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IDT Phone cards from Costco. Anyone familiar with them?

Ciao, Costco has IDT international prepaid long distance phone cards for $20.00. Calls in Italy are 4 cents and USA are 5.7 cents. Seems like a good deal. Has anyone used this card or have additional insight? Cordially Saluti,
David

Posted by
2876 posts

You don't need a pay phone to use a prepaid calling card.

Posted by
87 posts

Ciao, The IDT card apparently works with cell I/phones. I would like to know if other people have used this phone card.
David

Posted by
1499 posts

We have a couple of these cards. They do work and may be a good deal - you can use them from any land line. You just have to key in some codes and then country code and phone number. Not sure if you would want to use the card with a cell phone as you would deplete minutes on the card but the cell phone company would also charge you for minutes. What we have recently done is to buy a used unlocked cell phone with 900 and 1800 frequency which is used in Europe (we also bought a SIM card for the US and use the phone here, too). We then buy a SIM card when we arrive in the country. It's pretty inexpensive and usually comes with some minutes on it. You can also add minutes. We use the phone only for emergencies or for changing arrangements, etc. While the phone card is less expensive, it is also less convenient. For contact with family in the US we bring a tablet and email.

Posted by
87 posts

I purchased an Iphone and in doing so, talked with an AT&T rep regarding the prepaid card. As mentioned previously, you still have to have some type of service to use the phone. So if its the AT&T plan you will get charged for making the call with AT&T or whoever your carrier is, plus the charge for the card. The AT&T rep suggested purchasing an inexpensive phone in Italy. So in my case, I'll not purchase the IDT card. Instead, I'll either purchase a cheap cell phone in Italy or SIM card and use the Iphone as a high tech toy. Cordially Saluti,
David

Posted by
1 posts

Hi, I purchased one of these cards to our trip to Europe and have only been able to use payphones since didn't have the money to use my cell phone. My problem is I have yet to be able to find a pay phone where I can use it. I've been here for 2 weeks and spent a lot of time getting all the information I apparently needed to use it here. Does it only work on specific ones? My family is on a very limited budget and can't just use it at hotels

Posted by
9 posts

I've had my fair share of travels and using different way's to call home. By far my favorite thing I have used is from eKit. You can buy a phone with money, and you can keep adding. It's super cheap and I LOVE it. I've had the phone for about three years now and it still works. It really is amazing, and worth looking in to. Not to mention it works super easy, just dial 1 area code and your number! That is it! ekit.com Nikki

Posted by
2 posts

HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE. The Costco calling cards are the worst. Back when they had Verizon calling cards, they were great, but these new IDT cards are the worst. Don't waste your money. And it you try to call IDT customer service, you press buttons for an hour but never get a live person.