Cell Phone Savvy Training Manual
Contents
1. Unlimited use You pay a set fee for unlimited minutes text messages or data Not all providers offer unlimited plans and those that offer unlimited data may cap usage for very heavy users Prepaid You pay for your service before you use it There s no credit check no contract and no monthly bill although some plans may require you to purchase additional service at regular intervals Once you ve used up your balance you can t use your phone until you buy additional service time Your balance may expire if you don t use it within a given period If you allow your prepaid plan to expire you may have to pay a reactivation fee or the carrier could close the account which means you lose the phone number On a per unit basis minute text or byte prepaid service rates are typically higher than those on contract plans However some prepaid unlimited service plans are competitively priced and can be a reasonably good deal for some customers There are comparison websites that make it easier to compare plans Do an online search for wireless service plan comparison What is a data cap A data cap is a limit on the amount of data you can use per month sometimes even if you have unlimited data Depending on your usage and your carrier s policies approaching your data cap could result in a higher bill and or slower data speeds Or you could have your service cut off entirely for the remainder of the billing cycle V2. A Consumer Action Project www consumer action org i Empower A Learn how to get results Cell Phone Savvy Training Manual How to Make Smart Wireless Choices and Avoid Problems Table of Contents 1 Introduction Selecting and Purchasing a Wireless Device Choosing a Wireless Carrier Understanding Your Wireless Service Contract Managing Your Wireless Service Costs Protecting Your Device and Personal Information Handling Billing and Service Issues About This Project Se ODD wo gt _ gt _ Introduction Thanks to cell phones we don t have to be at home or the office to stay in touch Smartphones a more sophisticated type of mobile device even make it possible to shop bank watch videos or surf the Internet while on the go Cell phones can be a big convenience and an indispensable tool But they also can be a major expense and an important responsibility since the most advanced devices can hold your sensitive financial information and personal data The key to avoiding cell phone problems is understanding your options and making wise choices The Cell Phone Savvy Training Manual answers many questions about wireless service from how to choose a device and a service plan to how to manage wireless costs and protect your device and data This publication is part of a module that includes a companion brochure Cell Phone Savvy available in Chinese English Korean Spanish and Vietnamese and classroom training mat
3. s even more important to correctly predict your need for data services as overages can be very expensive This is not so much of an issue if you can purchase an unlimited data plan but those have mostly disappeared in favor of limited or metered plans If you ve had wireless service before check past bills for average monthly voice usage While this won t give you an idea of how much data service you ll need if you re switching from a standard cell phone to a smartphone major wireless carriers offer online tools to help you estimate your data usage based on how you plan to use your device There s also a mobile data usage estimator at Consumer Action s website WirelessEd org www wirelessed org Generally speaking the more sophisticated your phone the more data it will use How do choose the right service plan Your goal when choosing a plan should be to purchase the service you need without paying for service you won t use or incurring overage charges There are essentially four ways to pay for wireless service Pay per use You pay per unit of service used for example 15 per minute 25 per text 1 99 per MB of data This is generally much more expensive than plan rates Metered use You pay for a bucket of service say 25 for 700 minutes 9 99 for 150 text messages 25 for 2 GB of data If you use more than your allotment you ll pay an additional per minute per text or per byte charge for overage
4. Before selling donating or disposing of your mobile device cancel service and remove the SIM card if your phone has one This is the microchip you insert into a phone that uses GSM technology Erase the hard drive This entails more than just deleting files Check the help menu or the manufacturer s site for instructions or contact your wireless carrier for assistance ReCellular www recellular com recycling data_eraser default asp provides instructions for erasing many phone models 9 If your employer provided the phone or computer contact the person on staff who is in charge of technical issues Be aware that your employer has the right to access information stored on company owned devices Are apps safe The majority of apps are safe but there have been cases of downloaded apps installing malware on users phones Another factor to consider is the platform you are using when you download the app such as Google s Android or Apple s iPhone The platforms have different criteria for including an app for download to its users For example the Android is an open source device which means the apps are not vetted by Google before they are offered to the public It s up to you to figure out which ones are legitimate Apple does a cursory vetting and weeds out some illegitimate apps but not all Don t download an unfamiliar app until you ve read user reviews and made sure the developer is legitimate Be aware that
