Telecommunications

Easy Steps to Choosing the Right Cell Phone Plan

Practically everyone is offering "great" cell phone deals. Every deal is bigger, better and bolder than the last one you saw. So, how can you really determine which deal is best for you?

Finding the right cell phone plan means finding the plan that best meets your needs. You need to answer basic questions about your expected use of your cell phone. Here are a few questions you should ask yourself about how you will use your cell phone.

• Why do you want a cell phone? Will you use your phone mostly for emergencies? Will you chat with your friends every day? Will you make frequent calls to family and friends in other states? Remember that cell phone plans come with a pre-allotted number of minutes per month. If you exceed the pre-allocated minutes you may be charged a hefty rate per minute beyond what you are allocated.
• How many calls will you make? The actual number of minutes a call lasts may be rounded up; so a call of 3 minutes and 5 seconds will be counted as 4 minutes. Also, outgoing calls normally start when you press Call or Send, not when the other person picks up their phone. So, if you make many short calls, your connect time may actually be longer than you expect.
• When will you use your phone? Will you be calling mostly at night or will you frequently use your phone during the day? Some plans allow unlimited night time minutes. But, be sure you know when your plan's "night time" begins and ends.
• Where will you use your phone? Do you mainly stay within your local area or will you travel a lot outside you local area? Roaming charges are high and can dramatically increase your monthly bill.
• What features will you use? Cell phones today come will a host of features from web access, to instant messaging and text messaging, and other features. Which of these features do your friends used and will they expect you to have these features on your phone?
• What is your budget? Can you really afford the plan with all the features you want? Remember that you may exceed the limits of the plan and may be billed for more than you expect.
• How long is the contract? Most cell phone plans involve a contract between you and the cell phone company. Contracts often last one or two years. It usually costs several hundred dollars to terminate your contract early. Make sure you can afford to pay the monthly fees for the duration of the contract.
• Can you make changes to your contract? If your needs change you may want to increase of decrease the allocated minutes or remove added features such as web access. Determine what changes can be made to your contract before you sign up.

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!

Thinking about your anticipated cell phone use and potential changes in your plans can save you a lot of problems with your cell phone provider.

We hope the following telecommunications resources will be valuable in your efforts.

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