• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechMobile

You Can Cut Your Phone Bill—But You Don’t

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 11, 2016, 3:13 PM ET
Fackbook Acquires WhatsApp For $16 Billion
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - FEBRUARY 19: The Facebook and WhatsApp app icons are displayed on an iPhone on February 19, 2014 in San Francisco City. Facebook Inc. announced that it will purchase smartphone-messaging app company WhatsApp Inc. for $19 billion in cash and stock. (Photo illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Photo illustration by Justin Sullivan — Getty Images

There’s a good chance that you can save some money on your wireless bill. The trouble is, you haven’t done it—yet.

Up to 70% of Americans are paying too much for the cellular service, Consumer Reports found in a recent a survey obtained by Bloomberg. The reviews organization says that in some cases, customers are paying as much as $100 per phone line each month. However, with some savvy shopping, customers could cut their per-line costs down to $50 per month, according to the report.

Americans overpaying for cellular service is a two-fold issue, Consumer Reports told Bloomberg. For one, just 6% of wireless customers switch to another carrier, which suggests they aren’t shopping around to find better deals that may be available on other carrier networks. What’s worse, even if carriers offer better plans, they often won’t share those deals with their customers, according to the report.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

The wireless industry was once docile, with all four major carriers—Verizon (VZ), AT&T (T), Sprint (S), and T-Mobile (TMUS)—delivering similar plans and services. Several years ago, carriers often locked customers into two-year contracts. Device and plan pricing was nearly identical across carrier networks. Changing to other carriers also usually required switching numbers, which for many customers, was too much of a hassle for little gain.

Over the last few years, however, the wireless industry has become far more competitive, thanks in no small part to T-Mobile. The company, which dubbed itself the “Un-Carrier,” has shaken up the industry by announcing a rash of changes to its policies, including scuttling two-year contracts. The company also committed to paying off early termination agreements if customers switch to its service, and in a world of tiered data plans, T-Mobile offers a “Binge On” service allowing users stream as much content as they want from certain video services. Most recently, T-Mobile made another surprising announcement, saying that it would offer a buy-one-get-one sale on Samsung’s brand-new handset, the Galaxy S7.

Read more: Your Cable Bill Is Going Up In 2016

T-Mobile’s competitors have also made significant changes in the last few years. All four major carriers have nixed two-year contracts and now offer customers the option to pay for devices in monthly installments. Each carrier also sells handsets off-contract.

Meanwhile, they’ve actively targeted each other in ads, claiming to either have the best network, the best service, or fastest data speeds and offer special deals to steal customers from competitors. Indeed, the once-tame wireless industry has become vicious.

As wireless carriers morph their businesses by reducing rates and offering special, limited-time deals, Consumer Reports data suggests wireless customers are slow to react—and they’re paying for it. Part of the problem, Consumer Reports told Bloomberg, is that customers are not actively seeking out deals. And along the way, they’re letting too much cash go to carriers.

So, start watching your bill and looking for deals. It turns out that there’s money to be saved.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

sam altman
LawOpenAI
Meet the man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman: a 20-year-old AI doomer
By Juan Lozano, Lekan Oyekanmi and The Associated PressApril 13, 2026
2 hours ago
AI agents are acting like employees, but company structures still treat them like software
CommentaryOkta
AI agents are acting like employees, but company structures still treat them like software
By Dan MountstephenApril 13, 2026
3 hours ago
New drones are giving Ukraine a battlefield advantage and ravaging Russia’s oil industry
InnovationUkraine invasion
New drones are giving Ukraine a battlefield advantage and ravaging Russia’s oil industry
By Jason MaApril 13, 2026
3 hours ago
Anthropic caused panic that Mythos will expose cybersecurity weak spots, but one industry veteran says the real problem is fixing, not finding, them
CybersecurityTech
Anthropic caused panic that Mythos will expose cybersecurity weak spots, but one industry veteran says the real problem is fixing, not finding, them
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 13, 2026
5 hours ago
craig piggott
AIAgriculture
After growing up on a dairy farm, this Peter Thiel–backed founder is using AI to save cattle ranching
By Jake AngeloApril 13, 2026
6 hours ago
Luis Von Ahn points.
Workplace CultureLeadership
‘I’m not going to force you’: Duolingo CEO backs off from evaluating employees on their AI usage 
By Jacqueline MunisApril 13, 2026
7 hours ago

Most Popular

'This is the last warning.' Iran threatens U.S. warships after they throw down the gauntlet for winner-take-all Strait of Hormuz
Politics
'This is the last warning.' Iran threatens U.S. warships after they throw down the gauntlet for winner-take-all Strait of Hormuz
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
2 days ago
'People are trying to be creative': Tariff-battered American companies are so cash-starved they are using refund claims as collateral for loans
Economy
'People are trying to be creative': Tariff-battered American companies are so cash-starved they are using refund claims as collateral for loans
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
2 days ago
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated again—a week after gifting millions to a college, she's just given $70 million to Meals on Wheels America
Success
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has donated again—a week after gifting millions to a college, she's just given $70 million to Meals on Wheels America
By Fortune EditorsApril 13, 2026
9 hours ago
Here’s how a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could work. ‘This is a big task, and it’s a big gamble’
Politics
Here’s how a U.S. naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could work. ‘This is a big task, and it’s a big gamble’
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
1 day ago
A 93-year-old refused to sell her home to the Masters golf course that’s spent $280 million on expansion: ‘Money ain’t everything’
Real Estate
A 93-year-old refused to sell her home to the Masters golf course that’s spent $280 million on expansion: ‘Money ain’t everything’
By Fortune EditorsApril 12, 2026
2 days ago
The 'affordability economy' has created a housing market nobody predicted: Prices collapsing in the Sunbelt, soaring in the Rust Belt
Real Estate
The 'affordability economy' has created a housing market nobody predicted: Prices collapsing in the Sunbelt, soaring in the Rust Belt
By Fortune EditorsApril 11, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.