5. s usage meter under the general settings menu Reset it at the beginning of each billing cycle for an accurate count Other tools range from apps that alert you if your data usage reaches a predetermined level to widgets helper tools that enable you to monitor your usage as you go To find these kinds of apps check first at your carrier s app store You can also do an online search for mobile data usage monitoring apps Some tools may be carrier specific and some may be device specific Under pressure from the Federal Communications Commission FCC most wireless carriers have agreed to send free alerts to consumers when they reach monthly limits on voice data and text usage and when they incur international roaming charges Participating carriers will provide customers with at least two out of the four types of notifications by Oct 17 2012 All four types of alerts will be offered by April 17 2013 Subscribers will receive the messages unless they opt out In the meantime customers can contact their carrier or visit its website to find out if they can get usage alerts now How can I continue to use data when I m approaching my monthly service limit without risking an overage Try to use Wi Fi whenever possible at home at work at friends homes and in other places where it is available Try to do your data heavy tasks such as downloading apps and uploading photos to social media when you re in Wi Fi to conserve your netw
6. which requires you to give up your right to sue your service provider in court or join a class action lawsuit against the company If you don t have the option you would have to agree to it or find a carrier that doesn t have an arbitration clause in its contract That may be impossible What are my rights and responsibilities if I lose my cell phone Notify the carrier immediately if you notice your phone missing You are responsible for all the service that is used until you contact the carrier If you can t find your phone but you re not sure it s been lost or stolen you may have the option to put the account on hold until you find it Managing Your Wireless Service Costs What is a service overage An overage refers to the additional service you use above and beyond what is in your plan bucket The term bill shock was coined by wireless customers who have received an unexpectedly high bill due to overages as much as thousands of dollars in some cases You can avoid an overage by accurately estimating how much service you ll use per month choosing a plan that closely matches your usage and using tools to monitor and manage your usage How do track my service usage All major carriers make it possible for their customers to check their usage at any time on the company s 6 website or via text message or voice recording request enter a few keys to receive a message You also can check the device
7. additional charges Avoid texting while roaming and instead use email in Wi Fi hotspots to send and receive messages Turn Wi Fi off when you re not using it as it can drain your battery quickly When traveling abroad insert a local SIM card and make calls at local rates Or if your phone is locked rent a phone with a local SIM card before leaving or buy an inexpensive one when you arrive Do an online search for travel phones for more information Buy a prepaid phone card and use it to make lower cost calls from a landline Try Voice over Internet Protocol VoIP applications such as Skype or Vonage on your smartphone when you re in Wi Fi Certain calls may be free or just a few cents a minute Check the VoIP application provider before leaving the U S to determine how VoIP calls to your device would be handled Avoid non urgent automatic data usage by turning off applications such as weather and Facebook that check the Internet constantly setting email on manual setting fetch new data to off or manual setting your phone to airplane mode turning off functions or apps after you ve finished using them and turning off your mobile network unless you need it Try to use Wi Fi whenever possible In some cases Wi Fi may be free but even if you have to pay a fee it typically will be much less expensive than network service when roaming Wireless Internet service in hotels at home and at friends homes can be accessed via
8. because you have a stalker or are the victim of domestic violence Create a strong account password that is impossible for anyone to guess Do not set up password reminders for example What was the name of your first pet If you think someone might access your account online ask your carrier to deactivate online account access Ask your carrier if call details can be removed from your bills It s a crime for someone to pretend to be you or otherwise obtain your phone records under false pretenses If you believe you are the victim of pretexting contact law enforcement and your carrier immediately Certain privacy laws don t apply to members of law enforcement or to those with a court order Read Consumer Action s publication Protect Your Phone Records http Awww consumer action org modules module _ pretexting to learn more What should I do if become the victim of cell phone fraud Cell phone fraud or subscription fraud is a form of identity theft in which the thief opens up a new cell phone account under your name using your Social Security number Eventually the unpaid bills lead debt collectors to you for payment even though you are not legally responsible for the calls To minimize possible damage check your phone bill carefully as soon as you receive it to make sure there aren t any unauthorized calls or transactions Contact your carrier immediately if you see suspicious activity on your bill Chec
