Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Some Things to Look at before You Sign a Wireless Contract

Many cell phone companies are offering attractive mobile phone plans to encourage people to hire their services. For example, a few major wireless carriers just announced that they are now offering plans that provide unlimited calling texting. However, before you can enjoy this great wireless plan benefits you must sign a wireless contract.

The benefits and promotions that go with some postpaid wireless plans are tempting but there a few things you need to look at before you sign your name on the dotted line. Keep in mind that a contract will keep you locked into a plan and carrier for at least a year so you have to choose a plan that wont give you regrets.

One of things you need to focus on before you sign a wireless contract is the trial period. Wireless carriers usually grant their customers a trial period before they commit to a certain wireless contract. You should use this time to judge if the device or the features of a wireless plan fit your lifestyle and your budget.

You should also keep an eye on the activation fee before you commit to a wireless contract. Long term contracts usually have less expensive activation fees than contracts that last only for a year. You can also generally get more discounts on a long term contract but there also some risks involved. Since the you will be stuck with a plan for a long time, you may also spend more in repairs and other expenses. You will also have to spend more time being stuck with an unwanted contract if it turns out that your lifestyle does not match your wireless plan.

Looking at your usage patterns is also a good idea before you sign on the dotted line. If you want to save money then you should make sure that the wireless plan you choose will match your usage pattern. If you sign a wireless contract that does not match your needs then you might find yourself paying a costly monthly fee. You might even discover that you don't need to sign a contract after a careful examination of your usage pattern. A prepaid wireless plan that does not require a contract might be more suitable for your calling practices.

You should also look at the the penalties or fees that are attached to a contract. The biggest fee that you can incur is probably the early termination or the penalty you incur for canceling a contract before the contract term expires. It would probably be smarter to go for a contract with a prorated termination fee so that you won't be forced to pay the full amount if you have only finished a few months of your contract term.

These are just some of the factors that you need to look into before you sign a mobile phone contract. It is always important to examine every angle before you make a decision. Asking questions is also a good idea as well as comparing the offers. I hope that this post gave you some useful info and insights. I also hope that you'll be able to sign on a wireless contract that will fit your needs.

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