This post comes from partner site WhistleOut.com.
Did you know that most cellphone plans don’t lock you into a contract anymore? Gone are the days where you’re stuck with the same cellphone carrier for two years, unless you’re willing to pay hundreds of dollars in early termination fees. These days it’s easy to switch, and in many cases you can save yourself a lot of money by doing so.
1. Access to special deals
The biggest benefit to switching cellphone providers is getting access to the latest deals and promotions. Carriers are offering special deals on cellphone plans and phones all the time — and most of these are only available to customers who switch from another carrier. We’ve seen free phone plans, buy-one-get-one-free cellphone deals and other substantial discounts offered — all because carriers are trying to lure customers from their competitors.
2. A better cellphone plan for your dollar
If you’ve been on the same cellphone plan for years, it’s likely your plan is outdated and you’re not getting the best value for your money. Carriers change their cellphone plans quite regularly in order to stay competitive in the market — offering more data, higher speeds and bigger discounts. If you’re on an outdated cellphone plan, you’ll probably be able to find a better plan that offers more high-speed data and other benefits at the same or even lower price.
3. Extra add-ons with newer plans
In addition to calling and data, cellphone plans commonly offer other attractive perks to entice new customers. Some of Sprint’s plans now offer free Hulu service, AT&T offers a free live TV streaming service and on-demand TV shows and movies, and T-Mobile adds a Netflix subscription to eligible plans. Not only are carriers offering free entertainment packages like these, but they’re also adding travel benefits to their plans. Sprint and T-Mobile both include free international roaming, while Verizon’s higher-tier plan includes five days of international roaming for free each month!
What if I’m paying off my phone?
As mentioned earlier, most cellphone plans don’t lock you into a contract anymore, so you won’t need to pay early termination fees if you switch carriers. However, if you’re still paying for your phone through monthly installments (i.e., equipment installment plan) then you’ll still need to pay your remaining balance. This can deter a lot of people from switching carriers, but there is an option for you to switch carriers without being stuck with a huge final bill.
Sprint currently has a “Clean Slate” program that offers up to $550 when you switch to help pay for any termination fees and remaining phone payments. You’ll need to trade in your current cellphone to receive this credit, but Sprint has a variety of cellphone deals available when you switch.
How do I switch?
Switching carriers is easy! Simply find a plan that’s right for you, sign up with your new carrier, and they’ll do the rest. Make sure you don’t cancel your current cellphone plan if you want to keep your existing phone number. Your new carrier will port your number over from your old carrier, and your account will be closed once that happens. If you close your account before your number has been ported over to your new carrier, you risk losing your phone number.
Are you happy with the cellphone plan you have? Share with us in comments below or on our Facebook page.
More from WhistleOut:
Add a Comment
Our Policy: We welcome relevant and respectful comments in order to foster healthy and informative discussions. All other comments may be removed. Comments with links are automatically held for moderation.