9. many apps will track your location even those whose purpose has little to do with where you are located Apple provides a pop up message that tells users their location will be accessed but if you opt out you aren t able to download the app There is currently no law that gives mobile app users the right to privacy or the right to avoid being tracked for marketing purposes Is the data transmit in a Wi Fi hotspot secure Many Wi Fi hotspots are unsecured and unencrypted making your data open to strangers It s up to you to take steps to protect your privacy when using public Wi Fi The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse offers Wi Fi security tips on its website http privacyrights org fs fs2 wire htm as does LifeHacker http lifehacker com 5576927 how to stay safe on public witfi networks and OnGuard Online http www onguardonline gov topics hotspots aspx How do prevent someone from accessing my cell phone bills and records There are regulations in place to keep your records private For example carriers can only release your call data over the phone if you provide a password or in person if you provide identification And they must notify you when a password has been changed or if there is an unauthorized disclosure a breach of your account information There are some steps you can take as well to further protect your phone records These are particularly important if you believe you are at increased risk for example
10. online search for how to sync your phone or sync plus the name of your phone model What should I do if I can t find my phone If your wireless phone is lost or stolen and you can t locate it using a service such as Find My iPhone or Blackberry Protect immediately contact your carrier and suspend your service This will protect you against unauthorized charges If the phone has been stolen also report the theft to the police and obtain a police report number which may be required by your carrier Don t delay Most wireless phones unless securely locked can be used for international calling which makes them attractive to thieves As a precaution against unauthorized calls or stolen information always use your phone s lock feature That way if the device gets into the wrong hands it may be rendered useless And if you don t make international calls you could ask the carrier to eliminate that service so that someone who gets your phone can t run up the bill What should I do with my old phone when I get a new one Many wireless stores will accept unwanted cell phones and accessories So will charitable programs such as CellPhonesforSoldiers com http www cellphonesforsoldiers com and your donation may be tax deductible Learn about recycling your cell phone including drop off and mailing addresses at the EPA s Environmental Protection Agency website http www epa gov osw partnerships plugin cellphone
11. responsible for any calls made during that time It s very important if you want to cancel that you do so before the trial period ends If you miss the deadline you ll incur an early termination fee which could be 250 or more Even if you cancel within the trial period and return the device you may have to pay a restocking fee How can I be sure the used phone I buy isn t stolen Before buying a used phone from a source you don t know well check the ESN electronic serial number on a CDMA phone or the IMEI international mobile equipment identity number on a GSM phone Look for the ESN or IMEI number under the phone battery It could also appear on the product box or in the device information section of the onscreen menu Once you have the code call the carrier that would be providing service for you and ask the representative to check it A clear or clean number means the phone has not been reported lost or stolen and isn t associated with an unpaid service bill A phone with a dirty ESN or IMEI number may turn out to be useless because the carrier won t activate it 2 Should I buy phone insurance or an extended warranty Phone insurance is intended to replace a cell phone that is lost stolen or damaged Premiums typically range from about 4 to 8 per month and the deductible the portion of the loss that you have to pay out of pocket can be anywhere from 25 to 125 depending on the phone model There
12. series under a grant from the California Consumer Protection Foundation Consumer Action empowers low to moderate income and limited English speaking consumers nationwide to financially prosper through education and advocacy To learn more visit www consumer action org Consumer Action 2012 11
13. to save your calls for those times If you call other states make sure you purchase a nationwide calling plan Most plans today are nationwide What is tethering Tethering is connecting your smartphone to your computer so that you can get data service for your computer through your phone s service plan It can be very easy to get carried away and exceed your data allowance when using the service on your computer so monitor it closely Some popular usage monitoring tools include 3G Watchdog NetCounter and Consume but check the tools offered by your carrier and on your device as well My teenager ran up a huge wireless bill last month What can I do to prevent that from happening again Parental controls offered by all major carriers typically allow parents to set limits on children s usage including downloads of games ringtones graphics and applications filter incoming and outgoing data limit features such as picture messaging and block certain sites Discuss your needs with your carrier and visit 8 www wiredkids org to learn more Another option is to switch to a prepaid plan you can only use the amount of service you choose to buy My bill was higher than usual this month because called 411 directory assistance a number of times Aren t those calls free Directory assistance 411 calls are not free In fact they can cost up to 2 each If you have a smartphone and a data service plan and if it wo
