thankfully - you are able to place multiple calls without re-entering your access code. The PNG card has really good calling card rates to Canada. * 9.7¢ from the US-48 to the US-48 3.9¢ from the US-48 to Canada 16.9¢ from US-48 to Alaska and Hawaii 5.0¢ from US-48 to Puerto Rico 4.7¢ from US-48 to USVI 24.9¢ from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and USVI to the US-48 9.0¢ from Alaska to US-48 Rates Subject to Change
	* 4.9¢	30 sec / 6 sec	USA – 48	$1.00 †	AccuLinq
AccuLinq uses Digital Fiber Optics on all of its phone lines and only charges for actual usage – the monthly fee is not charged during inactive months. There are no surcharges, no commitments, and no minimums. Most calls in the US will cost 4.9¢/min per minute as AccuLinq has over 2500 local access areas to connect to it's toll free access number. A great FREE feature is QuickLinq which allows you to bypass having to enter your PIN. Simply give AccuLinq up to 3 phone numbers from where you place your long distance calls and their system will automatically recognize your account and enter your 11-digit PIN for you. This really speeds up the dialing process and you don't have to remember your pin! * 4.9¢ per minute from 2500 select access areas to 50 States & Canada, and 8.9¢ per minute from 48 States to 50 States & Canada in non-select areas. † 1$ monthly fee ($2 if statement is mailed). No fee will be charged if zero usage for billing cycle. FCC mandated per-call payphone surcharge of 60¢ applies.
	* 5.9¢	30 sec / 6 sec	45 Countries	$1.00 †	AccuGlobe
Like its sister AccuLinq, AccuGlobe only charges for actual usage, and the monthly fee is not charged during inactive months. There are no surcharges, no commitments, and no minimums. However unlike AccuLinq, AccuGlobe is a global calling card that operates in over 45 countries. You can view your bill and charges online and you have the option of storing up to 7 personal speed dial numbers for the phone numbers you dial most often! AccuGlobe customer service operates 24 hours a day to assist you with any need. * 5.9¢ per minute from 48 States to 50 States and Canada † $1 monthly fee. No fee will be charged if zero usage for billing cycle. 65¢ per call from a payphone (FCC mandated).

How to Select a Phone Card

Why use a phone card?

Phone cards provide a convenient way to place calls while away from home, eliminate the need for coins at payphones, and bypass expensive collect calls. By using a phone card, you choose your long distance company and its phone card rates and avoid any unexpected charges that might be assessed by a payphone service provider.

What types of phone cards are available?

Billed phone cards are typically issued by a local or long distance company and charges appear on your monthly bill and/or credit card.

Prepaid phone cards usually come in denominations of $10, $20, and $50 and are used for long distance calls until the card is empty. Because a prepaid phone card represents calling time purchased in advance, you're not sent a bill for the calls you make. With each use the cost of the call is deducted from the card's balance.

How do you choose a phone card?

First determine your individual calling needs. Do you need to make a high number of calls to different numbers while traveling, or do you need to budget each call?

A billed phone card may offer more flexibility by allowing you to place a call from any telephone, make international calls, and talk as long as you like. Prepaid calling cards are useful if you do not have long distance service, want to limit your talk time, and/or maintain a calling budget. Once you understand your calling patterns, shop around to determine the calling card that's best for you.

What questions are important to ask?

Rates and conditions of calling card service vary widely. Ask yourself these questions:

Billed Calling Cards

What is the per-minute rate? Are there different rates for different times of the day and can they change without notice?
Are calls rounded up to the nearest minute, or 30 seconds, or other increment? Is the rate higher for the first minute or is there a minimum per-call charge?
Can the card be used for local, state, state-to-state, and international calls? What are the rates for each call type?
Is there a surcharge, tax, or any other charge for each call? If so, how much? Do the surcharges vary when calling from public telephones, hotels, etc.?
Is there a monthly maintenance fee? Is the fee assessed whether I use the card during the month or not? How much is the fee?
Can I reach customer service personnel through a toll-free telephone number? What is that number? Is it available 24 hours a day?

Prepaid Calling Cards

Will the calling card expire automatically and, if so, when?
What is the per-minute or per-call charge?
Is there a charge when a call is not completed?
Is there a per-call connection fee or connection surcharge?
Is there a higher rate for the first minute or for international calls?
Will I be notified when one minute is remaining on my call?

Last of all make sure you read and understand the fine print.