Telecommunications Guide for Students

Calling cards are available for purchase at the Vassar College bookstore.  In addition, cards can be purchased online.  Below is a list of prepaid calling card vendors that are generally considered reputable:


There are a number of vendors and calling card options available in both retail outlets and online.  Before making a purchase, please review the important tips below for avoiding potential card company fraud and retrieving the best value for your phone calls:

  1. Look for full disclosure of all rates and fees – buy only from vendors that fully and prominently disclose all rates and fees.
  2. Carefully read all Terms & Conditions – many vendors hide their fees in lengthy documents such as a “Terms & Conditions” or “User Agreement”.  Read all documents, looking carefully for disclosure of fees.  It is recommended that if you find any hidden fees in such documents that you do not purchase from that vendor.
  3. Compare at least three (3) calling cards – compare the pricing, features, and fees of at least three calling cards before purchasing.
  4. Call customer service before buying – make sure you can get a live person on the line from customer service and ask them a few questions such as “What are your hours?  What do I do if I have a problem with the card?”  The given answers will help ascertain the availability and helpfulness of any vendor’s customer service.  If you cannot find a customer service number or find it impossible to talk to a live person, look for another vendor.
  5. Test the local and toll-free access numbers before buying – it is not uncommon to have problems reaching a call access number, through either non-functional access numbers or constant busy signals.  Call the access numbers prior to purchase to verify that they are live and available.
  6. Avoid cards with lots of extra fees and surcharges, even if they are fully disclosed – simple is better!  Buy cards that have fewer (and preferably lower) extra fees - even if that means paying a little extra per minute.  The closer you are to working with the advertised per minute rate, the easier it will be to predict the cost of your calls.  Also, beware of cards that have carrier fees (or communications fees) that are any higher than 20%.
  7. Test before committing – purchase the smallest denomination card available first. If the card is satisfactory, buy your next card at a higher value.  If you purchased a rechargeable card, simply add more funds.  If the card is unacceptable, try another vendor.
  8. Beware of retail outlets – when purchasing from any store, be sure to stick with well-known brands, such as major phone companies (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc.).  Calling card fraud is very prevalent in retail stores, where displays and packaging often advertise very low rates which are offset by large hidden fees.  Purchasing cards online often makes it easier to research rates and compare all fees.