Calling cards vs.phone bills

[panamania79 2]

I have been in Maine now since Sept 1st and my phone bills are a huge stress... sooo much money to call St Lucia. I think 52 cents a minute. I have well over $1000 in phone bills (almost paid them all) and finally called the phone company and blocked all overseas calls, otherwise I could not dicipline myself. So now I use www.enjoyprepaid.com and get about 17 cents a minute - much better! I can also top up Louis' digicel online. This way all the phone bills are paid BEFORE we make calls. Unfortunetly the 800 #s do not show on my phone bill!

I also finally convinced Louis to try e-mail. Since his own home has no running water etc internet is not an option at home but I convinced him to go to a mutual friend's house to use her computer. (he is not real fond of her) He can also sneak at work and check once in a while. But lawd! Trying to teach him over the phone to use e-mail - what a PIA!! LOL I told him he had to figure it out becuase without my huge phone bills we had to have some "proof"... We also have written each other a couple snail mails but there is another headache - the Lucian mail system!

Cat

You are preaching to the choir, girl.

At least he has some sort of internet access. Andre had none. The phone was all we had.

$1,000 in phone bills since September? A drop in the bucket. It could always be worse.

You seem very wise on the blocking thing. I really respect that.

I'm all for that blocking thing.Sometimes when my card runs out and we are in the middle of a conversation,I will call Panama again.I have some really funny stories about people visiting people and runing up 1,000usd phone bills.

[Dimples876 0]

What if you choose from the large variety of calling cards to call your fiance/spouse ? Does the USCIS take this as proof or do they require a phone bill ?

no they don't take that as proof if they did i have a sneaker box filled w/calling cards and the last time i checked i had over $12K and that was 2 years ago.

[Marlita 0]

What if you choose from the large variety of calling cards to call your fiance/spouse ? Does the USCIS take this as proof or do they require a phone bill ?

no they don't take that as proof if they did i have a sneaker box filled w/calling cards and the last time i checked i had over $12K and that was 2 years ago.

Wait!! What! You had $12K in phone bills in 2 years!!!!! Is that what you're saying?! I thought the $1000 was crazy. I can't dial international on my cell or home, so it MADE me find other alternatives. Calling cards are the way to go! I guess I don't have that issue of proving our relationship cause we are married so I prove it with lots of other ways on the I-130. I am sure you can too.

[*JG* 2]

What if you choose from the large variety of calling cards to call your fiance/spouse ? Does the USCIS take this as proof or do they require a phone bill ?

no they don't take that as proof if they did i have a sneaker box filled w/calling cards and the last time i checked i had over $12K and that was 2 years ago.

I have heard of some people taking them....

I would not even attempt to tally all mine. It would depress me way too much.

[Jesse and Hema 2]

What if you choose from the large variety of calling cards to call your fiance/spouse ? Does the USCIS take this as proof or do they require a phone bill ?

no they don't take that as proof if they did i have a sneaker box filled w/calling cards and the last time i checked i had over $12K and that was 2 years ago.

I have heard of some people taking them....

I would not even attempt to tally all mine. It would depress me way too much.

Ditto that!! When I printed my statement from comfi.com , I just had to think "well, damn"....

[mapanti 0]

I don't what to tally mine up either since June because I know that I would be like hmmm...Off the top of my head I do know it has been well over $2000...until I found Net 2 Net!!

[psiprez 3]

I was just reading how much you all spend in calling cards!!

Have to admit, we spent a lot too, but only for about two months. We used to chat on Yahoo Instant Messenger (YIM), and realized that if we both bought USB headsets (less than $20 in the US), we could talk for real all we wanted on YIM for free!!

Of course, that means being chained to the computer, and somedays YIM acted up, but well worth it to hear each others voice. If you both have access to computers with high-speed internet and speakers, think about trying it.

A few months later, I discovered that if I hooked up a Verizon landline to my house, I could get an "Unlimited UK" calling plan for $40 a month. Now we talk for 3-4 daily.

[Craneman 2]

I use Yahoo Instant meesenger phone service through my computer, much cheaper

[Jesse and Hema 2]

I was just reading how much you all spend in calling cards!!

Have to admit, we spent a lot too, but only for about two months. We used to chat on Yahoo Instant Messenger (YIM), and realized that if we both bought USB headsets (less than $20 in the US), we could talk for real all we wanted on YIM for free!!

Of course, that means being chained to the computer, and somedays YIM acted up, but well worth it to hear each others voice. If you both have access to computers with high-speed internet and speakers, think about trying it.

A few months later, I discovered that if I hooked up a Verizon landline to my house, I could get an "Unlimited UK" calling plan for $40 a month. Now we talk for 3-4 daily.

You're one of the lucky folk where both parties have Internet access!! Grr...

[edmon59 0]

I have been in Maine now since Sept 1st and my phone bills are a huge stress... sooo much money to call St Lucia. I think 52 cents a minute. I have well over $1000 in phone bills (almost paid them all) and finally called the phone company and blocked all overseas calls, otherwise I could not dicipline myself. So now I use www.enjoyprepaid.com and get about 17 cents a minute - much better! I can also top up Louis' digicel online. This way all the phone bills are paid BEFORE we make calls. Unfortunetly the 800 #s do not show on my phone bill!

I also finally convinced Louis to try e-mail. Since his own home has no running water etc internet is not an option at home but I convinced him to go to a mutual friend's house to use her computer. (he is not real fond of her) He can also sneak at work and check once in a while. But lawd! Trying to teach him over the phone to use e-mail - what a PIA!! LOL I told him he had to figure it out becuase without my huge phone bills we had to have some "proof"... We also have written each other a couple snail mails but there is another headache - the Lucian mail system!

Cat

Digicel to the US isn't bad...about 20 minutes for $100 J last time I checked.

For calling the caribean (especially JA) I use an outfit called VIP http://www.joinvip.com/ I went from $1.40/min to $.20/min. I blocked all international calls as well when my beloved spouse ran the bill up to $3,000. in two weeks calling home.

[*JG* 2]

$3,000 in 2 weeks.....I would've mashed up the phone!

[Jesse and Hema 2]

$3,000 in 2 weeks.....I would've mashed up the phone!

It's worth it!!!

(if you own an island and drive a Ferrari)

[edmon59 0]

$3,000 in 2 weeks.....I would've mashed up the phone!

It's worth it!!!

(if you own an island and drive a Ferrari)

I DID mash up the phone! The phone also mashed up my credit....but that's another story....

Peace,

-Ed

[Marlita 0]

Right now I pay about $.10 a minute to call JA. But its a calling card and each card is only good for 30mins each. So its annoying at times cause we are chatty and like to talk for hours, so having an interruption every 30 mins sucks. but it does keep my bill down. Plus hubby has 2 JA phones now...one C&W and one Digicell and signs up for those special international plans. Its been working good for us.

[JaEnglishGirl 34]

People, CVS pharmacy are doing a buy one get one free on Sprint International phonecards....Well worth stocking up!!

I use them for both Jamaica and England...