DontSpendMore.com Blog

Category: Cell Phones

  • Cell Phone Fraud Prevention Strategies

    By Dr. Kavita

    It is not a pleasant situation when you are at the receiving end of a fraud. With growing technological advancements, criminals are also polishing and fine tuning their skills and developing matching ideas and plans to perpetuate devastating scams, including cell phone fraud. In simple words it means that you need to be more alert than ever to save yourself from falling in to a fraudster’s trap nowadays.

    Click here to compare cell phone plans — free phones with select offers

    Cell phone fraud has become quite common. You might have already experienced one yourself or at least someone among your near and dear ones or acquaintances have recounted experiences relating to such scams. But contrary to popular belief, protecting yourself from such adversities can be done by ensuring a few simple steps as follows:

    Keep your phone locked

    Just because no one else uses your cell phone or no one else has access to your cell phone, does not mean that you should leave it unlocked at all times. Every cell phone has a system built in to enable locking it and preventing unauthorized access. Make use of this facility and use a strong password that no one will be able to guess.

    Be wary of using free Wi-Fi

    Free is not always safe; so keep that in mind when enjoying free access to the internet at WiFi hotspots. Cyber criminals are not your run-of-the-mill criminals. So don’t picturize them as high school dropouts or uneducated people. They could be very sophisticated when it comes to technology and this updated knowledge puts them in  a position to hack even the most robust cyber protection system.

    Using free WiFi at hotspots are an open invitation for cyber criminals to trap you in their fraud plans. Consider installing safety mechanisms to prevent cell phone fraud at public hotspots.

    Don’t go crazy over apps

    Nowadays people are going crazy downloading apps of all sorts. Majority of us like to download the latest app, with little regard to the security issues that it may pose. Do not go overboard with apps as they are the most common route by which fraudsters gain access to your cell phone. Make sure you evaluate security certificates and tech reviews before downloading any app for your phone.

    In case of theft, take quick action

    Whenever your cell phone gets stolen or lost, make sure that you intimate your wireless provider without any delay. This ensures that the cell phone either gets locked down and prevents further access to sensitive details stored on your phone. Some wireless providers may also offer remote access clean up services as well. Your cell phone can be wiped clean of all the data stored within it by using remote access.

    Never be careless while conducting financial transactions

    Financial transactions must be conducted with a lot of care on your cell phone. Never ever save the bank passwords on the phone and also remember to logout of the bank website after your transaction is over. Exercise similar caution when paying online using credit cards or PayPal accounts.

    Simple steps like these will go a long way toward ensuring protection from the most common cell phone frauds. Be safe!

    Click here to compare cell phone plans — free phones with select offers

  • How To Lower Your Cell Phone Bill Every Month

    By Kavita

    I am sure the title of this post already got you excited and motivated, not just about reading this post but also about implementing strategies in response to your question: How to lower your cell phone bill every month. This is certainly an item that is making quite a dent in the monthly budget for many people, especially in the US.

    Communicating, talking and keeping in touch with friends, family and acquaintances is not something that you can consider as a luxury. So you really cannot avoid incurring such heavy costs, all in the name of keeping in touch with near and dear ones. But that does not mean that you should give up on your efforts to find effective ways to cut back your monthly cell phone expenses. Here are some tips to get you going.

    Click here to compare low cost cell phone plans. Save more, pay less, enjoy the extras life has to offer.

    Check if you are paying too much

    We all need to pay as much as we use, but sometimes that is not the case. Just do a quick check on your usage and see if your current plan is really something that you need. Your current plan may be charging you for a certain amount of calls, text messages and data usage and so on. But are you actually using that much? Check the usage pattern for the last three months and you will know exactly how much you tend to use on each of these features.

    If you think there are certain features that you can cut back on, or you do not use as much your plan charges you for, then you need to select a plan that costs a bit lesser than the previous one and thus save money in the process. Chances are that you may end up shaving at least $20- $30 from your monthly cell phone bill by selecting a cheaper plan.

