Changing mobile phone plans

As your mobile bill is a key expense you want to be sure that you’re paying for what you need. So what should you do if you decide that your current contract isn’t as good a match as you originally thought, or if your circumstances change? If you’re looking to switch plans – or even switch to a better suited service provider – read on for a guide to getting mobile and making the change.

Why change your phone plan?

Your mobile phone plan determines how much you will pay each month as well as the services that you can get on your phone. You may need to change your plan for any of the following reasons:

You discover that the plan you chose is not the best one for your needs, perhaps after getting a larger than expected bill
You become aware of another option that would suit you better
Your situation changes, necessitating a reduction in number of calls you make each month
You wish to change providers, perhaps due to an advertising campaign offering a better deal, or after becoming disenchanted with your current provider

It should not be difficult to change plans within your current provider’s range, but it’s certainly not a given that it will be simple or even that you can switch. Changing providers altogether, however, is considerably more difficult.

Making the mobile plan switch: What to consider

It would be great if you could switch your mobile phone plan, if not as often as required, at least once or twice during the life of your contract with the same provider. Unfortunately, this may not be the case, and each provider is different. You may want to consider the following aspects before changing your mobile phone plan:

Changing the plan you are on to another one offered by your current mobile phone company may be a possibility – your provider may even offer you plans that they think will suit you better (such as bundling your landline, mobile and internet on the one plan).
Changing to a plan from another provider may be difficult, as post-paid plans often include a contract that locks you in for a period of time, up to several years. Extricating yourself from such a deal is likely to be costly, as generally there is a hefty fee (usually hundreds of dollars) to do so, although this depends on who you are going from and who to. Always check this aspect of your contract before signing up.

So while upgrading or changing your plan is possible, it’s definitely easiest (and cheapest) with the same provider. There are “no contract” post-paid plans offered by some providers, so look into these if you want to avoid being tied down.

It is easy to find yourself in a situation where you need to change your mobile phone plan, whether it’s because you didn’t make the best choice in the first place, or whether your circumstances have changed. However, while it sounds obvious, it’s best to take the time for research and choose wisely in the first place – the last thing you want to do is add to an unsuitable, expensive plan with exorbitant exit fees.