So much for my phone plans
February 24, 2010
Just as I started on a quest to explore options for my cell phone, I discovered entirely by happenstance that my parents were harboring yet another (financial) secret: Mom’s phone has been broken for weeks.
I’ve been paying $70+/month for their family plan. Without telling me, they’d requested new phones which reactivated their contracts 18 months ago which jettisoned my plans to switch their calling plans to something more affordable and sensible according to their usage. Then, again without telling me, they changed their plan to give themselves more (unnecessary!) minutes because they don’t pay or read their bills which meant another contract extension.
Totally frustrated by the parent-imposed roadblocks to trimming the budget, I’ve let it lie until now. Discovering that I’m paying a premium for basically one phone ticked me off, and I’ve researched several possible options to pick a plan that makes sense with T-Mobile’s Online Help Chat.
Important DefinitionsPrepaid Pay By The Day customers enjoy Unlimited Nights and Unlimited Mobile-to-Mobile calling on the T-Mobile network. Pay By The Day customers incur two types of charges: A $1 per day ($1/day) usage charge and a $0.10 per minute charge (if applicable).
Prepaid Pay As You Go means that you refill the account and pay per minute for your incoming and outgoing calls.Even More plans keep you on a contract basis but changing to one does not change your contract date, does not incur migration fees, and offers discounted phones that lock you back into a 2-year contract.
Even More Plus plans are non-contract plans, incurs a one time $35 migration fee, retain the contract date, and does not offer discounted plans.
Option A
Due to her much reduced usage, I can switch Mom to a prepaid plan and put Dad on an Even More individual plan for $50/month for 1000 mins, unlimited nights and weekends.
Cost: $50 early termination fee + new phone + [$30/month and usage charges OR just PAYG usage charges]. I would have to train them not to use her phone for anything but emergencies. Given her cognition issues, this may be a challenge.
Gain: Saving $20/mo on Dad’s plan, and if I go with PAYG for Mom, I wouldn’t break even for more than 6 months.
Option B
Wait three months until the contract is up, and then execute the plan above, saving $50.
Cost: new phone + prepaid usage
Gain: Saving $20/mo on Dad’s plan, and PAYG for Mom, I would break even in about 6 months. Depends on the cost of the phone.
Option C
Move them both to an Even More Plus plan, then switch Mom to a Prepaid Plan.
Cost: $70 in migration fees, still have a contract date through 5/18, and that’s before replacing the phone.
Gain: Forget it.
Option D
Move them both to an Even More plan with the fewest minutes possible ($60/month for 750, well over their current usage), wait three months while finding a replacement phone for the contract to run out.
Cost: None
Gain: Save $10/mo.
It’s Option D for now. I’ll save $30 between now and the contract expiration in three months, and decide what to do beyond that then.
Be careful in reducing their minutes. If they actually use a lot of those minutes, you don’t want to pay hefty fees for overusage. I would say to look at the minutes, see if they need those minutes, and then reduce as necessary.
I did the same thing with my parent’s family plan. They were paying $160 for 3,000 minutes when we were only using 700!!! Not to mention the rollover kept adding more minutes. I’ve reduced it to 2100 minutes, but I’d like to go down to 1400 (the lowest allowed for a family of 5).
If you’re moving their plans is the bill in your name? If not, I would put in your name so they cannot make changes.
I’m so sorry to hear that. I found your blog not long ago and have been reading your archive. You have a lot on your plate and have done extremely well given your family situation. Do your parents really NEED a cell phone? I know you’ve heard this many times but I must say again that you are enabling your parents. It’s the same as a mother enabling a 30 yr old man by paying for his cell phone or car. It is not selfish to take care of your needs first.
@ Random Thoughts: You should have been here a week ago, reading this post.
http://agaishanlife.blogspot.com/2010/01/dementia-in-family-long-road-to-nowhere.html
She has no choice. She isn’t enabling anyone.
Arrrrgh.
Definitely wouldn’t want to go with option one. Doesn’t sound worth it, especially the having to teach her not to use the phone unless needed. Plus, her definition of emergency might differ from yours.
@ Fabulously Broke: Thanks for the link.
It certainly isn’t a position anyone envies. Stay strong.
Hm. I’m with Jersey Mom: Option E: take away the phones. Would a land line with a long-distance plan be cheaper?
Problem is, if she gets out of the house and gets lost, which she certainly could, having a phone on her might make it a lot easier to track her down.
Given her condition…really, the cost is probably worth it.
Augh SO frustrating sweet pea. I’m sorry 🙁
@InvestingNewbie: The first thing we had the CSR check was their historical usage for the past three months. Well below 750 mins, so we’re ok there, and I’ve warned my dad about it as well.
@Karen: I was considering that, it’s on my list of things to do IF it doesn’t mess with their contract periods.
@Random Thoughts: It’s a matter of safety and convenience, they have to travel for medical appointments a LOT and if she has a medical emergency while on the road, I don’t want to worry about them trying to find a means to call me.
FB already pointed out that it’s no longer enabling; three years ago that’d be a more accurate statement but not anymore.
And not to worry, I’m not forgetting about my needs, just taking care of the more time sensitive one first.
@eemusings: Yeah, “I want” can easily become “an emergency” and I don’t want to cut her off from phone access just because she’s less able to differentiate.
@FunnyAboutMoney: They have a landline with long distance but that only helps when they’re home. Apart from the myriad medical appointments she’s ferried to, she DOES and has escaped from the house and forgotten how to come home more than once.
@Carolyn: Thanks. 😛