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Home > Blogs > Lakota Schools News and Issues > Archives > 2008 > April > 16 > Entry
Cell phone bills
At a recent Lakota Ridge dance where I happened to be prying into the lives of junior high students, I learned quite a bit about cell phone rules. Most students did not have a limit to how much they could talk, but because mom and dad paid the bill, there were some ground rules.
One mother told me she monitors her son’s messages, and any time someone uses a foul word in a text message, she points it out to him.
A seventh-grader said her mother reads all of her messages and asks her questions about them. One said her parents have rules about how much texting she can do, because she and her friends happened to be texting all day and all night.
Cell phones are not permitted in the school buildings, but Lakota students tell me they get around the rule. The funny thing is, most of the kids said they prefer to text than to actually talk to people. Some say it is an addiction … often an expensive one.
I found this press release in a folder of saved e-mails. Perhaps you can relate to cell phone bill issues.
Money Tips for Students, April 2008
How to avoid a big cell phone bill
A majority of high school and college students have cell phones — and sometimes a huge bill that goes with it. A cell phone is convenient and nice to have in the event of an emergency. But you can quickly get in over your head. Use your cell phone wisely. Fees, taxes, surcharges, activation fees, overage and roaming charges all add up. Get the bottom-line cost in writing for your first bill, with an itemized calculation of all costs, including taxes, activation fees and cost of the phone itself.
The best way to avoid a huge cell phone bill is a prepaid phone. Then you’ll know exactly what you’re spending and won’t allow you to go over your minutes.
A cell phone contract is legally binding — and a contract written by a company is usually written to favor the company’s bottom line, not yours. Make sure to read the fine print of any contract, but pay close attention to the one called “Terms and Conditions,” which outline what you are agreeing to abide by when you sign.
Look for a two-year contract commitment and pay attention to contract termination fees and a “free trial” period. You can review the service agreements of many cell phone companies on the Internet. Check them out and compare before you decide.
A phone upgrade fee may be charged when you buy a new phone from your existing carrier. Many retail outlets don’t tell you about this fee. You find out about it on your first or second months’ bill. It should be mentioned in your contract, so check it out before changing your phone. If you don’t want to pay the phone upgrade fee, you can switch to another carrier, but you’ll have to pay an early termination fee. Don’t rely on oral promises about your contract or your bill. Get any promises or agreements in writing and file them with your signed contract in case of a dispute.
It’s handy to have a phone, but not if you’re going broke staying in touch. Be conservative with your money by watching your minutes, tailoring your plan to your needs and reviewing any charges you haven’t anticipated. The Student Loan People is a public, nonprofit corporation that provides education loans for students and parents through the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). For more complete information about student loans, visit www.studentloanpeople.com; write The Student Loan People, P.O. Box 24328, Louisville, KY 40224-0328; or call (888) 678-4625.
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