Things to Consider Before You Sign a Cell Phone Contract
Cell phone contracts are quickly becoming a part of everyday life. Many people may never take the time to read all the legal jargon that fills the pages of a cell phone contract. Yet, there are a few items to consider before you slap your John Hancock down on the dotted line and commencing playing with your new toy. Some of these items consist of:
What are the early termination conditions ? Knowing how, when, and what constitutes early termination can go a long way to saving yourself cell phone bill headaches. Many cell phone contracts have ways for you to break your contract, yet there are often heavy fees associated with breaking your contract. The little known fact is that there are ways to break a contract without having to deal with these hefty fees. Before you sign the dotted line, be sure to ask what contract breaks come with fines, and what ways are a free out.
Duration of the contract . The most common cell phone contracts span two years. These contracts are most often tied to Smartphones that come with subsidized pricing. Things like the $200 iPhone are an example here. Yet, you can get one year and no contract cell phone plans as well. You may pay more for the cell phone up front, but you are not locked into a contract for two long agonizing years.
What does the company guarantee ? As sad as it may seem, cell phone service is not always guaranteed. If you read the fine print in your contract, you may find that a company only guarantees a percentage of up time. You will also find that cell phone companies don’t guarantee that your phone will work in every area you travel to. It’s key to know what your cell phone provide guarantees as this can be what stops you from being reimbursed on your bill if you happen to lose service.
International Charges . This may not be for everyone, but knowing what the cell phone company charges for international usage is necessary for those heavy travelers. Those of you who sit close to your countries borders need to be weary of this a swell. Often times, data charges skyrocket if you happen to connect to a tower in another country. Even if that tower is just across the street. Many cell phone companies have international plans for those who travel, but they are expensive.
Roaming . Yeah, there are still times you maybe roaming. Though this is not something customers even consider anymore, it is still in your cell phone contract. A cell phone provider can actually drop you as a customer if you spend too much time making phone calls while roaming. While you are setting up your new contract, be sure to find out what the company considers roaming territory.
Cell phone contracts maybe long, boring, and hard to understand, but that is what customer service is there for. These are but a few items you should consider asking about before you agree to any contract.