    Choose the prepaid option

    Prepaying for the service that you anticipate to use is by far the most fool proof method to control your expenses. But there are two important facts to be considered here. First, you need to have a clear idea about your usage pattern in order to match the prepaid amount with your anticipated usage. Second, you need to be strictly disciplined about not overshooting your budget each month.

    Prepaid cell phones work like magic and transfer the control over your cell phone budget, from the cell phone company, into your hands. You can choose a specific amount of money to prepay your cell phone usage and then continue using this amount for the entire month.

    This method will succeed only if you are committed to stretch the prepaid amount (that is obviously half of your current cell phone bills) across the entire month. If you use the prepaid amount irresponsibly and then end up topping up your phone with additional amounts throughout the entire month, whenever the prepaid amount is over, then it will serve no benefits.

    So the magic lies in both disciplining your use and keeping a hawk’s eye on your usage pattern and your monthly plan.

    We hope you found our article “How To Lower Your Cell Phone Bill Every Month” useful. Please let us know in the comments.

    Click here to compare low cost cell phone plans. Save more, pay less, enjoy the extras life has to offer.

  • Three Ways To Lower Your Cell Phone Bill Quickly

    Nowadays, an average family of four can expect to see their total cell phone bill amounts in three figures. Believe me, that is really not a welcome sight to behold. Paying $ 180-200 each month for your cell phone is a serious matter that calls for immediate preventive measures.

    This post attempts to look at three ways to lower your cell phone bill and hopefully you too can try one of them:

    If you are interested in comparing cell phone plans, you can review our cell phone packages as well

    Control your usage

    You will have to pay for services that you use; it is as simple as that. So, start monitoring your cell phone use. Your cell phone bill reflects a sum total of your call, text, and data charges. Find out which of these three are tipping the scales in favor of your cell phone company. Most probably, it must be your call charges and data usage.

    If it is your call charges that is creating a problem, consider using text to communicate whenever you can. The thing with voice calls is that you really cannot control the conversation fully as you would like to, without the risk of being labeled abrupt and rude by your near and dear ones. Unless it is very necessary, try texting instead of calling.

    If your data consumption is more, avoid using your cell phone for accessing the Internet altogether or else avoid watching movies and opening videos or sharing them via your cell phone. If you genuinely have to be online all the while, try to use your mobile only to do the ultra-necessary stuff. Socializing and entertaining yourself can be done on your computer at much cheaper costs.

    Go prepaid

    Prepaid is a word that often comes up when you want to save money or want to control costs. Choosing a prepaid cell phone will reduce your cell phone bills by at least 20-40 %. But a word of warning is necessary here. You cannot lower your cell phone bill by merely switching to prepaid; you have to use it responsibly as well.

    What is the point of switching to a prepaid cell phone, if you cannot control your usage? After all, prepaid only means paying in advance for the cell phone usage charges that is anticipated

    Little things add up fast

    If you have teenaged children who are using cell phones in your household, chances are that they do not think twice before changing their ringtones, once in every three days. When they do such things, you end up footing the bill for new ringtone downloads. Set a rule that curbs unnecessary waste of money in this area and let the teens know they could try cheaper/cost free options instead. They can always record their favorite music tracks or ringtones on their cell phone and later use the file and set it as their ringtone. This way, they can keep changing their ringtones each day and you also end up saving a few dollars.

    If you are interested in comparing cell phone plans, you can review our cell phone packages as well

  • How Can I Pay My Phone Bill Online

    By Kavita

    The Internet has made things quite comfortable and convenient for all of us. How else would we enjoy the freedom of shopping online from the comfort of our bedrooms or get a glimpse of the entire world sitting in our living rooms? With passing time, people are eager to get more and more things done from home. Paying phone bills is definitely one of those things.

    But not everyone who wants to pay their phone bills online knows how to get this done. Here in this post, we will discuss in detail two processes involved in paying phone bills online. The first one deals with the procedure of paying phone bills via your bank account and the other one deals with paying them via your phone service provider.

