How To Save Money On Your Telephone Bills

Added May 3, 2002 by Ilyce R. Glink

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Summary: The final installment in WGN's Money 101 segment shows how to save money on telephone bills. Telephone companies have a way of sneaking in new rate plans and fees when consumers aren't paying attention. Here are a few steps for avoiding those pitfalls and saving money on your bills.

WGN-TV Show Notes May 3, 2002

Anchors: It seems like phone bills always go in one direction -- up.

ANCHOR: But it doesn't have to be that way. Our WGN Money Saving Expert Ilyce Glink is here with our final Money 101 segment -- How to save money on your telephone bills.

GOOD MORNING.

ILYCE: WHEN I OPEN UP MY TELEPHONE BILLS EACH MONTH, I'M AMAZED AT HOW MUCH THEY ARE. ONE OF THE REASONS IT'S LIKE THAT IS THAT TELEPHONE COMPANIES HAVE A WAY OF SNEAKING IN NEW RATE PLANS AND FEES WHEN YOU'RE LEAST EXPECTING IT. THE BEST WAY TO KEEP A LID ON YOUR PHONE BILL IS TO STAY AWARE OF OTHER FEES AND PLANS THAT ARE BEING OFFERED. AT ...

MYRATEPLAN.COM

LONG-DISTANCE CELL PHONES AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE AND DISH TV

OTHER GOOD SITES

CONSUMER-ACTION.ORG POINT.COM LETSTALK.COM

ILYCE: MYRATEPLAN.COM, YOU CAN SAVE TIME AND MONEY BY RESEARCHING VARIOUS RATE PLANS FOR YOUR LONG-DISTANCE PLANS, WIRELESS, AND CELL PHONES, AS WELL AS SATELLITE AND DISH TV. OTHER GOOD RESEARCH SITES INCLUDE CONSUMER-ACTION.ORG, WHERE YOU CAN LEARN THE FINER POINTS OF READING YOUR PHONE BILL, AND POINT.COM, AND LETSTALK.COM WHERE YOU CAN COMPARE PHONE PLANS AND RATES.

ILYCE: WHAT I'VE FOUND IS THAT BY USING THIS INFORMATION, YOU CAN COMPARE WHAT COMPANIES ARE OFFERING WITH WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY PAYING.

COMPARISON SHOP TO SAVE 20 TO 40 % ON YOUR PHONE BILL

ILYCE: YOU MIGHT FIND THAT COMPARABLE PLANS FROM OTHER COMPANIES COULD SAVE YOU 20 TO 40 PERCENT ON YOUR PHONE BILL. THAT'S HUGE.

ILYCE: NOW COMES THE TOUGH PART. YOU'VE GOT TO CALL YOUR PHONE COMPANY, SATELLITE OR DISH TV PROVIDER OR CABLE COMPANY AND NEGOTIATE. THE GOOD NEWS IS, THEY'RE VERY RESPONSIVE TO COMPETITION.

NEGOTIATE FOR: FREE MINUTES LOWER RATES FREE SERVICES

ILYCE: YOU MAY RECEIVE A LOWER RATE, FREE MINUTES, REDUCED FEES, FREE SERVICES LIKE CALLER I-D OR CALL WAITING. IF THEY'RE NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPONSIVE TO YOUR RESEARCH, YOU MIGHT TELL THEM YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT LEAVING. THAT SHOULD PROD THEM INTO DOING SOMETHING FOR YOU.

ILYCE: REMEMBER, YOU'RE THE ONE BUYING THEIR SERVICES. IF AFTER DOING SOME SERIOUS NEGOTIATION YOU'RE NOT GETTING WHAT YOU WANT, VOTE WITH YOUR FEET, AND FIND SOMEONE NEW. I'VE GOT ALL THIS INFORMATION PLUS SOME MORE TIPS ON HOW TO LOWER YOUR PHONE BILL UP ON MY WEBSITE. AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN SAVING EVEN MORE MONEY, CHECK OUT ONE OF THE FREE PROGRAMS THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF CHICAGO IS HOSTING TODAY AS PART OF MONEY-SMART WEEK.

ILYCE: YOU CAN LOOK ON OUR WEBSITE WGNTV.COM OR I'VE GOT IT POSTED ON MY WEBSITE, THINKGLINK.COM AS WELL.

May 3, 2002

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