|
Using an international calling card can save you
money and so can the right long distance phone provider
An international calling card can also help you save money. If
your current long distance phone provider does not give you good
rates on international long distance, then your best bet is to use
an international calling card. To find a long distance phone provider
that does offer great rates on international long distance check
out these discount long
distance rates . Take the time to compare prices and see how
much money you can save on international long distance.
You can use an international calling card just about anywhere.
If you are traveling to South America, for example, it is best to
use an international calling card when making an international long
distance phone call. Certain unscrupulous long distance phone providers
may try to take advantage of you if you are not prepared. With an
international calling card all you have to do is dial the number
you want to reach. Your international calling card is a prepaid
calling card and therefore, you are only charged for the minutes
you use.
You can also use an international calling card if you are in the
United States and you are trying to reach someone in another country.
An international calling card is convenient because all you have
to do is pick up the card, follow the international long distance
dialing instructions, and dial. It is that simple. The international
calling card is very popular with immigrants who are in the United
States, but have family members in their home country. Immigrants
use the international calling card to make their international long
distance call.
International Calling Card: Information
About Mexico Collect Call Scam
The FCC has learned of a telephone scam that originates in Mexico
and apparently targets people in Hispanic communities.
Consumers report that they have been deceived into accepting a
collect call from a particular family member when, in fact, the
call is from a stranger. The consumer is then fraudulently billed
a large amount for a call that lasts a few minutes or less - or
for a nonexistent call.
This scam seems to be prevalent in Spanish-speaking communities
in California, Texas, Florida, New York and Illinois. The scam is
targeted at Spanish-surnamed consumers.
Here's How it Works
An operator calls the consumer's residential telephone number and
tells the consumer he/she has a collect call from a family member
who has an emergency or an important message. The operator has all
the relevant information - the family's last name, husband's name,
wife's name, etc. The operator provides the consumer with the "calling
family member's" name. The consumer accepts the operator-assisted
call, assuming there is a real emergency or message. Upon accepting
the call, the consumer is then connected to a complete stranger
who gives information that is not related to the consumer's family.
Realizing the call is a fraud, the consumer immediately hangs up,
but is still billed for the call.
In some cases, the consumer is not even allowed to respond "yes"
or "no" in accepting the call; the operator automatically
puts the call through without waiting for an affirmative response.
Other times, the consumer actually declines the call and is still
charged a very high rate for a collect call that was never accepted.
Here's How to Avoid This Scam
Consumers should use voice recognition as a tool for identifying
the person placing the collect call. Specifically, consumers should
ask the operator to have the person placing the collect call speak
his name, instead of allowing the operator to say the name of the
person placing the collect call. Also, consumers should carefully
examine their monthly telephone bills for accuracy, and report errors
to the company billing for the erroneous charges.
Filing a Complaint with the FCC
Consumers who become victims of this scam are encouraged to file
a written informal complaint with the FCC. There is no charge for
this. Your letter should include your name, address, telephone number
or numbers involved with your complaint, a telephone number where
you can be reached during the business day, and the name of your
long distance carrier. Your complaint letter should provide as much
specific information about your complaint as possible, such as an
explanation of the circumstances that led to your complaint, the
names of all telephone or other companies involved with your complaint,
the names and telephone numbers of the telephone company employees
that you talked with in an effort to resolve your complaint, the
dates that you talked with these employees, and any other information
that would help the FCC to process your complaint. (Your local telephone
company also often has records that are essential to processing
your complaint.) Mail your complaint to:
Federal Communications Commission
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau
Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
445 12th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20554
|