    Click here to compare phone plans, including flat rate unlimited long distance plans

    If you are interested in comparing cell phone plans, you can review our cell phone packages as well

    Setting up an auto-payment facility via your bank account

    Your bank account can be set up to automate payments to your phone company or any other utility company. Most of the banks offer a service known as online bill pay service. This service will help with making payments at your behest to the company of your choice. You will need to enter the details of the phone company, its address, the bill amount, bill number, your account number, and other similar details. The bank will do the rest.

    It will transfer the amount that you have instructed by electronic transfer if the phone company is using the same bank network as your bank. If it uses a different bank, then your bank will arrange to send a check for the specified amount to the phone company.

    It always helps to be doubly sure when you issue standing instructions like these to your bank. First, make sure that your payee (your phone company) has put in specific guidelines pertaining to this online payment facility. The usual problem is that the check that is printed is done by the online bill pay service. But most of the phone companies will provide a different address that is dedicated for receiving such checks.

    (How can I pay my phone bill online — this article was posted in response to a user’s question on our website)

    Setting up auto-payment via your phone company

    You can arrange for auto payment of your monthly phone bills via your phone company. For this you will need to provide the phone company with a voided check and one or two forms, together with written authorization for deducting payments from your bank account. This process is commonly known as ACH debit.

    The benefit with this method is that once you complete the requisites and formalities for this procedure, you do not have to worry about sending a check each month to your phone company. The bill amount for each corresponding month will be automatically debited without any intervention from you or your bank.

    It is highly recommended that you set up an automated online payment system for your phone bills, because you do not have to keep the payment date in mind and there is no risk of incurring a late payment charge in case you forget the due date.

    Click here to compare phone plans, including flat rate unlimited long distance plans

    If you are interested in comparing cell phone plans, you can review our cell phone packages as well

  • Phone Bill Reduction Strategies: How To Lower Your Phone Bill

    By Kavita

    Most of us have our own monthly budgets in place. Any disturbance in a single item on this budget can often make everything go haywire. Those who have made and planned their monthly budgets each month will agree how volatile the phone bills can get sometimes. Often it jeopardizes the entire monthly budget, forcing people to adjust the excess amount spent on phone bills by cutting back on something else.

    No wonder everyone welcomes the idea of having effective phone bill reduction strategies in place. Let us take a look at some of the commonly used strategies that have been proven to show results.

    Click here to compare phone plans, including flat rate unlimited long distance plans

    If you are interested in comparing cell phone plans, you can review our cell phone packages as well

    Take a look at your average usage

    Every home has a different pattern of usage when it comes to phones. Some folks have a lot of relatives who stay out of state or sometimes even out of the country (in case of immigrants), while others are lucky enough to have their near and dear ones residing close by in the neighborhood or at least within the same state.

    Some people have a lot of calls to be made during the day, while others may have to make calls during the evenings or maybe at night. Some people have a huge share of their contacts using cell phones, while others may have contacts with home phones.

    All these factors can have a huge impact on the monthly phone bill and if any effective strategy has to be discovered for a particular family, then it has to begin with their phone usage pattern.

    A look at your phone bills for the last six months can provide a fair idea of your pattern and based on that you should talk to your phone company. Most of the phone companies have a variety of packages, meant to accommodate the various needs of their users. Let the company executives find a package that is most economical for your usage pattern.

    Ask for a better deal

    Sometimes you may find that you are already using a plan that is best suited to your usage pattern. In such a case, make it very clear to your phone company that you are looking around for a better deal and will not hesitate to dump them if you find another company with better rates. This is a strategy that works most of the time, because no company wants to let go of its existing subscribers.

    Consider streamlining your usage

    If your usage pattern indicates that you have been making too many calls in a “costlier time zone,” then you should consider streamlining your usage. See if you can shift some of the calls into a time when the calls are priced comparatively lower. You may also want to cut back on some of the unnecessary calls. If you speak for longer durations when you call your folks, you can try and time your calls on days that offer subsidized rates like national holidays.

