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How to Slash Your Phone Bill

Cell phone bill out of control? Here's how to save

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 14, 2009 9:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – Your cell phone plan sounded pretty good when you got that nifty handset, but if you aren't vigilant, carriers can hit you with fees and charges that will bleed you dry. PC World lists five ways wireless companies gouge you, and how to avoid them.

Texting fees: Go over your limit and you'll be charged shocking fees; send just a few and you're burning money. Make sure you have a plan that reflects your actual use of texts, and kill single word texts like "OK."

Two-year contracts: Unless you did it to get an iPhone, you're probably locking yourself into a carrier in exchange for a measly handset discount. Get a one-year contract, or consider a prepaid service, which can offer pretty slick handsets.
Overseas calling charges: Bring your AT&T or T-Mobile phone to Europe and you'll pay more than a buck a minute, even to receive calls. Use Skype, if you can find a WiFi hotspot.
Overseas data charges: Even more usurious—as much as $20 a megabyte while you're abroad, which is roughly the size of a single photo. Pick up a prepaid data package: still expensive, but not punishingly so.
The fine print: Lurking in your contract are all sorts of charges for things you'll never use, such as a "roadside assistance service charge." Read the paper, and negotiate.

Camera cell phones, top clockwise, Samsung Memoir, Sony Ericsson C905a, Casio Exilim, Nokia N97, Palm Pre in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2009. (AP Photo/Russel A. Daniels)

Barack Obama, the world's most famous BlackBerry user, at the Comcast Center at the University of Maryland in College Park, Md. At left is aide Reggie Love. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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How to Slash Your Phone Bill

Cell phone bill out of control? Here's how to save

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Will Smartphones Kill Braille?

Only 1 in 10 people who are blind can read it

AT&T Customers Stunned by 'Unlimited Data' Limit

Top data users find smartphones 'throttled'

Cops: Remote Shutdowns Would Curb Phone Thefts

They want FCC, carriers to put safeguard in place

How Siri Could Hurt Everyone's Cell Service

She's a giant 'bandwidth guzzler': Paul Farhi

Nokia Posts $1.4B Loss in 4th Quarter

But sales of Windows smartphones are meeting expectations

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

cell phones • smartphones • cell phone industry • wireless carriers

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Will Smartphones Kill Braille?

Only 1 in 10 people who are blind can read it

AT&T Customers Stunned by 'Unlimited Data' Limit

Top data users find smartphones 'throttled'

Cops: Remote Shutdowns Would Curb Phone Thefts

They want FCC, carriers to put safeguard in place

How Siri Could Hurt Everyone's Cell Service

She's a giant 'bandwidth guzzler': Paul Farhi

Nokia Posts $1.4B Loss in 4th Quarter

But sales of Windows smartphones are meeting expectations

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?