Phonecard or not to phonecard? That is the ?

[Zoidberg]

Just wanted to post a FYI about phone calls to Ukraine. When I first started calling Ukraine I was using AT&T. The connections were great but it was more expensive then others. I never had a problem getting through and was never cut off. I thought I'd look for something cheaper so I could call more often. I found 10-10-275 which is 19 cents a minute to Ukraine. The connections were always great and I never had any problems getting through. I knew from this group that there were phonecards that were even cheaper...

I ended up purchasing a $50 Champion phonecard because it was 12.9 cents per minute or something like that. Biggest mistake I made. I have tried to call 200 times in the past 2 weeks and I have NEVER gotten through. It is always busy. I called customer service and they were no help. They just said to keep trying and ansulutely no refunds. I don't know if others have tried these cards but is there a good time to call besides 3 am Ukraine time?

I just wanted to post this to help others. Going for the cheapest is not always good. Anytime I tried to use the Champion phonecard I always ended up using 10-10-275 after trying the phonecard 15 or more times. 10-10-275 or AT&T has always gone through the first time no matter when I called.

Z

[Scaught]

... in response to Phonecard or not to phonecard? That is t..., posted by Zoidberg on Mar 6, 2003

I have been using AT&T for about a year. I used discall and other such services before, but the service was very unreliable when calling to my girlfriend's hometown. I never had trouble with any service calling Kiev, but it is very difficult to get through to her hometown (a few 100 miles from Kiev) when not using AT&T. AT&T service still isn't perfect. We do get cut off sometimes (like last night). We routinely hear other people talking (somewhat faintly) and electronic sounds at times (like someone dialing an old-fashioned dialing telephone with loud clicks. However, at least I can get through to her (except from late morning Saturday through Sunday). If I call her on the weekends and by some miracle "get through", I always reach a different person-- not the number I dialed. (One lady cried to me for fifteen minutes-- I thought it was my girlfriend! I kept asking her what was wrong and what I could do. Finally she hung up. I called my girlfriend the next day to see if she could finally talk about it, but she had no idea what I was talking about. It hadn't been her!)  I think this is not the fault of AT&T-- it's the crappy phone system of a small, technologically backward city. I have no realistic choice except AT&T. Their under their international plan price is about eleven dollars an hour, and that's not bad at all. I think because of the varying quality of the phone systems in Ukraine (and maybe Russia, etc.), you have to experiment to find your personalized best solution, unless your girlfriend lives in Moscow, Kiev, or another place where the phone systems are better-- in those places, you'll have many good options, I believe.

[Zoidberg]

... in response to AT&T..., posted by Scaught on Mar 8, 2003

What plan do you use under AT&T? I was under the AT&T One Rate International Value Plan and that was .37 cents a minute to Ukraine. My girl is in Dnepropetrovsk. I used AT&T quite a bit and never had problems getting through for connections. I tried the Champion phonecard at .12.9 cents a minute and I still haven't gotten through and I have called at all times and about 100 time more since I first posted. Since then I have been using 10-10-275 for .19 cents a minute and have had no problems.

Z

[Scaught]

... in response to Re: AT&T..., posted by Zoidberg on Mar 8, 2003

Z-Man:

The AT&T plan I used is called the "AT&T Savings Line Plan". It's $2.95 a month for the plan and 11 or 12 dollars an hour to Ukraine. So it's about nineteen or twenty cents a minute. So it's about the same price as the 10-10-275 you mentioned. And I get a nice itemized list of my calls which I can show as proof of relationship.

Scaught

[Zoidberg]

... in response to Re: Re: AT&T..., posted by Scaught on Mar 9, 2003

n/t

[Rags]

... in response to Phonecard or not to phonecard? That is t..., posted by Zoidberg on Mar 6, 2003

I've used many different cards and it seems that they are mostly good at first but service tends to degrade the longer they are on the market (more people using them). First you have trouble getting a connection on weekends then the quality of the connections (when you do get through) gets worse.

Currently we are using HelloEurope ($.13/min to Kyiv) and I have heard good things about EuroMama from other Ukr ex-pats.

[UnitedNut]

... in response to Phonecard or not to phonecard? That is t..., posted by Zoidberg on Mar 6, 2003

I've actually had really good luck using PrePaid calling cards.  I think the reason why some are better than others revolves around what long distance network they using to transport the calls.  (For example one calling card I had used Qwest and the connections were good.  Another used Sprint and the connections were realllly bad.)  For the most part I've been happy with http://pointme.to/expresspin since they offer multiple card options.

Not sure if you have a broadband Internet connection (DSL or Cable), but check out http://www.vonage.com as well.  Voice Over IP service that has low rates for international calls.  (Got some good press in a D.C. newspaper recently.)

(I don't work for either Expresspin or Vonage.  Just passing along info and personal experience.)

[William]

... in response to Phonecard or not to phonecard? That is t..., posted by Zoidberg on Mar 6, 2003

http://www.callingcards.com/2/index.asp?GUID=01A13377A1C44344A5A503928BADC389

[petem]

... in response to Phonecard or not to phonecard? That is t..., posted by Zoidberg on Mar 6, 2003

Hi, I use Discall.com
I have used this for the past year, the line is exceptionally clear, I have called Novosibirsk, Moscow, 2 places in Ukraine, Stravopol,
it sounds like you taking to someone next door, costs are .13 minute outside Moscow and St Pete, only poroblem is you don't get a detailed account of you r call, I also use it to call the USA, .07
there are no fees, surcharges etc, Moscow is .07

[Don Pardo]

... in response to Re: Phonecard or not to phonecard? That ..., posted by petem on Mar 6, 2003

After using many cards and services in the past, I have been using discall.com for about 3 months for calling Russia.  The rates are reasonable, the connection has always been great both for both parties, and I rarely have problems getting through.  I would have to say that it's the best card I've used so far.  Just my opinion.

Don

[tcanol]

... in response to Phonecard or not to phonecard? That is t..., posted by Zoidberg on Mar 6, 2003

I use MCI/Worldcom and the quality of the line is terrible, I was thinking trying out a phonecard myself. I found Nobelcom.com, but I haven't tried them yet

[RickM]

... in response to Re: Phonecard or not to phonecard? That ..., posted by tcanol on Mar 6, 2003

Been using them for about a year now.Good prices and good quality.I find weekends can require a bit of patience sometimes.Lot's of busy signals...
Hey,336 minutes to south Russia for 20 bucks...can't kick...
Beware of connection charges and weekly maintenance fees...
Usually 49 cents to 79 cents weekly on the no-connection fee cards...

[juio99]

... in response to Phonecard or not to phonecard? That is t..., posted by Zoidberg on Mar 6, 2003

I have had much better luck than you regarding phone cards.  I have never used ATT nor any of the 1010 numbers, but all of my calls have been to Russia.

I have used the www.masterbell.com card, and several different cards found at www.phonecardonsale.com

The phonecardonsale site shows dozens of cards and they are given from 1 to 5 stars (And letter grades) based on customer ratings.  I always go for nothing lower than A minus ratings.  And yet the costs can be lower than 10 cents per minute.

I have gotten the best service with the 'VIP' card.  I just finished up a 'New Super Dial' card.

With it, I sometimes had to try about 3 times to get through.  Sometimes the gals said they didn't catch every word I said, although I could hear all of their words.

So now, I have just purchased a 'Feeling' card.  Will see how it goes.

JR

[cherokee]

... in response to Phonecard or not to phonecard? That is t..., posted by Zoidberg on Mar 6, 2003

df