determined threshold t m then the prepay subscriber is informed by restricted message of the amount of prepaid calling time remaining and can also be warned by restricted message that the call will be disconnected when the remaining prepaid call time expires when the remaining prepaid call time expires the call may then be disconnected the threshold t m is set to a practical value such as 2 minutes to give the prepay subscriber sufficient time to bring the call to a satisfactory conclusion or alternatively to provide the subscriber time to exercise an option to cause a transfer of funds from the subscriber 39 s bank account to the subscriber 39 s prepay account before the expiration of the call the present invention also provides for the convenient purchase by the subscriber of additional prepaid calling time by way of electronic funds transfer eft according to the present invention the subscriber may use an automatic teller machine atm to transfer funds from a bank account of the subscriber to a prepay account of the subscriber the amount transferred to the prepay account is added to the current balance of the prepay account and is automatically translated into an additional amount of prepaid call time available to the consumer thus a service provider of prepaid calling time may enter into an agreement with the bank to provide for the electronic transfer of funds from a bank account of the subscriber to one or more bank accounts of the service provider fig3 shows a functional diagram of a system for implementing electronic funds transfer for the purchase of prepaid calling time according to the methods of the present invention when a prepay subscriber desires to purchase prepaid call time the subscriber selects by.