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Overseas Filipinos Cheated by Calling Cards Switch to Internet Calling

STOCKHOLM – March 18, 2010 – The average overseas Filipino has been cheated out of hundreds of dollars by calling cards that don’t deliver the minutes promised, according to new research by Rebtel, the Internet phone company used by more than 4 million people every day for their international calls.

Overseas Filipinos said they were cheated out of $500 on average by fraudulent calling cards, and many said they had been ripped off for up to $3,500 or more, according to Rebtel’s survey of more than 1,000 customers who regularly use Rebtel to call the Philippines.

As of December 2008 there were more than 7.5 million Filipinos working abroad, the most recent figures available from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration. Wikipedia puts the numbers between 8.7 million to 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, equivalent to about 11 percent of the total population of the Philippines.

Sick and tired of calling card fraud, overseas Filipinos said they switched to Internet-based calling services like Rebtel, that starting today lets them call home for just 0.109 USD/min to landlines, 0.129 USD/min to mobiles.

Of the Rebtel customers who previously used calling cards to stay in touch with calling family and friends at home, 61 percent said calling cards were not trustworthy and 72 percent said they regularly received fewer minutes than promised.

In contrast, 76 percent of survey respondents said Rebtel consistently offered lower rates than calling cards or other international calling services. And, because there are no special PIN numbers to remember or long international phone numbers to enter when using Rebtel, 83 percent of respondents said Rebtel was easier to use. Finally, 71 percent said call quality is better or much better with Rebtel than any of the cards or services the survey participants had used previously.

“No one makes calling the Philippines from 50 countries around the world easier, cheaper, or with better sound quality than Rebtel,” said Andreas Bernstrom, CEO of Stockholm-based Rebtel. “Call your family and friends at home and use any phone you like – mobile or landline. These are the world’s lowest calling rates to the Philippines, bar none.”

By: admin, March 18th, 2010 Tags: "calling cards", andreas bernstrom, Filipinos, internet telephony, philippines, POEAX, rebtel, VoIP

Filipinos: Cut Up Your Calling Cards – Rebtel Is In The House

Stockholm, Sweden – May 12, 2008 – Calling the Philippines from the U.S. got a whole lot easier and cheaper today from any phone, anywhere, any time day or night with Rebtel’s move to beat even the best calling cards available.

“Use your mobile.  Use a pay phone.  We don’t care.  The rates are the same.  And the best part is with Rebtel you only pay for the minutes you use.  No sign up fees.  No contracts.  No connection charges, surcharges or minute rounding,” said Hjalmar Winbladh, co-founder and president of Rebtel.

Rebtel, the people’s global communications company, today slashed its rates on calls to the Philippines from the U.S. to just 12¢ per minute for call to landlines 14¢ per minute to mobile phones.
Rebtel can be used with any mobile phone without modification or software downloads, and does not require any change to customers’ existing plans with their mobile operator.
There is no charge to set up a Rebtel account.  And, all newcomers get a free 10 minute call to test the service. Thereafter, customers only pay for the minutes they use.

“No one in their right mind uses their mobile carrier to make calls from the US to the Philippines  – the rates are ridiculous,” said Winbladh.  “And everyone knows that calling cards are a rip-off.  Fradulent phone cards are costing consumers the US alone more than $ 1 million a day. That’s why everyone keeps trying new ones in the hope of finding an honest card.  Well, forget it.  Just switch to Rebtel.”

US Carrier Rates: Mobile to Mobile from the US to the Philippines

Calling Card Rates: Mobile to Mobile from the US to the Philippines

By: Ola Sundqvist, May 12th, 2008 Tags: philippines, rebtel, VoIP