There’s nothing like the surprise of opening up the envelope and discovering that your bill is much more than you anticipated. Cell phone bills can end up costing much more than the advertised monthly fee. But, with a little detective work, you can figure out why.
Here are some of the usual culprits:
Usage plan – If you pay for a plan that has different rates for daytime versus nighttime calls, check to see how you are using your minutes. Are you calling during the cheaper times, or during the more convenient times? If you need to place more calls during the higher daytime rates, find out if your service offers a plan that better meets your needs. Or consider making those daytime calls from a landline, or from an Internet service like Skype.
In addition to when you’re using your plan, look at how many minutes you’re using. Are you going over each month? Services charge forty cents or more per minute for exceeding the monthly rate. If you’re having trouble tracking your usage, Overmyminutes.com is a free service that will send you an email or text message when you’re getting close to your limit.
On the other hand, if you’re not getting close to your limit, consider downsizing your plan so you’re not paying for something you don’t use.
Text Messaging – The fun part of cell phones is often what makes the bill so expensive. Text messaging is the new way to communicate, but some plans charge ten cents per text, whether you’re sending or receiving them. Keep that in mind when you sign up for ESPN text message updates. If text messaging is essential, an unlimited text messaging plan may be a more economical way to get your message across.
Other Extra Services – Ring tones help you personalize your phone, but the download, followed by the monthly charge can add up. Similarly, cell phone plans including Internet and email access can add $40- $60 to a monthly bill. Last, look for services that the cell phone carrier may add automatically but that you may not need, such as road side assistance.
By looking at your bill each month, making some decisions about what you really need and what you can do without, you can close the case on surprise cell phone bills.
YOUR 2 CENTS – Do you have any other charges on your cell phone bill you have questions about?
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