Consumer News

Five Questions to Ask Before Switching Your Wireless Service

Posted: 9/7/2010

Don't confuse pay-in-advance and prepaid plans when shopping for a budget-friendly wireless service.

(NewsUSA) - With today's tight economy, Americans are looking for ways to save money without sacrificing quality and value. In a recent FOX News/Opinion Dynamics poll, respondents ranked wireless service as one of the top-three things they were not willing to give up, despite tighter budgets.

Fortunately for these individuals, wireless carriers are offering budget-friendly options that allow customers to better control their families' spending through pay-in-advance or prepaid plans. But budget-savvy consumers may not realize that pay-in-advance and prepaid plans are not the same, and they may end up spending more than expected with prepaid plans.

With prepaid plans, consumers have to buy a certain number of minutes, and when the minutes are used, they have to pay to reload the minutes. Some carriers even charge fees for each day a phone is used. These fees and charges for extra minutes can add up pretty quickly and turn what was intended as a budget-saver into a budget-buster.

On the other hand, consumers with pay-in-advance plans, like MetroPCS, pay a set monthly fee for unlimited minutes and texts, with no hidden fees or extra charges. By asking smart questions, informed consumers can reduce their wireless spending without sacrificing quality of service or giving up their wireless phones entirely.

When considering a new wireless plan, ask yourself the following questions:

1. If I pay a set dollar amount, will I get a predetermined number of minutes or unlimited minutes?

2. If I run out of minutes on a prepaid plan, how much will it cost per minute to purchase more?

3. Will there be penalty fees for each day I use the phone?

4. Are there activation fees or other up-front costs?

5. Are there options for customizing service (e.g., variety of handsets, data packages) according to the way I want to use wireless service?

"Unlike some wireless plans, staying within your budget is easy with MetroPCS," says Karyn Hodgens, a money management educator. "It's a planned expense without hidden fees or extra charges, and for a flat monthly rate you can text and talk all you want."