It can be quite overwhelming to decide on the best phone plan since there are a myriad of them out there. Depending on the person, it is very possible to make some wrong decisions regarding the plan and end up with a plan that you can barely afford.
Well, fear not—this article is designed to walk you through it without steering you into clichéd blunders. Now let us discuss common pitfalls that many people encounter when selecting a phone plan and how you can avoid them.
Not Considering Your True Consumption
Unfortunately, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is not keeping track of how much time you spend on your phone. To do this it is important to know your average use of data, number of minutes you spent on calls and how many messages you send in a particular month.
Some people deliberately submit higher usage than they actually use or deliberately state lower usage than they consume, and this often makes them get a wrong plan that is either too costly or insufficient for their usage.
To prevent this, look at your past few phone bills or check the usage statistics if your carrier gives them. This way you will be able to have a general view of your average monthly consumption. Knowing your requirements will enable you to select the right plan, without including extra services which are unnecessary. You can check mobilabonnement.com/mobilabonnement-for-bedrift if you have more questions about the topic.
Ignoring Coverage Maps
The most important element to consider with any phone plan is coverage. There could be a deal on a plan you like, but if the carrier doesn’t offer good coverage in your area, then it is useless. One common mistake, for instance, is that many people fail to look at the coverage maps before subscribing to a new plan. This way they end up with a low-quality plan and that leaves them frustrated.
It is always advisable to review the carrier’s coverage map to be certain the service will be strong in your home, workplace, and other areas you frequently go. If you travel frequently within certain regions, the carrier should also have strong service coverage in those areas.
Not Considering Often Hidden Costs
Unfortunately, with phone plans, one can easily be fooled by the price displayed and fail to look at the other charges that come with the plan. Initially, every plan seems to be cheap, but hidden fees like activation fees, early termination fees, taxes, and surcharges may inflate the price drastically high.
To ensure this is not the case, always pay attention to the small details and further ask the carrier to explain all the possible charges that can be incurred. Ensure you determine the total cost of the plan and if there are any other extra charges that may be incurred. This way, it is possible to avoid situations where you have to deal with a bill that is much higher than expected.
Falling for Unlimited Data Without Understanding Throttling
The thought of having the chance to use as much data as you wish is rather enticing; however, it is worth knowing that the majority of the plans offering unlimited data come with throttling options once a specific data amount is used. Throttling essentially involves seeing your mobile internet speeds drop considerably and rendering tasks such as streaming and browsing much more difficult.
As with all things dealing with the internet, there may be some limitations regarding the speed or amount of data used with an unlimited data plan. So, to find out whether throttling exists and at what stage, always read the small print.
If you frequently use large amounts of data, ensure that the throttling limit is sufficiently high enough not to affect your usage. If you do not consume a large amount of data, it may be more beneficial to take a limited data connection that is fast. Read more here.
Not Considering Family Plans
If, for example, your household includes several people who require phone services, failing to consider family plans can be a huge mistake. Family plans involve multiple lines that come with shared data, minutes, and text that are usually offered at cheaper prices than individual lines. It can, in fact, be less expensive than if everyone had to purchase their own plan on their own.
While comparing family plans, consider the total cost per month, available data share options, and other facilities and promotions that a company offers in case one is adding more lines. It was established that family plans, in many cases, can cost much less.
Not Paying Attention to International Calling & Roaming Requirements
If you travel outside your home country or have friends or family members outside that country, ignoring international calling and roaming requirements will cost you a fortune. Often, these requirements are overlooked in the selection of a plan, and customers end up paying much more for calls to other countries or having to use data when traveling.
Check which tariffs allow for options of international calls and roaming. Many companies have a list of special international calling and texting rates as well as cheap roaming tariffs for those destinations. Planning ahead can save you a lot of money and hassle.
Forgetting to Factor in Device Costs
Often, when considering the monthly subscription price for a plan, it is easy to overlook the initial price of the device. The cost of the device whether purchased at full price or subsidized through the carrier’s payment plan can be another major expense.
While selecting your phone plan you should also think about how you want to get your phone paid off. Some carriers even have promotions for phones if you decide to switch to a new plan, while others may let you use your own device. This makes sure that you are able to see the cost of ownership, including the device, in order to further understand your expenses.
Failure to Fully Avail the Benefit of Promotions and Discounting
To get more customers different carriers often provide promotions and discounts. This may be in the form of initial low monthly costs or charges, no activation fees, or free devices. Failing to exploit these promotions means that consumers are likely to lose out on great opportunities to save big.
It’s always advisable to review any available promotions or a discount every time you select a plan. You might discover that a competitor is offering a better deal. Take note of the frequency of the promotional periods and be prepared to change if there is a better offer available.
Neglecting the Role of Customer Service
It’s evident that good customer service can go a long way in case you experience challenges with your phone plan. Some individuals fail to appreciate the need for customer service and often find themselves frustrated whenever they do not get assistance at their time of need.
Check the customer service track record of the carriers of your choice. Check the reviews and ratings to see how the other customers have been treated by the company. Selecting a carrier with the best customer relations department can help one avoid unnecessary troubles in future.
Ignoring Plan Flexibility
We can all agree that your needs change with time and failure to consider this in a plan can become frustrating. Some plans restrict you to certain long-term contracts, which will attract outrageously high cancellation fees if you wish to change a plan midway through the year.
Specifically search for flexible plans that include no-contract or month to month plans. These plans give you the flexibility to modify your service as needed without facing steep costs. This is particularly useful if you anticipate your usage to increase or decrease in the near future.
