Tips for Getting the Best Wireless Deal - With the advent of wireless local number portability rules, wireless carriers are more eager than ever to retain existing customers and gain new ones. A good habit to get in to is to do a regular wireless service "checkup." Consumers who find that they are consistently using less minutes than their total monthly allotment or who find that they are regularly going over their monthly minute allotment by 50 minutes or more may want to consider switching or "tweaking" their plans. Most carrier representatives are eager to help consumers find the best plan to fit their needs. A good question for consumers to ask before committing to a plan is "Does this plan best fit my needs?" Remember, however, that carriers may require subscribers to recommit to one or two years of service if they change their existing plans. Consumers should always ask about this before making any change to their service.
Price Check Before Making a Payphone Call - Per-minute rates and surcharges assessed for using a payphone have steadily increased in recent years. There are ways for consumers to avoid paying the worst of these fees. FCC rules mandate that payphone operators must identify themselves and give instructions for obtaining the full price of a call by pressing no more than two digits (usually the # key) before billing for a call. Consumers using a calling card to place a call over a payphone should be especially wary since most long distance carriers charge a hefty payphone surcharge on calling card calls. Consumers may want to consider keeping a 10-10 dial around number written down for use when making calls over a payphone. TRAC offers its TeleTips Dial Around Comparison Chart which compares thirteen of the largest dial around providers to help consumers find the best price for these services. Click here(iii) for more information about this chart.
WIRELESS WATCH
Check For Hearing Aid Compatibility in New Phones - As wireless carriers increasingly move away from providing analog phones to more feature-rich digital phones, hearing aid compatibility is becoming an important consideration for wireless phone users. Consumers who use hearing aids should keep in mind that using a digital wireless phone may cause interference (usually in the form of an audible "buzz") that could make it difficult or impossible to carry on a conversation. Consumers with hearing aids should discuss with their audiologist and wireless service provider what phones will work best with their particular hearing aids. Some good features to look for are phones with vibrating ringers, adjustable volume controls, headsets, and T-coil coupling. Click here(iv) for a list of phones which provide potentially lower levels of interference with hearing aids.
Quick Action Can Save Money in Event of Loss or Theft - In the event of loss or theft of a cell phone, subscribers usually remain under contract to their carrier and are required to continue payment. Consumers whose phones are lost or stolen should contact their carrier immediately. Most carriers will agree to suspend service for a certain period of time (usually 30 days) until the phone is recovered or replaced. If a phone is stolen, subscribers may need to provide a police report to their carrier in order to avoid being charged for unauthorized usage of their phones. For high-end cell phones (i.e. those that are more prone to theft) consumers may want to consider investing in a replacement program, which usually involves a monthly fee of $4-$5 and a deductible of around $35. Consumers should read their terms of service and check with their carrier to find out their specific responsibilities in the event of loss or theft of their phone.
INTERESTING LINKS
FCC Main Page - http://www.fcc.gov
FCC Complaint Form - http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/cib/fcc475.cfm
List of State Regulatory Commissions - http://www.naruc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=15
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©2004 Telecommunications Research and Action Center. TRAC grants unlimited rights to reproduce TRACNotes or any information contained in it provided attribution is given as follows: "Source:Telecommunications Research and Action Center. http://www.trac.org"
Endnotes
