|
New Page 1
|
 |
Gotta Cell Phone? Tired Of Being Treated Like Crap By Your Current Cellular Service? Don't Make A Move Until November '03!!! (Here's Why.) Plus: Summer's Almost Here...Check Out Ben's Trustworthy Mechanic Tips That Could Save You Major $$$
June 19, 2003
|
Dear Ben: I heard you mention something on your radio show last weekend about cell phone number portability. What exactly does this mean to me?
Chris in Thousand Oaks, CA
Dear Chris: It's great news for consumers, but probably not-so-great for the cell phone industry. A U.S. Court of Appeals recently ruled that a Federal Communications Commission order requiring "portability"-meaning you can switch cell phone service providers and take your number with you-is "permissible and reasonable."
In other words, millions of cell phone users are going to be able to take their numbers with them when they jump cell phone carriers! It's terrific news for consumers because it'll (finally!) give us leverage, and the ability to jump ship and ditch cell phone companies that subject us to poor coverage, high rates and/or lousy customer service! About 45 out of 140 million cell phone customers change carriers every year, with experts estimating that another 12-15 million frustrated cell phone users would "jump" if they could keep their same phone number.
As a result of this newest competitive threat I'll bet (okay, I'm hoping) we'll see one or more of the following from our friends running the cellular phone companies:
- An improvement in cell phone coverage/service.
- An improvement in customer service.
- More competitive rate plans.
- An increased willingness to "deal"...with more incentives from the cell phone companies wanting to keep us as one of their happy customers. (Easier new phone upgrades and other perks.)
- Aggressive campaigns encouraging cell phone users to take their phone numbers and jump to the competition.
The potential downside to this expected wave of consumer-friendly news? Be careful and on the lookout for more pressure to lock you into longer-term contracts as they try to keep you (and your precious cell phone number) from jumping to the competition.
By the way: The cell phone industry is supposed to be ready for "portability" by this Thanksgiving (actually, the Monday before)...a mere 158 days from now.
Dose of Dover For The Week: Make sure you really understand a "deal" before you jump on it; assume nothing. Just because you hear companies advertising "brake jobs" for your vehicle at an incredibly-affordable price, don't believe everything you hear. Listen (or read) closely to all of the disclaimers their ads are loaded with before you bite...and make absolutely sure you get a written quote AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS before you agree to leave your vehicle for servicing. I assure you that their lawyers have carefully crafted their message and are ready to bring this point to your attention the moment you get a bill for as much as 400% (or more) higher than you bargained for. I've saw a case recently involving a consumer that was more than clueless about what she'd authorized the repair shop to do...and I suspect she's still stinging from the $700 lesson she got as a result.
as long as we're focusing on car-related stuff-and since summer "officially" begins in two days-remember the toll that hot Texas summers take on your ride. If you've got a car battery that's more than 2 years old, don't be surprised when your schedule's rudely interrupted by a dead battery. I don't care how long the battery is "designed for," the battery manufacturers want you to be a repeat customer and are happy to trade in your old battery for warranty credit towards your new battery. It's the way they play their game. Check out my car maintenance tips that'll help you minimize (or maybe even avoid) the financial impact of an un-scheduled trip to the garage. And since many of you are having to jump through the new emissions-testing hoops for the first time, this means you're also potentially exposed to unnecessary repairs if your car happens to "fail." (And I'll bet you didn't know your car might be eligible for an exemption if it can't pass!) Knowledge is always your best defense: www.bendover.com/mechanic.asp.
|
|
|
|
|