    Mostly a combination of disciplined phone usage and request for better priced deals should work in your favor and get your phone bills much reduced.

    Go VoIP

    These days, a number of phone companies have launched alternate versions that include unlimited calling — local, long distance, and even international. These packages are much cheaper than traditional phone lines, primarily because the calls are routed via the Internet. VoIP is often considered an extremely low cost alternative to traditional phones.

    Click here to compare phone plans, including flat rate unlimited long distance plans

    If you are interested in comparing cell phone plans, you can review our cell phone packages as well

  • How To Get A Cell Phone With Bad Credit: Don’t Worry If You Have Been Turned Down

    By Kavita

    Going through life, labeled as the bad guy/gal (at least from a credit perspective) is not an easy thing. If there is anything more difficult than that, then it is living your life with a bad credit. Bad credit can present hurdles and obstacles to a whole lot of things, and after a while you begin to notice that your choices become very limited and often you cannot purchase what you really want to.

    One such example is a cell phone. It is no longer considered as a luxury in most parts of the world, but your bad credit could be the number one reason that may be keeping you away from this necessity of modern life. You still have a chance to get a cell phone with bad credit, though, provided you try one of the following tips:

    Click here to compare cellular phone plans

    Compare and contrast

    Not all cell phone companies are equal. Some of them may have more stringent rules regarding credit history, while there are others that are willing to bend the rules a little. A good way to find out is to check our cell phone offers and see which of these have a lower credit criterion and then apply accordingly.

    Go prepaid

    Prepaid cell phones are a real boon for people who are struggling to get a cell phone with bad credit. Prepaid phones are quite simple and make it very easy for you to manage your monthly phone bill costs as well. So, you do not run the risk of overshooting your budget and financial resources and then having to resort to credit to fund the bill payment.

    Prepaid cell phones allow you to decide a certain amount such as $20 or $50 and you get a recharge for this amount at pre-determined periods of time. You are free to use your prepaid cell phone as long as your recharge balance is within the prepaid amount. As soon as you use up all your prepaid credit, you will have to either stop using your cell phone any further (until your next recharge) or top it up again with an amount that is both affordable and convenient to you.

    Pay a deposit to compensate for your bad credit

    This is another option for you if you are desperate to get a cell phone with bad credit. If you want to stick to a contract because your cell phone usage is very high, but your bad credit does not allow you to do so, you have an option of paying a certain amount of money as a deposit to leverage the bad credit. Usually phone costs are quite subsidized when you opt for a cell phone contract, in comparison to prepaid phones, which are more expensive.

    Many people with bad credit are of the opinion that putting down a deposit to circumvent this situation is mostly doable and acceptable, rather than having to pay more for prepaid cell phones and still be restricted when it comes to cell phone usage.

    Click here to compare free cell phone plans

  • Improve Cell Phone Reception In Three Easy Steps

    By Kavita

    I am kind of paranoid about having to deal with lost or weak cell phone signals. Maybe those scary movies are to blame, where the hapless young actress is driving all alone at the middle of the night and suddenly her car breaks down. All she can do is to desperately try calling 911, but there is nothing remotely similar to a signal bar on her Cellphone screen and so on …

    You could always argue that such situations do not arise in ‘real’ life, but what about dealing with a weak or lost cell phone signal, when you desperately want to make that call? Yeah, I know you have dealt with those ‘scary’ moments quite a few times in your life, haven’t you? Well, here are three easy steps to improve your cell phone reception that you could try the next time around:

    Click here to compare free cell phone plans

    Get rid of the obstacles

    Most of us are unaware that there are a few things that can create a hindrance for proper cell phone reception. Getting rid of any such obstacles that are in the vicinity, may be the easiest step to improve reception of your cell phone.

    For starters, the building material used in construction of the premises where you are experiencing poor cell phone reception may be the culprit. Certain buildings are constructed by placing a Faraday cage within the structure.