14. to use your phone abroad consider a model that uses GSM global system for mobile communications technology which is used in more countries Unlocked GSM phones also enable a traveler to replace the SIM card that came with the phone with a local SIM card enabling low cost calls in the destination country However some countries do use CDMA technology so if you mainly travel to one particular country that uses CDMA then that might be the better option for you Currently AT amp T and T Mobile use GSM technology while Sprint Verizon and smaller US wireless companies use CDMA Check your carrier s website for a list of countries where their phones work Some carriers also offer to lend or rent their customers a compatible phone to use during their travels How can I unlock my phone Most phones that you get through a carrier are locked to prevent you from using the device with any other service provider An unlocked phone allows you to insert a local SIM card when traveling to take advantage of lower local rates You may be able to unlock the phone either by making a request to their carrier or by obtaining and entering a special code that you find or purchase online Does getting a phone through my carrier lock me into a contract Not necessarily If you buy your phone and purchase prepaid service you will not be locked into a contract However getting a free or heavily discounted phone from your wireless service provider typ
15. your Wi Fi settings Beware Even allowing unanswered calls to be routed into voicemail while your phone is on and you are roaming can result in roaming charges But if the phone is off or if it s in flight mode and the wireless network is off the call will go directly into voicemail and you will avoid roaming charges Checking voicemail from your handset while roaming will trigger roaming rates Do apps use data Apps mobile software applications specially designed for wireless devices use data when you download them anywhere from five to 80 megabytes depending on the app Web based apps continue to use data to operate as they connect to the Internet automatically to get updates and retrieve information Examples include weather and stock market updates and email programs It s very important to remember to turn these apps off after use to avoid continued data usage which could lead to unintended overage charges Also set your apps to manual updates so they don t update themselves automatically and cost you data You can update individual apps manually whenever you need to How can I avoid charges on my daily calls Choose a plan that allows you to talk free to the people you talk to most For example friends and family mobile to mobile and similar plans may allow you to make and receive certain calls without dipping into your plan bucket Also if there are periods nights and weekends for example when calls are free try
16. can be a number of limitations to the coverage For example many policies state that the replacement phone can be refurbished rather than new can be a different brand model or color than the old phone and might not be compatible with your current accessories Before buying phone insurance do a calculation to determine if you are better off just being careful with your device and putting aside the equivalent of the premiums and the deductible in an account so it s there if you need it Most devices come with a manufacturer s warranty typically for one year You might be given the option to purchase an extended warranty which would cover manufacturer s defects for some time beyond one year Before saying yes to an extended warranty read the fine print it contains important information about what is and isn t covered Check with your credit card issuer as some provide extended warranties on electronics you buy with the card What are my wireless phone options if have a hearing or other disability Major wireless carriers offer a variety of accessible devices including Hearing Aid Compatible HAC handsets and those that magnify text read out information that appears on the phone screen and can follow voice commands There are also text accessibility plans that provide qualifying disabled consumers with things like unlimited text messaging and free 411 If you have a disability or are a senior with limitations the best starting poi
17. choice of device could have an impact on your reception Your most reliable information source is likely to be friends neighbors and coworkers who use wireless where you do You should also take advantage of your service contract trial period to make sure you re satisfied with the coverage What information do I have to provide when I sign up for wireless service For standard wireless contract service you will be asked for identifying information such as full name birth date and Social Security number and billing information The wireless carrier will pull your credit report to determine if it will extend you service For prepaid service no contract you will not be required to provide as much information Most prepaid cell phone plans do not require a Social Security number since they don t extend service on credit they do not need to access your credit report Regular reloads of your minutes may be required usually on a monthly basis You ll have the option of paying for automatic reloads by providing a debit or credit card How can I predict my usage so I select a plan that doesn t waste money When pre purchasing a service plan it s worth the time and effort to estimate your usage as accurately as possible since using more than your plan allows an overage can be costly Most cell phone voice plans are use it or lose it although some allow a portion of your unused minutes to roll over from month to month It
