Any new calling cards that work well?

[KenC]

We had been using Nobel and then they started to suck.  We just tried Masterbell and they are worse.  Any suggestions?

[SteveM]

... in response to Any new calling cards that work well?, posted by KenC on May 23, 2003

We too had bad luck last spring (2002) with nobelcom, but we were able to get cards exchanged and start using them in the fall at .06-.07/minute.  We were using World Exchange 10-10 or 10-15 numbers as a backup.

However, World Exchange (now Acceris Partners) has a no-fee plan that includes a .07/minute to Russia, as well as lower than usual rates for domestic long distance.   It has worked well enough that we got rid of our traditional long distance service altogether a couple months ago.

[John K]

... in response to World Exchange, posted by SteveM on May 30, 2003

WorldExchange is currently having a lot of problems with fraud.  Apparently there are a lot of computer dialers that are surrepticiously being installed on unwitting users' PCs.  The dialers then quietly dial out to somewhere in the Solomon Islands through WorldExchange.  All of a sudden, you get a phone bill that's $2-300 bigger than what you expected.  For more info, see http://www.spywareinfo.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=16&t=3079&s=

Still, I have used them in the past.  I wasn't terribly impressed with the sound quality or connection rate.  I ended up just using phone cards instead.  They're more expensive, but the quality is better.  That, and since hearing about the fraud issues, I've tended not to trust them...

[UnitedNut]

... in response to Any new calling cards that work well?, posted by KenC on May 23, 2003

Pretty happy with ExpressPin: http://pointme.to/expresspin  Been using them for a couple of years.

[LP]

... in response to Any new calling cards that work well?, posted by KenC on May 23, 2003

...www.discall.com. I've heard good things but I've never used them.

I'd eventually blew off the cards and used these guys: http://www.mywdt.com

Worked well for me, I still use them to call all over the world. Not as good as AT&T but a decent connection and much cheaper with never a problem. Calling Russia always seems cheaper than Ukraine no matter who you use. I've had good luck with 1010220 also but I prefer WDT.

[Apk1]

... in response to Might try...., posted by LP on May 23, 2003

Hey LP!

How time flies....it has been almost 2 years since we shared that flight to Moscow.

Anna and I are doing well, she is in no big hurry to go back to Moscow for vacation....she is too busy here!

WDT is what we have been using for 1 1/2 years now, the rates have actually dropped this past year on our calls to Moscow.

We gave up on calling cards and went to WDT mostly due to convenience. We have the WDT# on speed dial and I like the monthly billing sent in the mail and pay by personal check....not credit card billing.

[LP]

... in response to Re: Might try...., posted by Apk1 on May 23, 2003

[This message has been edited by LP]

...has it only been two years? I made a bunch more trips after that so it seems longer. I still talk to that doctor on occasion, a gentler, sweeter and more intelligent FSU girl than one could ever hope to find. It's a pity I felt she wasn't right for me. oh well...

Glad to hear Anna is doing well, she must like the weather in the valley a whole lot better. That time we spent in Moscow was a killer for humidity. Had a heck of a storm too as I recall.

[Apk1]

... in response to Hey Apk...., posted by LP on May 23, 2003

Yeah....I remember that storm, we were caught out on a river cruise when it hit...we had no idea of the severity untill we arrived back at the dock and noticed all the downed trees all over Moscow.

I can handle the dry heat here at 112, but at 88 deg. and 99% humidity in Moscow just about drained me. We escaped to St. Pete the next week to cool off for 4 days, rode the train back to Moscow with the a/c broken in our cabin....I was not even bothered that our hot water was off the entire time I was there...I took 3 cold showers a day and I still sweat bullets!

My wife loves the mild winters here in California, she has her flower /vegetable garden all year long. You cannot imagine how happy she is to have fresh citrus from her trees.

What she likes the most is the varied "nature" what is available here. One weekend we can be sitting on the beach in the sun, the next weekend we could be enjoying the snow in the mountains...each only a 2 hour drive from our front door.  

The heat here is not a problem for her....as long as the a/c is working in her car! It was 97 today, soon it will be in the 100's....it is not yet summer!

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Any new calling cards that work well?, posted by KenC on May 23, 2003

I have had no problems with Global Poppa - though I am thinking of buying the Evercard next time.

[exlabman]

... in response to Any new calling cards that work well?, posted by KenC on May 23, 2003

Try www.seawolftech.com. I got one of their "New Super Dial" cards and it was fine and not very expensive.

Larry
Atlanta

[Burt]

... in response to Any new calling cards that work well?, posted by KenC on May 23, 2003

About six months ago I read about World Discount Telecommunications using P-L search for "WDT".  Many satisfied customers on the board, so I gave them a try.  It's not a phone card operation. WDT uses direct account system, like a US phone company, and they send a monthly bill with time/charges for each call.

Some posters say WDT is more expensive than phone cards, and that's sometimes true.  However, I always receive excellent service with good sound and uninterrupted connections. 90% as good as ATT. If sound is the least bit off, I try again quickly and usually get a good connection. Sometimes they'll disconnect you at the 60 minute mark, but usually not.  Just call back & start another 60.

Re costs, I call Ural area of Russia (Ekaterinburg) frequently, and looking at my last bill I see a one hour call cost $7, or about .12/min. I don't know cost to other areas, but you can call WDT customer service at 888-353-0808.  If you want to try it, they will do a credit check and begin service in about 2-3 days.

Be sure to tell them you will call from home and non-home telephones as well (cell, office, payphone, etc.) so they will give you an additional access number to make calls from these sources. Their customer service people are polite and efficient. Caution: When you begin service, WDT limits your monthly usable time. I got cut off my second month because I unknowingly exceeded my limit. I inquired and they raised my time limit, after checking my account to be sure I had made on-time payment for the first month.  Now I have high limits on time, but just to be safe I pay the WDT bill very quickly when it arrives.  

Telephone cards are probably cheaper, but until card service matches WDT on a consistent basis I'm glad to pay a little extra. Nevertheless, if somebody out there knows of a better deal, I'd like to read about it. --  Burt

[Zink]

... in response to Any new calling cards that work well?, posted by KenC on May 23, 2003

For Canada I can't find a decent calling card. What we're doing right now is my girl calls me using a Russian calling card. I don't know the details of her card but quality is decent and it's much cheaper than my phone company. I'll reimburse her in a few days when I get there.

[John K]

... in response to Re: Any new calling cards that work well..., posted by Zink on May 23, 2003

The missus and I go through about $35 a week in telephone calls...