| Talk is cheap the saying goes. But cell phone | | | | can login to check the number of minutes you |
| service can cost big dough, If you ask the right | | | | have remaining each month. Keep in mind though, |
| questions, And take smart suggestions, You can | | | | depending on how often the accounts or web site |
| talk cheaper than you know. | | | | updates, the numbers may not always be current. |
| There's a mind-boggling amount of cell phone plans | | | | Long -Distance, Dropped Calls and Roaming - Oh |
| and services available these days. Cell phone ads | | | | My! |
| promising bigger, bolder and better features blare | | | | When choosing a wireless plan, keep in mind |
| at us every day. The question then becomes, | | | | where you'll be using your phone most often. |
| "Which plan is right for me?" | | | | Some service providers have nationwide |
| I'll give you tips on what to look for in a plan, | | | | coverage, while others target a specific "home |
| what to ask your service provider and how to | | | | area". If you make or receive a call outside this |
| avoid common mistakes that new subscribers | | | | area, you're "Roaming", and your minutes may |
| often make! | | | | run out faster or you may face an extra charge. |
| I. First, ask yourself "What do I want in a plan?" | | | | Know the boundaries of your calling area - or you |
| Finding the right cellular plan is just a matter of | | | | could pay for long-distance and roaming on top of |
| deciding what, when, where and how you plan to | | | | the minutes spent during the call! Do you have a |
| use your phone: | | | | set of numbers that you dial often (such as |
| - Will you be using it only for emergencies, or to | | | | friends, family, doctors and so on)? Ask the |
| chat with friends or family often? | | | | wireless provider if the cell phone plan you're |
| - Will you make most of your calls during the day, | | | | interested in will work in those locations - without |
| evening, or on weekends? | | | | accruing long-distance or roaming charges. |
| - Will your calls be coming from your local area, or | | | | What To Ask Your Service Provider |
| will you phone while traveling? | | | | If you've got a handful of good plans you're |
| - What is your monthly budget for telephone | | | | considering, these questions may help narrow |
| services? | | | | down the field of choices: |
| II. Getting the Most Minutes for your Money | | | | - Can I use my minutes anytime? Can I use them |
| Cell phone plans often come with a pre-allotted | | | | during "peak times" or am I charged more during |
| set of minutes each month. This may or may not | | | | those hours? (Peak times usually occur on |
| match with a "minute" of time. It all depends on | | | | weekends). When do "peak hours" start and end? |
| factors such as where you are when you make | | | | - How much extra am I charged if I go over my |
| the call, calling a long-distance number and so on. | | | | monthly allotment of minutes? |
| When you use up your minutes, you face paying | | | | - How much will I have to pay for long-distance |
| an overage fee or paying a higher amount for the | | | | and/or roaming? (Some nationwide carriers do not |
| extra minutes. With many plans, the minutes you | | | | charge for these services unless you call out of |
| don't use do not automatically roll over to the | | | | the country) |
| next month. So if you only used 30 minutes out | | | | - What is your cancellation policy? What happens |
| of your 90-minute monthly allotment, you don't | | | | if I cancel early? Will I have to pay a cancellation |
| get to keep the 60 minutes you didn't use that | | | | fee after my plan activates? If so, how much? |
| month. You simply start over at 90 again. | | | | - Can I make any changes to my plan (such as |
| Some other important differences to note in cell | | | | increasing or decreasing the number of minutes) |
| phone plans (as versus traditional telephone | | | | after I activate the service? |
| service) that you'll want to keep in mind when | | | | - What other features come with my plan? (Such |
| comparison shopping include: | | | | as voice mail, caller ID, email) and if not included, |
| - You may find your minutes used up for both | | | | how much would they cost to add to my |
| incoming and outgoing calls | | | | service? |
| - Calling a toll-free number can cost you minutes | | | | Remember, get all of these answers in writing to |
| - The amount of time you've spent on a call | | | | protect yourself from surprises and gotcha |
| rounds up. So if you spent 3 minutes and 5 | | | | clauses. |
| seconds on a call, you may find you've used 4 | | | | If you have several plans you'd like to try out, |
| minutes. | | | | ask the service provider if there is a grace period |
| - The clock starts ticking on your minutes used | | | | where you can cancel your service without |
| when you press the "Call" or "Send" button, not | | | | charge. Chances are, many wireless providers will |
| the moment the other person picks up. | | | | be eager and happy to help you compare plans. |
| Most cellular service providers have a special | | | | Just remember to read the fine print before you |
| phone number or web site address where you | | | | sign! |