18. erials consisting of a lesson plan learning activities and PowerPoint slides The brochure and other materials in this module are free for individuals non profits and community based organizations For more about these materials visit the Consumer Action website www consumer action org or call Consumer Action at 800 999 7981 Selecting and Purchasing a Wireless Device How do I choose a phone You ll avoid problems and dissatisfaction by selecting the right wireless device from the start Start by figuring out what you ll do with the device If you plan to email or text a lot make sure it has a comfortable keyboard with easy to read keys If you plan to listen to music or watch video check out the speakers and the screen size and resolution If you want to take photos make sure the phone has a decent camera If you re a heavy user consider battery life how long you can use the phone on a single charge Size and weight can be another important consideration if you carry your phone in your pocket And if you plan to use your phone outside the U S make sure it will work in the countries you plan to visit most If you don t truly need all the bells and whistles of a smartphone it s best to choose a basic cell phone model In addition to being more expensive to buy smartphones require data service which is an additional ongoing monthly expense 1 What kind of phone should get if plan to use it outside the U S If you plan
19. ically requires that you commit to a one or two year service contract If you need to cancel the contract early you will have to pay an early termination fee and may have to pay a restocking fee on the returned device You can buy a phone without a contract but it will be more expensive You don t have to get your phone from your carrier Before buying a phone from a source other than your service provider however first confirm that it will work on your carrier s network Not all phones work on all wireless networks Ask the seller if there is a period during which you can return or exchange a new device Most carriers offer existing wireless service customers the opportunity to get a new free or discounted device from time to time If you take advantage of the carrier s offer of a free or discounted upgrade you may be required to extend your contract What if I m unhappy with my phone selection can l return it You may be able to return your phone within a certain timeframe But there still could be a restocking fee of as much as 35 or more A private seller might not accept a return or exchange which can be a risk if you can t check the phone for speaker problems a scratched or cracked display or nonworking keys before you pay What is a trial period Most carriers offer a trial period that allows you to cancel without penalty within a specific period of time typically two to four weeks You would be
20. isit WhatlsMyCap org www whatismycap org to find out what your data cap is Searchable by carrier what the overage charge could be what kinds of data consuming activities would cause you to reach your data cap and more Do text messages use data Technically yes but carriers generally don t treat text messages SMS as data They typically sell a 4 messaging package for example 100 text messages for 5 99 or they bill per message sent and received for example 10 per message MMS or multimedia message service includes picture and video texting These messages could be treated as data or could be charged at a higher text message rate check with your carrier Be aware that messages longer than 160 characters could be divided into shorter segments and sent separately incurring multiple per message charges Is the advertised rate for wireless service really the bottom line Typically no the advertised price usually does not include things like taxes surcharges daily access fees and other add ons In some states these charges add more than 20 to the bill To avoid an unpleasant surprise ask for an estimate of your first and ongoing bills when you sign on However your first bill will probably be higher than normal due to the activation fee and any prorated charges for a partial first month Are there affordable wireless service options for low income consumers Yes federal Lifeline is a program that p
21. isputed portion of your bill by the due date Your service provider must respond to your complaint in a reasonable period What should I do if I m not satisfied with my wireless service provider s response to my complaint The Federal Communications Commission FCC regulates interstate telephone service If your issue is related to service used when communicating across state lines or internationally contact the FCC www fcc gov http esupport fcc gov complaints htm fecinfo fcc gov 888 225 5322 888 835 5322 TTY If your issue is related to service within your state contact your state s public utilities commission listings at http Awww naruc org commissions cfm which has jurisdiction over local and intrastate calls You can contact your state s attorney general listings at http www naag org current attorneys general php for more information about your rights For a complete listing of state consumer protection agencies visit USA gov http consumeraction gov state shtml Consumer Action www consumer action org 221 Main St Suite 480 523 W Sixth St Suite 1105 San Francisco CA 94105 Los Angeles CA 90014 415 777 9648 213 624 4631 TTY 415 777 9456 Submit consumer complaints about telephone service providers or other consumer problems to our advice and referral hotline hotline consumer action org or 415 777 9635 800 999 7981 Chinese English and Spanish spoken Consumer Action created the Empower U
22. k your credit reports at least once a year www annualcreditreport com 877 322 8228 You can do so three times a year for free If someone opened a phone service account in your name you ll see an inquiry from the phone company You ll also see if the account has gone into collections If you re having a problem resolving the unauthorized charges with your service provider you can file a 10 complaint with the Federal Communications Commission FCC http esupport fcc gov complaints htm fecinfo fcc gov 888 225 5322 888 835 5322 TTY How do stop telemarketing calls to my cell phone You can add your wireless phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry www donotcall gov 888 382 1222 This won t eliminate all unsolicited calls for example non sales calls and calls from businesses with whom you already have a relationship are permitted but it can reduce them significantly Telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days If telemarketers continue to call after 31 days you can file a complaint at the Do Not Call website Handling Billing and Service Issues Who do talk to if I have a complaint about my wireless service account Check your phone bill every month for unauthorized charges If you discover errors contact your carrier immediately Always try to resolve billing errors and other problems directly with the carrier within 30 days of receiving the bill Pay the und
