newsminer.com

The state’s utility regulatory agency Thursday told residents to watch for potential problems with prepaid calling cards.

The release from the agency, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, warned consumers to read the fine print on cards and look out for surcharges and monthly fees. It noted various prepaid calling cards can subtract more than one minute from a card for each minute spent on the phone, citing one type of card that it said subtracts five minutes for each one minute of intrastate calling.

MCI has filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to halt recharges on its conference calling card on June 1, according to the RCA. The conference cards are not the recognizable cards available at major retailers, the agency said, but 7,000 of the cards have been distributed in Alaska.

The RCA also told callers to find out whether a call from cell phones using a prepaid card will incur long-distance or other charges on the caller’s cell phone bill. Calling card holders should direct concerns to their respective card provider, and, if dissatisfied, the RCA’s Consumer Protection Section, the agency said.