# International Phone Cards **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-phone-cards/485462 "2009-02-12T01:15:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-phone-cards/485462/1 "2009-02-12T01:15:56Z")
I am in need of an International Phone Card. Looking at a few of them, it seems the rates are geared for calls FROM the US only. That’s ok, but I thought I could take one with me to call TO the US! Am I missing something? Also, will a Sprint phone card (for example) work with an AT&T phone? Will it affect the rates quoted on the phone card? And in japan, do I simply dial the 800 number on the card and then dial my US number like normal? …or, do I need to fool with country codes at some point? Obviously, I am clueless here. Please help! Tell all! - Jinx ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-phone-cards/485462/2 "2009-02-12T01:39:24Z")
It sounds like you are looking for a prepaid card. When I use the card that goes with my phone account, I dial a toll-free access number then follow directions to dial the destination number (including country code) and then my own phone number (in your case it would probably be some sort of code number on the card). [Here’s one from Sprint](http://www.sprint.com/business/products/products/landlineCallingCards_tabA.html). It came up in a search for prepaid, although it doesn’t say prepaid on this page. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-phone-cards/485462/3 "2009-02-12T01:51:36Z")
> [@](#): > > Earlier this year (2008), the FTC charged two major calling card distributors with cheating customers. In its lawsuits, the commission claims these firms charge hidden fees and make false statements about the number of minutes customers would receive. > > ``` > During its investigation, the FTC bought and used dozens of calling cards from these two firms. None of the cards provided the number of minutes promised. On average, they delivered about half the minutes advertised. But in some cases it was much worse. **A 360-minute card to Panama gave only 23 minutes of calling time.** > > ``` Source: [http://consumerist.com/5067668/scam-prepaid-phone-cards-deliver-about-half-the-minutes-promised](http://consumerist.com/5067668/scam-prepaid-phone-cards-deliver-about-half-the-minutes-promised) Full story here: [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27327684/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27327684/) ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-phone-cards/485462/4 "2009-02-12T03:57:37Z")
Are you going to be calling to the US from just one country, or moving around a lot? Because if you’re just going to be in one country, my advice would be to buy a low-value prepaid calling card at your destination. If you’re going to be moving around a lot, you may look into buying a GSM compatible cell phone and renting SIM cards at your various destinations. It would be more costly than the phone card, but the convenience really can’t be beat. (I’m a frequent international traveler, BTW.) ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/international-phone-cards/485462/5 "2009-02-12T13:13:22Z")
There are plenty of places online like [www.all-phonecards.com](http://www.all-phonecards.com) but I would just buy a card when you get there. Ask the locals and you will find the best deal. I would only buy before travel if you absolutely must have a calling card on arrival and even in China I know I can buy them right on arrival.