23. n t push you over your data allowance it may be cheaper to get the information you need on the Web Extra charges also may apply for toll free numbers 1 800 1 866 etc Protecting Your Device and Personal Information What can I do to avoid having my phone and the personal information it holds lost or stolen A lost or stolen smartphone full of stored passwords and account information could pose more risk than a missing wallet e Password protect your device so that it locks automatically after a short period of inactivity and requires a password to unlock You can still receive calls and even make an emergency call without entering the password e Don t leave your phone in your car or unattended in a public place e Don t let someone you don t know borrow the phone e Sign out and close the app or browser window when finished with a banking or shopping session Delete old banking and transaction text messages e Use software or a carrier or third party tool that allows you to lock the phone or erase the data remotely if necessary e Back up or sync your phone regularly That way if it does get lost or stolen or you have to erase it remotely you won t lose all your data because it will be copied to your computer or stored on someone else s server Some phones sync automatically when you connect them to your computer To find out how to sync your phone check the user s manual or ask your service carrier Or do an
24. nt for finding an accessible cell phone and service is at AccessWireless org www accesswireless org The site explains your options according to whether you have a hearing vision mobility manipulation speech or cognition disability It also offers tips for choosing and making the most of your device and service and provides links to additional resources Choosing a Wireless Carrier What should I consider when choosing a carrier When comparing carriers consider Coverage Check the carrier s coverage map and ask friends neighbors and coworkers who use their mobile devices in the same places you ll be using yours which service they use and if they re satisfied with the call quality Phone selection f you have your heart set on a particular type of phone your carrier choices may be narrowed since some phones are offered only by certain carriers GSM vs CDMA If you travel a lot GSM technology offered by some carriers but not all will function in more countries and will allow you to switch out your SIM card to make less expensive international calls Plan options and rates After you estimate how much service you ll need look for the plan that offers the best price for your anticipated usage How do I know Ill get good coverage where I plan to use my phone Most carriers have coverage maps at their stores and on their websites However things like the weather topography hills and trees for example construction and your
25. ork data service for when you have no other option or you need a secure connection What s the difference between network service and Wi Fi With most data enabled devices you can get data service on your carrier s network and via Wi Fi Wi Fi lets you do all the same things that your paid wireless service does free and without dipping into your plan service bucket Wi Fi isn t everywhere but you can find it in many hotels airports cafes and other public spaces called hotspots You also can use Wi Fi at your home or workplace if available If your device is Wi Fi enabled scan for open Wi Fi before using your network service Or you can change your settings to always use only Wi Fi until you change back to the network service setting However leaving Wi Fi on permanently can quickly drain battery power so turn it off whenever you don t need it Also be aware that many Wi Fi hotspots are unsecured and unencrypted making your data open to strangers In some cases such as when you re banking or shopping via cell phone network service may be preferable to free Wi Fi because it is more secure The Privacy Rights Clearinghouse offers Wi Fi security tips on its website http privacyrights org fs fs2 wire htm as does LifeHacker http lifehacker com 5576927 how to stay safe on public wi fi networks and OnGuard Online http www onguardonline gov topics hotspots aspx I thought I was avoiding a data overage by using m
26. r Don t cancel your old service until the port is complete Ask to be notified when the port is complete usually in a matter of hours 5 Your old service may be cancelled automatically once the port is done but it s a good idea to check What can I do if my low credit score keeps me from getting a wireless service contract While you work on improving your credit you can use prepaid wireless service These plans require no credit check since you pay for service before you use it Prepaid wireless can be a good way to stick to a wireless budget because you decide how much to spend on wireless and there is no risk of an overage You can check your credit reports three times a year without charge at www annualcreditreport com or call 877 322 8228 It may be that you have inaccurate information on your credit report if so you can ask that it be corrected by filing a dispute with the credit reporting company Understanding Your Wireless Service Contract Can I cancel my contract before the term is up Yes you can cancel at any time but there may be a cancellation fee of 250 or more if you cancel while under a contract Some carriers will reduce the amount of the cancellation fee the longer you have been in the contract For instance if the fee you would have to pay if you were to cancel at the beginning of your two year contract is 300 you might have to pay only 100 if you canceled after a year and a half If your contract has expired
