4 Easy Steps to Choosing the Right Cell Phone Plan
There's a mind-boggling amount of cell phone plans and services
available these days. Cell phone ads promising bigger, bolder
and better features blare at us every day. The question then
becomes, "Which plan is right for me?" In this article, I'll
give you tips on what to look for in a plan, what to ask your
service provider and how to avoid common mistakes that new
subscribers often make!
First, ask yourself "What do I want in a plan?" Finding the
right cellular plan is just a matter of deciding what, when,
where and how you plan to use your phone:
- Will you be using it only for emergencies, or to chat with
friends or family often?
- Will you make most of your calls during the day, evening, or
on weekends?
- Will your calls be coming from your local area, or will you
phone while traveling?
- What is your monthly budget for telephone services?
Getting the Most Minutes for your Money
Cell phone plans often come with a pre-allotted set of minutes
per month (which may or may not correspond with an actual
"minute" of time depending on factors such as where you are when
you make the call, calling a long distance number and so on).
When you use up your minutes, you may be faced with paying an
overage fee or paying a higher amount for the extra minutes.
With many plans, the minutes you don't use do not automatically
roll over to the next month. So if you only used 30 minutes out
of your 90 minute monthly allotment, you don't get to keep the
60 minutes you didn't use that month. You simply start over at
90 again.
Some other important differences to note in cell phone plans (as
versus traditional telephone service) that you'll want to keep
in mind when comparison shopping include:
- You may find that your minutes are used up for both incoming
and outgoing calls
- Calling a toll free number can cost you minutes
- The actual amount of time you've spent on a call is usually
rounded up. So if you spent 3 minutes and 5 seconds on a call,
you may find that 4 minutes have been used.
- The clock starts ticking on your minute usage the minute you
press the "Call" or "Send" button, not the moment the other
person picks up.
Most cellular service providers have a special phone number or
web site address where you can login to check the number of
minutes you have remaining each month. Keep in mind though,
depending on how often the accounts or web site is updated, the
numbers may not always be current.
Long Distance, Dropped Calls and Roaming - Oh My!
When choosing a wireless plan, keep in mind where you'll be
using your phone most often. Some service providers have
nationwide coverage, while others target a specific "home area".
If you make or receive a call outside of this area, you're
"Roaming", and your minutes may run out faster or you may face
an extra charge. Know the boundaries of your calling area - you
could be charged for long distance and roaming on top of the
minutes that are spent during the call!
If you have a set of numbers that you dial frequently (such as
friends, family, doctors and so on), ask the wireless provider
if the cell phone plan you're interested in will work in those
locations without accruing long distance or roaming charges.
What To Ask Your Service Provider
If you've got a handful of good plans you're considering, these
questions may help narrow down the field of choices:
- Can I use my minutes anytime? Can they be used during "peak
times" or am I charged more during those hours? (peak times
usually occur on weekends). When do "peak hours" start and end?
- How much extra am I charged if I go over my monthly allotment
of minutes?
- How much will I be charged for long distance and/or roaming?
(Some nationwide carriers do not charge for these services
unless you call out of the country)
- What is your cancellation policy? What happens if I cancel
early? Will I be charged a cancellation fee after my plan has
been activated?
- Can I make any changes to my plan (such as increasing or
decreasing the number of minutes) after my service has been
activated?
- What other features are included on my plan? (such as voice
mail, caller ID) and if not included, how much would they cost
to add to my service?
Remember, get all of these answers in writing. That way, if you
suddenly find a $100 Early Cancellation charge on your bill, and
you have a written document that states that there is no early
cancellation fee, you'll have an easier time of disputing the
charge.
If you have several plans you'd like to try out, ask the service
provider if there is a grace period where you can cancel your
service without being charged (or being charged only a small
amount) if the service doesn't meet your expectations. Chances
are, many wireless providers will be eager and happy to help you
compare plans. Just remember to read the fine print before you
sign!