Audra: And now for today’s better ways to save, we've all been there. Sometimes you open up that cell phone which you might look like the yellow pages and you're in a state of shock. Jeanette Povini is here though and she’s got some ways to cut your cost.
Jeanette: So even with a flat rate, the amount of our cell phone bills always seems to be higher. Here is the 411 on how to keep yours under control. Talking, texting, watching movies, listening to music, we do it on our mobile devices and if we don’t pay attention to the rules, it all adds up. Make sure your kids realize that texting, certain ring tones, internet access, movies, music and video games may also add to the bill.
Now if you find you have overage charges very month, most plans allow you to set up alerts that will notify you when you're almost out of minutes. And if you're almost of minutes and you're only halfway through your billing cycle, call your provider and buy a one-time bucket of extra minutes to carry you through. And here is what to watch out for with those add-on charges.
Check your bill carefully and dispute any unauthorized charges especially if the phone was lost or stolen. Consider buying a prepaid phone and make sure you know when nights and weekend hour start and end in your time zone.
Also, be sure to keep in mind when you buy a new phone and set up service many providers offer a grace period to try the phone in your area. If you don’t like it, you may be able to return it without additional charges.
Audra: And Jeanette has made sure to read the fine print before you buy a new phone and activate the service. We’ll get you there.