Tracking Wireless Charges Can Help Customers Lower Cell Phone Bills
The days of sticker shock at your cell phone bill may be coming to an end, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.
On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission announced it's considering a plan to alert wireless customers of unusually large cell phone bills - for instance, if one month you take a vacation and accumulate roaming charges that aren't covered by your regular plan, your provider will need to let you know before your bill arrives.
It's a move that could certainly save cell customers some change. But why wait? You have the power to keep track of - and prevent - such high bills. All you have to do is keep closer tabs on your account.
No, you don't have to write down every text or call. Your wireless provider does that for you - and it should all be available for you to view online. If you haven't already, maybe it's time you set up an online account so you can check the state of your cell phone bill before it arrives in the mail. That way, when you notice charges piling up, you can take action - say, by cutting back on texts or Internet usage, or by turning that roaming phone off when traveling.
Want to save even more money? Apply the same theory to the rest of your finances. Not sure how close you are to exceeding your credit limit? Think there's a possibility there might not be enough in your bank account to cover the check you're about to write? You don't need to hope and guess and risk insufficient funds fees or credit damage - not when you can find out for sure! Simply go online or call the number on your bank or credit card statement, and you'll see exactly where your balance stands.
If you check up on your finances on a regular basis, pretty soon you won't have to wonder. You'll get a good sense of the what, when, where and why of your spending - all helpful in creating a budget that actually works. And another thing - keeping close tabs on your accounts ensures you'll catch any new activity, where it's an error, a new fee or even identity theft.
Bottom line: don't be afraid to get up-close-and-personal with your finances. In the end, you're the one ringing up charges - and you're the one who has to pay for them. And if you don't like where your finances are headed, it's up to you to change direction. Fortunately, bankruptcy can help you do it. Want to find out if bankruptcy can lower stubborn debts and put you on the path to financial freedom? Sign up for a free one-on-one debt analysis with one of our Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys.