I was also burned big time by using my ATT phone card overseas. I thought I was being smart and used the card to call back to the US as well as to make local calls in France and Spain. To my horror when I got home I got a huge bill for them with extremely unreasonable per minute charges. I complained to them and their attitude was basically too bad for you. My solution was to cut up their card and send it back to them and swear to never use ATT service, even in the US. From now on when overseas I will by a local prepaid card and just use that.

I believe there is another thread somewhere in this forum that states the best way to call home is simply to call from your hotel room and have the party you reach call you back.