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Is anyone using something that they really like?

... in response to calling card suggestions?, posted by Richard on Sep 24, 2003

I use ExpressPin to buy prepaid cards and it works out great.  

http://pointme.to/expresspin

(I don't work with them or anything, just like their application.)

... in response to calling card suggestions?, posted by Richard on Sep 24, 2003

To call where?

Victoria uses EuroMama, and is very happy with it. Calling Kherson is kind of hit and miss no matter what system you use, it seems.

MCI was not completely reliable... Victoria says that she has as good success with EuroMama as she had with MCI (Long distance calling direct, not a card...) and it is much cheaper.

You can choose from a variety of cards at LDPost. If you need the URL drop me a line, and I'll send it to you...

... in response to Re: calling card suggestions?, posted by MarkInTx on Sep 25, 2003

I would have to aggree w/Mark. After using many different one over the 3 year period, we've settled down to using Euromama also

... in response to calling card suggestions?, posted by Richard on Sep 24, 2003

I use Noblecom to call Colombia.  The connection is usually decent, though occassionally it is not.  I have been using them for about 10 months.  Costs about 4.9 cents a minute for me.

I haven't used them to call Eastern Europe but the rates seem comparable to what I pay to call Colombia.  Looking in their rate table I saw some example rates:

US to Russia:
408 minutes for $20.00 or 4.7 cents a minute with no connection fee.

US to Ukraine:
202 minutes for $20.00 or 9.9 cents a minute with no connection fee.

US to Phillipines:
155 minutes for $20.00 or 12.9 cents a minute with no connection fee.

The URL is www.noblecom.com.  The first order will be confirmed on the phone but subsequent orders are emailed to you as soon as you place the order.

... in response to Re: calling card suggestions?, posted by lswote on Sep 24, 2003

I would second this suggestion.  We have had some problems with service from time to time, but at 6 cents/minute to Russia, their Russia Talk cards have saved us a good bit of money.

... in response to Nobelcom.com, posted by SteveM on Sep 25, 2003

I never used Noble for Russia, but I used it for Brazil and it was horrible. The connection always sounded like I was talking to her using two tin cans and a string...

They also chewed up my "time" in strange increments.

If you're calling Russia, you really ought to try EuroMama.

http://www.ldpost.com/

I think you would find it is better service, and the fees make more sense.

IMHO

... in response to Nobelcom.com, posted by SteveM on Sep 25, 2003

My wife calls southern russia "out in the boonies..."
$20.00 "Talk Russia" noblecom card for over 400 minutes...Call cards are definetly the way to go...

She has problems getting through sometimes on weekends and peak and holiday times but not always...

Sheee,3 good 1-hour long phone calls and it would cost $100.00 on Ma Bell....Been there...Done it...

Nobelcom is as good if not better as any other.They all (call cards) have difficulty connecting on any given day and time...We've tried several...

... in response to Nobelcom.com, posted by SteveM on Sep 25, 2003

They told me I had to buy another card to get my money back. The quality frequently resembles two cans on a string...

... in response to I was totally disappointed with there se..., posted by jrm on Sep 26, 2003

Have also had these types of service problems, but after waiting about three months, we did use our remaining balance to buy different cards and they worked fine.  As I said before, they are worth dealing with only if the savings are enough to offset the possible loss of a $40 purchase (the mimimum required to avoid a service charge, and the maximum I would ever buy because of the possibility of loss).

As far as quality, I am not able to make recommendations.  My wife's family is from Vladimir, which is only a few hours east of Moscow.  We have usually not had problems, except with random disconnects.

... in response to Sometimes we have had the same, but..., posted by SteveM on Sep 26, 2003

I don't like the $2.00 service charge for purchases under $40.00 and the fact there is some kind of weekly fee until the card is used up.  I would like to buy more than 1 card at a time since we use them at a regular rate, but since there is a weekly service fee, buying 2 cards to make the minimum purchase and avoid the service fee would mean one card would sit unused for the three weeks or so it takes for my wife to use up a card and by that time the weekly service fee would exceed the $2.00 service fee I pay if I buy just one.  (Please correct me if I am wrong about that)

But even with the service fee and weekly fee it is still the best deal I have found.

... in response to Re: Sometimes we have had the same, but...., posted by lswote on Sep 27, 2003

There are cards with higher per minute rates, but no weekly service fees.  Also, if memory serves, the service fees only start after your first use of that particular card.

BTW, if your wife's average time on the phone is small enough that you can't use up $40 worth of cards in a month, you are saving more money than many of us, regardless of what plan/card you use!

... in response to Re: Sometimes we have had the same, but...., posted by lswote on Sep 27, 2003

There are cards with higher per mimimum rates, but no weekly service fees.  Also, I may be remembering incorrectly, but I think the weekly service fees only kick in after your first use of the card.

... in response to Re: Sometimes we have had the same, but...., posted by lswote on Sep 27, 2003

There are cards with higher per mimimum rates, but no weekly service fees.  Also, I may be remembering incorrectly, but I think the weekly service fees only kick in after your first use of the card.

... in response to calling card suggestions?, posted by Richard on Sep 24, 2003

I use masterbell.com for cards to Ukraine. I have used a few different ones but found Champion to be my favorite. It is 12.3 cents a minute and I buy 2 $50 cards at once so I get 7% back into a savings account I can use to purchase a new card for free. Most of the time the connection is good but mostly on the weekends we have problems. I talk to my fiancee 1 - 2 hours everyday and most of the time connections are good.

On masterbell.com you just put in your country and where you are calling and it will list out all the options and details of the card. You do it all online and they give you your pin as soon as you buy it.

Hope this helps.

Z.

... in response to calling card suggestions?, posted by Richard on Sep 24, 2003

I call my fiancee every other day. I use a card by a company called "Latino". I have tried many cards. One Iused prior got me 18 minutes for $5. The Latino card gets me 26 minutes for $5. That's almost half an hour for $5. Southwestern Bell charges $4 PER MINUTE!!! Anyways of all the ones I've used that is the best one yet.

... in response to Re: calling card suggestions?, posted by Frank O on Sep 24, 2003

I assume you are buying it in a store vs. online?

... in response to Re: where are you buying the card?, posted by Richard on Sep 24, 2003

Yes, I buy them at a mail/packaging place/store.