| Many consumers have had the experience of | | | | allows a 14-30 day trial period in which the phone |
| hearing a sales pitch and being sufficiently | | | | can be returned or the plan can be cancelled |
| impressed to purchase the goods or services, | | | | without termination fees should be a factor in |
| only to find that the reality was somewhat less | | | | selecting the service. Again, this cancellation policy |
| than anticipated. When the purchase involves a | | | | should be in written form within the contract. |
| device or service that we tend to rely on daily, | | | | Consumers should fully assess their new cell |
| and which potentially binds us to that service for | | | | phone plan during the initial period to assure that it |
| years to come, this can be a very bitter pill to | | | | will meet their ongoing needs. Are calls of |
| swallow. With cell phone plans that typically span | | | | acceptable quality? Are calls dropped? Does the |
| two years, buyers need to be sure that the | | | | phone perform as expected? Users should also |
| service as well as the phone itself will meet their | | | | keep track of charges. Checking the bill online is |
| expectations. | | | | possible in many instances rather than waiting for |
| Smart shopping up front can certainly go a long | | | | it to arrive in the mail. Certainly all problems can't |
| way in assuring that consumers get the cell phone | | | | be identified in such a short period of time, but |
| and service that they expect. Assuring that the | | | | many can. The critical first few weeks of a new |
| cellular provider has adequate coverage in areas | | | | cell phone plan are often all consumers have to |
| where an individual needs to routinely place or | | | | allow them to assess and terminate if needed |
| receive calls can help reduce the likelihood that | | | | without penalties. |
| dropped calls and gaps in coverage are | | | | To assure the process of cancellation and return |
| problematic. Such issues are one of the most | | | | of the cell phone goes smoothly in the event that |
| frequent reasons cited by dissatisfied customers | | | | this is necessary, consumers should maintain any |
| who wish to terminate a cell phone plan early. | | | | receipts, a copy of the contract, and the original |
| Reading the written contract is also critical to | | | | packaging for the cell phone. A phone in good |
| assure the service offered is as the sales person | | | | condition and timely adherence to the time line |
| describes it. Despite what any sales person may | | | | offered by the contract's cancellation policy will |
| say, it is the written contract that will determine | | | | help assure that there are no termination penalties |
| what service the cellular provider can be held | | | | incurred. |
| responsible for providing. Realizing, for instance, | | | | Certainly, consumers can terminate cell phone |
| that roaming fees are added on to a frequently | | | | plans early but not without significant penalties. |
| called long distance number only after an | | | | Options also exist online that allow disgruntled cell |
| exorbitant bill is received, can be a painful | | | | phone plan owners to identify others willing to |
| experience. The wise consumer also keeps a | | | | assume their current plan, but again these options |
| copy of the contract on hand just in case | | | | are not completely cost or risk free. |
| discrepancies arise later. | | | | Although there is no current legislation to provide |
| However, even with a significant amount of | | | | other recourse to consumers who have legitimate |
| investigation the experience of using a particular | | | | issues with their cellular service, there are some |
| cell phone plan can still fail to meet the customer's | | | | signs that the future may bring additional |
| expectations. Coverage may be available in a | | | | protection. In Washington State, for instance, |
| given area but the quality of the call may be poor. | | | | legislation is currently being considered to allow |
| The phone itself may not perform well. The | | | | consumers to terminate cell phone plan contracts |
| pricing for some calling features may be | | | | without financial penalty when they experience |
| significantly different than what the consumer | | | | excessive dropped calls or gaps in coverage. For |
| understood them to be during the sales process. | | | | the time being however, consumers need to |
| Because of the potential for such discrepancies in | | | | make use of the one primary means of assuring |
| expectations versus realities, it is extremely | | | | that they get the service they anticipate: the |
| critical for consumers to make full use of the | | | | cancellation policy within the contract that allows |
| assessment period they are allowed with most | | | | them a window of time to assess and terminate |
| cell phone plans. Assuring that the plan purchased | | | | if necessary. |