    Though the actual intention of a Faraday cage is to deflect any static electricity, it can unintentionally deflect cell phone signals as well. If you are experiencing poor phone signal only when you are within the building premises, then chances are that its inbuilt Faraday cage is the hindrance. You will have to step outside the premises to improve cell phone reception in such a case

    Check if your battery is drained of charge

    Usually we do not care to charge our cell phone batteries, until it lets out a dying beep. But sometimes cell phones can make and receive calls on a very low level of battery charge, but this low level might be inadequate for searching and connecting to a signal. If that is the case, you will need to re-charge your battery immediately.

    Try installing a repeater

    If your cell phone is chronically disturbing the peace of your mind with its poor signal reception at your home, then you will need to invest in a repeater. This device is easily installed and has a power outlet and works by first collecting the poor incoming signals, followed by rebroadcasting of the signal and then relaying it to your cell phone. This leads to an overall amplification of the signal and now it is ready for optimum use.

    Sometimes, your cell phone may be the root cause for a poor signal reception. If none of the above three tips work, you should get your gadget checked by a professional. If there is a problem with your device, you need to get an updated model for better signal reception.

    Click here to compare free cell phone plans

  • Contract Versus Prepaid Phones: Which Option Works Better

    By Kavita

    The trend began to favor prepaid phones from 2009 itself, when reports suggested that almost 70% of new cell phone subscribers preferred to go for a prepaid connection. In 2012, reports declared that over 30% of all wireless users in the USA were using a prepaid connection.

    Click here to compare both contract and prepaid phone plans, including unlimited usage plans. Some plans offer free phones as a bonus.

    Why do people still prefer using contract phones?

    Despite the growing popularity of the prepaid version, there are many people who are still holding on dearly to their contract cell phone plans. There are certain benefits that they see in them and those are what keep them hooked.

    First, with a contract cell phone plan you do not have to worry about the phone bill amount. You already know how much to expect and that means a lot to some people. They simply cannot deal with the shocks of an inflated phone bill at the end of the month after they have finished using the services.

    Second, most of the cell phone companies offer discounted prices for cell phones when you agree to sign up for a long term contract (usually for a period of one to two years).

    Third, some folks love the credit facility that they enjoy with contract phones. They can use their phones all through the month and have to bother about paying the bill only after they have used the services.

    Fourth benefit people tend to get from using contract phones is that they might get a discount when they opt for an upgraded phone later on during the contract.

    Why do prepaid plans attract people?

    Prepaid plans are attractive to those who dislike being bound to yearly contracts. With a prepaid plan you are free to use and spend as and how much you want. The best advantage is that you are in total control over your cell phone expenses. You can top up your cell phone with exactly as much money that you are willing to spend on your phone expenses; not a single dollar more or less than that.

    Second, you can use it whenever you want a temporary connection. Many users love the freedom that these prepaid plans provide when on vacation. They can stay connected with friends and family even when out of the country on vacation without a contract cell phone plan.

    You need to pay only for the minutes you have utilized and you can always top your cell phone up if you need to use more.

    In general, it is better to go prepaid when your usage is a bit undisciplined and you tend to incur over usage charges each month when on a contract plan. Usually parents of teen kids understand the importance of this suggestion as they routinely have to put up with such overage fines on their kids’ phones.

    What’s better? These days, one can sign up for unlimited plans even on a prepaid option. This way you can bundle phone, text, and Web for a flat monthly rate. Best of both worlds!

    Click here to compare both contract and prepaid phone plans, including unlimited usage plans. Some plans offer free phones as a bonus.

  • How To Compare Wireless Phone Deals: Money Saving Tips

    In order to get the best deals for your phone and phone service, you need to know how to compare wireless phone deals. This process requires a lot more work than you may have expected.

    Wireless Plans

    For most people, a house phone is a thing of the past. With cell phone technology, you are able to use a cell phone for business purposes or for social reasons. In any event, you will need to have wireless service that you are able to depend on. In this instance, you should compare each wireless plan that is available in your area.