27. rovides discounts on residential landline and wireless phone service for eligible low income households Eligibility guidelines can be found online at http www lifeline gov lifeline_ Consumers html If you already have wireless service and you believe you qualify for Lifeline contact your wireless provider If you don t have wireless service yet contact carriers to find out which ones offer Lifeline wireless in your state and to compare rates Check to see if a Lifeline discounted home wired phone could be less expensive than wireless A wired phone can serve the entire household not just the person who is carrying the cell phone How do choose an international roaming plan When you use your phone outside the U S service does not come out of your existing plan bucket you must pay for it separately You can reduce the per unit cost by purchasing an international roaming voice text and or data plan These plans are available even for short periods of travel Some plans give you a discounted per minute voice per text or per byte data rate after you pay a relatively low flat monthly fee Another option may be to purchase a plan that allows you to use a specified amount of service a bucket for a flat price for example 25 MB of data for 29 99 In either case international roaming will still be expensive so consider other options See How can I avoid roaming charges in the Managing Your Wireless Service Costs section of
28. this manual for a list of options After returning home don t cancel your roaming plan until you are sure all foreign usage has appeared on your bill Most carriers must first activate roaming capabilities so notify your carrier before you leave the U S International roaming may not be available on prepaid service or may be available only in a very limited number of countries If your phone is not compatible with the technology used in the country you ll be visiting your carrier may be able to provide you with a rental or loaner phone to use during your travels Are there any costs associated with switching carriers You may have to get a new device if your old one isn t compatible with the new carrier s network And you would have to buy new mobile apps downloadable software designed especially for mobile devices if you switch operating systems for example from Android to iPhone Can take my old phone number with me when I switch carriers You can port transfer your phone number as long as you remain in the same geographic area You might even be able to port your home phone number to your wireless service if you are getting rid of your landline Your old carrier is not allowed to refuse to port your number even if you owe them money or you have not paid a porting fee If your new carrier charges a fee ask if it can be waived To make the porting process go smoothly have an old phone bill handy for your new carrie
29. y phone in a Wi Fi hotspot but it turns out I was using my carrier s network all along What happened Just because your device is Wi Fi enabled and you are in Wi Fi range doesn t mean that you re not using network service You have to make sure your device settings are correct to notify you when you are in Wi Fi range and give you the option to join an available Wi Fi network Check your manual or contact your carrier for guidance What is roaming You are roaming when you use wireless service outside your wireless carrier s coverage area With today s nationwide voice plans offered by all major carriers it s rare that your phone would need to roam while in the U S International roaming refers to using service when traveling outside the United States Check coverage maps for roaming areas and understand how you ll be charged if you roam How can l tell if m roaming When you re roaming a symbol which varies from phone to phone appears on your handset screen typically in the area of the signal strength indicator The name of the local carrier or network code also usually appears Check your phone manual or contact your carrier to find out how your particular device indicates roaming and if you will incur additional charges 7 How can avoid roaming charges Here are some ways to minimize roaming charges Know how your phone indicates voice roaming and data roaming so that you are aware when you may be incurring
30. you can cancel anytime without penalty You can avoid contract cancellation fees by canceling during the trial period which typically is from two to four weeks long However you will be responsible for any calls made during the time you used the service and you may have to pay a restocking fee for the device Can switch to a different plan with the same carrier during the term of my contract Generally speaking yes There shouldn t be a fee if you switch to a more expensive plan And it s very possible there won t be a fee if you switch to a cheaper plan either The best thing to do is to ask about that when you re signing up for service If there will be a fee for switching be very careful about estimating your anticipated usage and picking the right plan from the start When you switch to a more expensive plan your first bill may be higher than usual because the carrier may pro rate the service depending at what point in the billing cycle you switched My carrier just notified me that they are discontinuing their unlimited data plan and switching customers to a limited usage plan Can they do that Yes but if the carrier significantly modifies your service plan they must provide at least 14 days notice and give you the right to cancel your contract with no early termination fee My service contract includes an arbitration clause Do I have to agree to that If given the option opt out of an arbitration agreement
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