Lanier, telephone service help-sm - anon

I am not sure which area to put this, as it isn't technical assistance I need, so I've put it here on the main board.

I receive my work through a Lanier station.  I have been through the ringer with my telephone service provider a few years ago and was eventually told that if I ever dial the number again I would be black listed and never be able to have any service from that company again (Windstream in 2007).  I was eventually able to get in touch with the higher ups and got them down from 5 cents a minute to 4.5 cents a minute.  That didn't work for me because I could get calling cards from Sams Club which equated cheaper than 4.5 cents a minute.  In the last 3 years, I was able to use Vonage.  I don't know how or why it worked but it did.  I had small issues with certain buttons sometimes not working, so I had to be very careful.  Suddenly, it stopped working.  I tried my local cable company, as they had a good deal on cable telephone.  It worked for a while and then stopped.  So, obviously vonage and the cable phone are not going to work for me anymore.  I wonder if has anything to do with the Lanier and its peripherals being dirty inside (I've had it since 2006) because I know a couple people who are still using Vonage or cable phone with the Lanier just fine.  I cannot afford to pay 4.5 cents per minute with my telephone service. 

I know there are MTs out there who still use Lanier or at least something that requires them to have unlimited long distance.  I have to call to another state to work.  How are you able to do this?  Did you make a deal with your telephone company?  Are you using phone cards?  Any input would be greatly appreciated.  I need to work :(  I'm already using phone cards, but am down to my last and do not have enough money to purchase more right now...need phone cards to work, need to work to buy phone cards sort of a catch-22 happening.