    Click here to compare wireless phone deals, including free phone offers

    Types of Plans

    With most wireless plans, there are three primary options. You will usually have the choice of:
    •    Single plans
    •    Family plans
    •    No contract plans

    Single Plans. Single plans are designed for an individual who does not need to add any other lines of service. Single plans are popular because they are much cheaper than many of the other options that are available. The reason why these plans are much cheaper than several of the others is because only one device is being covered for data, minutes, and text features.

    Family Plans. Family plans are ideal for people who plan to have phone service activated for multiple people within the same family or a small group that would share the package. Many people view these plans as being expensive, but family plans are a lot cheaper than purchasing a phone and phone service for each individual. These plans are also convenient for billing purposes. With a family plan, you will be able to compile the expenses for each device in one monthly bill.

    No Contract Plans. No contract plans are also referred to as prepaid plans. This is a convenient option for many people because there are no contracts involved. You will be able to put money on your cell phone account whenever you need it. Once the minutes have run out or expired, you will have to put more minutes on your account. Family plans that are available with no contract plans as well.

    Specifics of Service

    Once you have decided whether you will benefit more from a single, family or prepaid plan, you need to think about what you will be using the cell phone service for. Acknowledge all instances of phone use and use this information to help you find a plan that best fits your needs. Each plan comes with several different features, but the most frequently used features include:

    •    Data
    •    Minutes
    •    Storage
    •    Text messaging

    New Model Phones

    A lot of phone companies have special deals and rates on new model phones. Most phones that are newer models will be priced ridiculously high. A lot of newer model phones are priced at $500 or more, but there is a catch. You will not have to pay the entire amount of $500 or more if you agree to a one- or two-year contract with the wireless provider. If you agree to the terms and conditions that the wireless provider has outlined, you will more than likely be paying $100 or less for the newer model phone. Some plans even offer free phones as part of the deal.

  • Budget Cell Phone Plans To Save Money

    By Paul

    If you are looking to save money, why not start with the leaks? Most people pay more than they use on cell phone plans. The best way to save on your phone plans is to budget them.

    If you hurt on the inside every time you have to pay your bill, reconsider the services you are paying for. If you feel like you are overpaying and not using the services you are paying for, it’s time to change your phone plan. Additionally, if you are having trouble affording your bill, you need to budget your cell phone plan.

    Click here to compare budget cell phone plans

    Figure out your needs

    Sit with your family and jot down your requirements. Your requirements depend on how much you use your cell phone, how many calls and texts you make and receive as well as your data requirements. Moreover, according to your lifestyle and preferences, which phone do you want? All this depends on your social life and the type of job you have. Also, figure out how much you are willing to spend in a month.

    Prepaid or postpaid

    Figure out whether you need a prepaid or a postpaid package. When you use a prepaid service, you need to buy minutes beforehand. This gives you complete control of your bills. Prepaid plans generally have higher calling rates. Prepaid is great for people who want to limit their budget as you can only spend the amount you have charged.

    Post paid plans let you call whenever you want and pay the bill at the end of the month. Since this service is based on credit, a credit check is required before they let you become a postpaid customer. Most postpaid plans have a 24-month contract. These plans tend to offer the best rates on subsidized cellular phones.

    Choosing the right plan

    Once you have figured out whether you want to go for prepaid or postpaid, it’s time to choose the right plan. According to your needs, figure which options you need to keep and what you can get rid of. If you text a lot, you should go for a package that offers unlimited messages. If you have wi-fi on your phone and an internet connection at home and at the office, you do not need a data stream plan. Remember, if you are not going to use it all you don’t need it all.
    Try to make another list of things that you want but can live without.

    Now that you know what you need and what you can afford you can shortlist the plans that are available to you. Now compare the rates they are offering and choose the provider who is willing to give you what you want in the least amount of money.

    It may take a little while to decide on what you want, but for the next twenty-four months you’ll be fully satisfied with your decision.