That s about all the viewer learns. No doubt because those big discounts tend to evaporate upon close inspection, says Dr. Fred Waddell, Extension family resource management specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. These flashy ads tell consumers little about how savings are calculated, what other fees are added, where to get more information or who owns the service.
Some ads have exaggerated savings, confusing rates and buried fees and charges.
Making only a few calls can rapidly eat up any savings, says Waddell. One ad boasts you can talk 10 minutes and save 50 percent. What the ad doesn t say is the savings come off the service s highest rates, which few people ordinarily would pay, adds Waddell. Another ad says call 20 minutes and pay just 99 cents . It fails to tell you a one-minute call also costs 99 cents.