Long distance calling cards

[Muse]

I only need long distance for the rare fax outside of my local calling area (my area code is 510). I use my cell phone to make voice calls. I don't have a fax machine but instead use my computer and fax software to send faxes on my land line (also my wired phone and DSL line). I've been using Winfax Lite that came on my Norton Systemworks 2003 CD. I've been subscribed to a long distance provider, Powernet Global that charges me minimal charges even if I don't make any calls, so 90+% of the time my monthly charge is $1.20 or so. Anyway, I figure I would prefer a non-expiring long distance card system if it would work with my fax software. Presumably I wouldn't have monthly charges that way. Is this workable? Can I get recommendations for a card?

 

[Muse]

Evidently Winfax Lite supports calling card dialing sequences. So what is a good calling card for someone who uses them only very rarely?

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From Winfax Lite help:

About calling card dial sequences:


A calling card dial sequence includes all of the components required to place a call using your calling card service. It may include a special access number, pauses, or even switching between pulse and touch tone dialing. The following example identifies the components of a typical calling card dial sequence.

<Dial prefix><Service access number><Dial tone><Calling card number><Dial tone><Phone number>
<9,><1-800-674-7000><Wait><123-456-7890-1234><Wait><415-555-1212>
WinFax includes default settings for most popular calling cards. However, if you experience problems charging calls to your calling card, check the dial sequence required by your calling card. Charge a regular phone call to your calling card and write down each step in the sequence. Then compare the steps with the steps used by WinFax in the Dial Sequence Properties dialog (start Program Setup, double click Dialing And Location, click the Calling Cards tab, and then click Dial Sequence). In the Dial Sequence Properties dialog, your calling card dial sequence begins with the dial prefix (if enabled), followed by a series of sequential dialing actions you specify (maximum of ten), and ending with a dial suffix (if enabled). To change your dial sequence, click the appropriate step in each of the drop-down lists, in the order in which they must be dialed. The table below describes all of the options available in the "1" through "10" drop-down lists.

-More details snipped.-

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Me and my brother use a simple Family Dollar calling card in just the way you want. Cost us $15 for 70 minutes and they never expire.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
Me and my brother use a simple Family Dollar calling card in just the way you want. Cost us $15 for 70 minutes and they never expire.

Good, thanks. My credit card expires in a month (May), and I suppose my Powernet Global will not be able to charge it unless I inform them of my new expiration date. I may just contact them first though and ask to stop the service.

Looking, I see I've made 8 faxes out of my local area code in the last 3 years, but the last one was 14 months ago. I could probably send ~12 faxes in under 70 minutes (including failed faxes, which I get commonly), so I think I'll be paying maybe 20% of what I've been paying using that Family Dollar CC.

 

[Muse]

I'm having a problem finding Family Dollar calling cards online. Or would I have to pick one up at a Family Dollar B&M store?

Where online is a good place to get a decent non-expiring calling card?

 

[Muse]

How about this one:

MobileCaller

Mobile Clear offers one minute billing increments, no maintenance fees, and no monthly fees. If you place a lot of shorter calls, this plan is for you

Rounding : 1 - minute
Connection Fee : None
Maintenance Fee : None
Payphone Surcharge : 79 ¢
Communication Fees : 10% added to each call
Expiration : None (Lifetime Minutes)
Rechargeable : Yes
Works from Canada : Yes
Works from Hawaii : Yes
Works from Alaska : No
International Access : View Access Numbers
U.S Domestic Rate : 2.9¢

Am I missing something?

Looks like I'd get 345 minutes for $10, no expiration. I think there's a 10% additional charge per call ("Communication Fees"). Any downside to this? I'm a total noob here... never had a calling card in my life. I belong to Costco. Would I do better there?

 

[wiredspider]

send fax via cell phone?

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: wiredspider
send fax via cell phone?

How is that possible? I usually fax documents from my computer. How could I do that through my cell phone account?

 

[wiredspider]

I don't know what kind of cell you have, but I can hook up my phone via the cable (maybe even blue tooth) to use it as a fax modem. I haven't had to fax anything in a while so I don't know if I'm leaving anything out...

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: wiredspider
I don't know what kind of cell you have, but I can hook up my phone via the cable (maybe even blue tooth) to use it as a fax modem. I haven't had to fax anything in a while so I don't know if I'm leaving anything out...

Well, even so I might be better off with a phone card. I'm paying around $0.10/min using a prepaid cell phone but the prepaid calling card would be $0.029/min. No cables necessary.

 

[Muse]

I just signed up with the mobilecaller.com Mobile Seconds plan.

* All orders under $20.00 will be charged a $1.00 processing fee.

So, I bought a $10 plan, ponied up an extra dollar and I get 3.4 cents/min calls, no expiration, no monthly fees, etc. It's pinless too once I register my pin with my landline. I think this will work. For me I think the Mobile Seconds plan beats the Mobile Clear plan because it rounds by seconds, not minutes. My calls will be 2-5 minutes, so rounding to seconds will actually be cheaper.

 

[Muse]

I tried a trial fax and after one failure got a success! I have pinless, so my dialing sequence in my fax sofware is this:

1800 + < MobileCaller's access number > + ,,, + < my 3 digit security code >,,, + the number I'm dialing.

The failure might have been due to too quick a pause, so I made the pause longer by adding 2 extra commas in both instances.

Neat. Now I can cancel my former long distance provider, who have monthly charges.

Edit: I just checked my account, a $10 account and it's now $9.97. It cost me 3 cents to send that one page fax. Not so bad I guess. I figure if I send 4 faxes/year it will cost me $0.50 instead of the $15+ I was paying before and I won't get those annoying emails every month telling me that $1.20 was drawn on my credit card.