The cards are sold in gas stations, newsstands, convenience stores, bodegas and groceries across the country. But consumer watchdogs and government officials warn that certain segments of the market are plagued by fraud and deceptive practices that give consumers fewer minutes than they pay for and tack on all sorts of hidden and unfair "junk fees." The problem takes many forms: connection fees on calls that don't go through because no one is home or the line is busy; post-call service fees and 99-cent hang-up fees on cards that are only worth a few dollars to start with; calling rates that go up when a card is used more than once; activation and weekly maintenance fees; and cards that bill customers in three- or four-minute increments even if they use just a few seconds of calling time. These charges and fees often end up...
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