Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Forbes Living and How to Avoid Cell Cramming Charges



Cell phone users may find some line items on their monthly bills which do not look right or are small in cost.  Some of these charges are “cramming” charges that the provider adds to the bill seemingly without the customer’s permission. Forbes Living has some info on how to avoid cell phone cramming charges.

Cramming is the practice of placing misleading or unauthorized charges on a consumer's cell phone bill. These charges used to show up on landline phone bills. Now they are showing up on cell bills. So what can one do to avoid getting them and how does one get rid of them?

  • Read the bill closely every time when it arrives and even if the bill is paid directly from another account.
  • Read the fine print carefully before signing up for any cell service.
  • Don’t enter cell phone numbers online unless it is with a known, respected company.
  • If a charge is on the bill for something not recognizable, call the carrier right away. Don’t wait because some companies have a short window for refunds.
  • Ask the carrier if it has a blocking service for cramming. It should be free.
  • Pay attention to the smaller charges. Most crammers try to go for the $1.99 to $2.99 charges. Refute these and insist on a credit on the next bill if already paid.
  • Still getting charged by crammers and not getting help from the cell provider? File a formal complaint with the FCC.
  • Forbes Living suggests prepaid phone users keep an eye on their minutes. If there are cramming charges, they will deducted from the total minutes per month.

Go online and review the bill before the next billing cycle. This is the best time to do it.



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