Avoid Cell Phone Overage Charges
October 13, 2006 by Glenn
Those pesky cell phone companies — it seems like they’re always trying to screw you one way or another. The latest one I came across was from an article about avoiding cell phone overage charges. After reading that many companies use a backwards way of tracking the minutes you use (that doesn’t work in your favor), I could only think to myself, “Typical.”
Basically, any minutes you use are always deducted from your “anytime” minutes, even if you’re calling during the unlimited night and weekend times. Only once you’ve exhausted the anytime minutes do the unlimited minutes take effect.
Looking over my latest Sprint bill, I was pleasantly surprised to find out they don’t use this non-intuitive accounting scheme. My night and weekend minutes are tallied together, and all other minutes are tallied under the anytime minutes. The total minutes used were over my anytime minutes quota, and there was no overage charge. Sweet.
Does anyone out there with a different provider know which method they use?
I know I get raped for my $20 a month texting package.
I find it less painful to get the electronic bill and then to NEVER look at it heh. I also have auto debit setup so I really have no clue how much they are raping me. Ignorance is bliss right?
One cool thing is most large companies have discount plans through all the major providers. I get 19% off my bill every month just because of where I work and also 50% off of phones.
I have Cingular by the way. I believe night and weekend does not count against you. I’d look but then I’d have to find my password for their site and that is just too much effort on a Sat morning.