This week, the Office of the Attorney General\u2019s \u201cConsumer Caution Corner\u201d outlines the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s guidance on how owners of mobile phones can best protect themselves from unexpected high bills levied by their mobile phone providers.<\/p>\n
Overage charges and fees on your mobile phone bill can be tough to swallow, especially when they are unexpected and result from usage patterns you thought were safe within your plan. The FCC wants to help you avoid \u201cbill shock.\u201d<\/p>\n
Following this simple checklist should help:<\/p>\n
Step #1: Understand your usage pattern for voice calls<\/strong> \u2022 Will I use the phone frequently or for emergencies only? Step #2: Understand your plan options for data and text<\/strong> Step #3: Ask your carrier how you can avoid bill shock<\/strong> Step #4: Consider a pre-paid plan<\/strong> Step #5: Understand where you may incur roaming fees<\/strong> Step #6: Plan before traveling internationally<\/strong> See the FCC\u2019s consumer guide on International Roaming: Using Your Mobile Phone in Other Countries, available at www.fcc.gov\/consumers\/guides\/international-roaming-using-your-mobile-phone-other-countries.<\/p>\n Filing a complaint<\/strong> Federal Communications Commission Consumer Help Center<\/strong> Each week, the OAG\u2019s Consumer Protection Education Program shares Federal Trade Commission and\/or FCC publications that provide consumers and businesses with the \u201cknow-how\u201d to identify and protect themselves from unfair trade practices and marketplace schemes. If you would like to file a consumer complaint, please pick up a form at the OAG (on Capital Hill) or request one by email from consumer_counsel@cnmioag.org. After completing the consumer complaint, please submit it by email or in-person. <\/p>\n We cannot act as your private attorney. If you need legal assistance, we will recommend that you contact a private attorney or legal aid organization. We cannot give legal advice or act as your private attorney. Michael J. Cyganek (Special to the Saipan Tribune)<\/strong><\/p>\n Michael J. Cyganek is consumer counsel of the Office of the Attorney General.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This week, the Office of the Attorney General\u2019s \u201cConsumer Caution Corner\u201d outlines the Federal Communications…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[16641,6661,6015,86],"class_list":["post-251542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-opinion","tag-consumer-help-center","tag-fcc","tag-federal-communications-commission","tag-oag"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=251542"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/251542\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=251542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=251542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=251542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nWhen setting up your plan options, ask yourself:<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Do I call at all times or mainly days, evenings, or weekends?
\n\u2022 Are most of my calls local? Regional? Nationwide? Worldwide?
\n\u2022 Are most of my calls to a small number of friends and family, or do I call many different people?<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 If you have used data and text plans before\u2014enough to know your usage pattern\u2014talk to your service provider about the plan that will be best for you.
\n\u2022 If you are new to data and text, choose a plan that seems right and monitor your usage during the first few weeks to see if you are approaching your limit.
\n\u2022 If your data or text usage is high, consider an unlimited data plan option.<\/p>\n
\nOptions may include phone or text alerts, allowing you to monitor your account online or by giving you additional information.<\/p>\n
\nA pre-paid plan may help keep your phone bill in check. When you \u201cpre-pay\u201d for all your minutes, you will be unable to go over your set limit.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Make sure your phone\u2019s screen will alert you when you are roaming.
\n\u2022 Ask your service provider where network roaming is likely to occur with its service.<\/p>\n
\nIf you expect to take your phone outside the United States and use it for voice or data, including email, make sure to find out beforehand what charges your provider may apply.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 If you feel your phone bill is inaccurate and you are unable to resolve it with your service provider, you have multiple options for filing a complaint with the FCC:
\n\u2022 File a complaint online at https:\/\/consumercomplaints.fcc.gov
\n\u2022 By phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322); TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322) ; ASL: 1-844-432-2275
\n\u2022 By mail (please include your name, address, contact information, and as much detail about your complaint as possible):<\/p>\n
\nConsumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
\nConsumer Inquiries and Complaints Division
\n445 12th Street, S.W.
\nWashington, DC 20554<\/p>\n
\nFor more information on consumer issues, visit the FCC\u2019s Consumer Help Center at https:\/\/consumercomplaints.fcc.gov.<\/p>\n