Calling Card. Kristen s dad is serving in the military in Kuwait. The family. wants to stay in touch by phone. They have heard that they can save

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1 Kristen s dad is serving in the military in Kuwait. The family wants to stay in touch by phone. They have heard that they can save money by having her Dad call home on his cell phone, and then have the family call him right back using a calling card. Kristen s family needs a calling card that will allow them to call Kuwait, is reasonable in cost and is convenient to purchase. They typically talk once a week for approximately 30 minutes. Which card is the best choice? The information given in this document is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the University of Minnesota Extension Service is implied.

2 #1 Walmart AT&T Phone Card 1000-minute calling card $49.00 Just 5 cents per minute! (domestic calls) Available at Walmart Key Features and Description: 1,000-minute card (domestic calls) Flat rates per minute No hidden surcharges No monthly fees No expiration date Reusable* (Additional minutes can be purchased) A surcharge of at least 9 minutes applies to pay phone calls (subject to increase). Calls are billed in 1-minute increments with partial minutes rounded up to the next full minute. Minutes are based on U.S. domestic calls. International flat rates are higher, will vary according to the calling destination, and are subject to change without notice. Cards are only refundable for remaining minutes at Wal-Mart locations with a receipt. If you recharge your Card, all Card minutes become non-refundable. These are global cards that do not expire. For rates and surcharges call AT&T Customer Service anytime at Upon calling the 800# Kristen learned that when using this calling card from the United States to a mobile phone in Kuwait 5 minutes would be deducted from her card for every one minute of talking, resulting in calls costing 25 cents per minute.

3 #2 Talk Kuwait Cellular 149 minutes 13.4 cents/minute Available at Noblecom.com Card Details Denominations: $20.00 International Calls to Cell Phones: Same Rate Domestic Rate: 4.4 Domestic Connection Fee: None Billing Increments: 2 - minute Expiration: 3 months after first use Maintenance Fee: 69 per week Customer Service Hours: 24 hours Customer Support Language: English/Spanish Peak/Off-Peak Rates: Same Can Make Calls From: Cont. U.S., Canada, Hawaii Payphone Surcharge: Up to 69

4 #3 Smart Card (SmartTalk AT&T) Available from calls2home.com Toll-Free Access Number of Minutes Calling to: Connection Fee Rate $6.00 card Toll Free $11.00 card Toll Free Kuwait $0.00 $ Kuwait - cellular $0.00 $

5 #4 Sam s Club AT&T PrePaid Phone Card 1250-Minute PrePaid Phone Card $ cents per domestic minute Features: Great low rate No hidden surcharges (A surcharge applies to calls made from pay phones) No monthly fees No expiration date Flat rates per minute, 24-hours a day Calls made are rounded up to the next full minute Rechargeable twice within each 48-hour period in 200-minute denominations Minutes are based on U.S. domestic calling. International flat rates are higher than U.S. domestic flat rates and differ according to destination called; rates are subject to change. Over 200 International locations are available, for rate information, contact AT&T PrePaid Phone Card Customer Service at Rates for directory assistance calls are higher than other domestic calls. Cards are not refundable without a receipt and only for the remaining minutes at SAM'S CLUB locations. You should make every reasonable effort to safeguard your AT&T PrePaid Phone Card and PIN number from unauthorized use. AT&T is not responsible for lost or stolen cards. Recharge minutes are subject to different terms and conditions. Upon calling the 800# Kristen learned that when using this calling card from the United States to a mobile phone in Kuwait 5 minutes would be deducted from her card for every one minute of talking, resulting in calls costing 17 cents per minute..

6 s Official Reasons Placing: Cuts: I place this class of calling cards I found that all of these cards would allow Kristen to call her father in Kuwait. In the top pair I placed 3 over 4 because it had a reasonable price of 19.2 cents per minute and is convenient to purchase on line. Granted, 4 is cheaper at 17 cents per minute, but is not as convenient to purchase if there is not a Sam s Club near Kristen s home, and requires the purchase of a membership to shop in the store. In the middle pair I place 4 over 1. Both cards are fairly similar because they come from the Sam s Club and Walmart. 4 is placed over 1 because it is cheaper at 17 cents per minute. Granted, 1 may easier to purchase, and does not require a membership fee to shop at the store. In the bottom pair I place 1 over 2 because it does not have a maintenance fee, does not expire and bills in 1 minute increments. Granted, 2 appears to have a cheaper cost per minute at 13.4 vs. 25, but when the additional expenses such as the maintenance fee are factored in it would most likely end up costing more. I fault 2 and leave it at the bottom of the class because the card expires 3 months after the firwt use, bills in 2-minute increments and has a maintenance feel of 69 cents per week. For these reasons I place this class of calling cards