Phoning It In /
Phoning It In
D
Finance
Maybe you keep a sharp eye on your utility bills. But have you been turning a blind eye to your mobile bill?
o you know if your current plan is working for you?
Data roaming overseas and excess usage charges are two areas that often contribute to bill shock. “The main reason people spend too much on mobile bills is they are not using a plan that fits their usage habits and needs in the first place.” The market changes frequently and people can often benefit by switching plans. “The same phone plan that someone got a couple of years ago could easily cost 30-50 per cent less today,” he says. Here are some ways to make sure your plan is serving you well.
How do you use your mobile?
Get to know your mobile usage. How many calls do you make each month; do you mostly call landlines or other mobiles; do you make international calls; do you use a lot of data or download music or videos? If your plan includes some data and you overestimate your usage you won’t use it up and if you underestimate you may end up paying for excess data.
Do you have a phone or do you need to buy one with your plan?
Could a pre-paid plan work for you?
A new handset can increase the ongoing cost of your mobile plan and lock you into a contract for 24 to 36 months. Consider buying a new phone outright if you need a new one and check if it is locked to a particular network.
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If you don’t use your phone much or make lots of calls sporadically, it might be cheaper to go for a pre-paid plan. You can easily keep tabs on your call credit status and some plans will let you roll over any unused call credits for up to 12 months. Even if you BYO handset it is possible to get a post-paid SIM-only plan. Many offer unlimited calls and texts within Australia as standard and often they have extra data compared to a pre-paid plan.
| WWW.PROBUSSOUTHPACIFIC.ORG
