Using prepaid calling cards required me to call a toll-free number first. That used to be free from pay phones, but later they instituted a charge (about fifty cents) for tell-free calls from pay phones. So that made the prepaid cards less of a good deal. (I still carry one in my wallet for emergency purposes, although I suppose that I can borrow a stranger’s cell phone in a real emergency.)
In fact, we had an official 10-10-YAK sticker that we stuck on the handset of our phone. (We also have the “no long distance plan” option for our home phone.)
Don’t forget the Dime Lady!
OP Here: I took another look at the VarTec snail-mail ad before consigning it to the Dustbin Of History (conveniently located in the kitchen) - it was the 10-10-811 "FiveLine" ( = Image of Buffalo Nickel) - 5¢ a minute State to State! No Monthly fees! 50¢ minimum a call! What a Deal!
But alas, apparently deals like that are long gone according to reviews of much later 10-10 plans.
What impressed me most was the glossy quality “Don’t Forget” Christmas-card like ad, which had my Dad’s name and other information hand-written inside - I know robot signers existed back then†, but that’d be some up front capital expense - more likely they just hire some poor miminum wage temps to write the data. How much profit could they be making at 5¢ a minute, 50¢ minimum call anyway? I guess more than you’d think…
And indeed there was a insert with a “Dial 10-10-811” sticker, but my parents didn’t bite on sticking that to the phone.
†For Poster “the turn of WHICH century?” Napier, as I recall way back in the long ago year of 2000, they were steam-powered of course.
Um, I still use one (10-10-987) for calling Europe when I’m concerned about voice quality. If I’m just going to tell my German buddy to call me right back, I’ll use my Google Voice account.