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Phone Card Activation Fees

Long distance services that are NOT prepaid (calling cards, 1+ services, dial-around services) may charge you an activation fee to cover the cost of opening your account.  This is legitimate.

With prepaid cards, an "activation fee" or "activation charge" just a way to cheat you out of some money.  Here's how it works:

The first time you use your card, the value of your card is immediately reduced by the amount of this "activation charge".

For example, if you buy a phone card for $5.00 and it has a $1.00 activation charge, the card is really only worth $4.00.  The first time you use it, in addition to the cost of your first call, you will be charged an additional $1.00.

Read the fine print!  If you don't find it there, it could be anything!