[LargoLasskhyfv]

Depending on the time, country, calling cards wery anything but a scam. More like telcos scamming you! ;->

Imagine back in time, around the year 2000, or so. Some german wants to phone with someone in Florida, US from Germany. The rates were not exactly insane, but very noticable.

Interestingly so called "call shops" boomed at the same time, which advertised calling cards. So I went into one and got some for really cheap. All of them worked, were about 10 to 40 times cheaper per time than my telco, AND had better voice quality. Just dialing a number in Frankfurt am Main, dialing in some code, and then the real number you wanted to talk to. Could be seen as a hassle, but worked for me.