We never want to put all of our paycheck into our monthly bills and expenses, so getting a surprisingly large bill is something that everyone wants to avoid.

Bill shock is a name for the negative reaction you get when you receive a higher than normal bill and, unfortunately, is something that has become more prevalent in recent years. That’s because we now use our data services to access the world around us. Where we used to pick up a map and look for landmarks and street signs, we now rely on a disembodied voice to tell us when to turn left or right as we walk or drive. Where we once kept physical photo albums with only our most cherished memories, we now feel the need to upload every moment and memory to social media.

This can sometimes mean we use more data than expected or allowed by our quota supplied by carriers.

What could cause my high bill?

A higher than normal bill could be due to a number of things:

– An overdue invoice
– Excess data
– Roaming charges
– Connection fees
– Fault or technician fees
– Premium usage
– Account fees e.g. late fees

What can I do about a high bill?

A high bill is never welcome, but there are things you can do to lessen the burden. For example, you can call your service provider to ask for an extension on the due date of the invoice, or ask for a payment plan so you can pay off the high bill in chunks.

Make sure you carefully review the charges on every invoice and discuss any that don’t look correct with your carrier.

Can I prevent this?

Prevention is key when it comes to avoiding spending large amounts of money on your phone bill. Here are some things you can do to keep things in order.

– Make sure you know your services well. Know which charges are normal and which aren’t and know what fees you can expect.
– Keep a watchful eye on your usage and call expenditure throughout the month. If you get close to your allocated quota or allowance, call your carrier to learn about your upgrade options before the usage goes too far.
– Don’t use your services unnecessarily. For example, use an app such as Skype to call overseas rather than making expensive international calls on your plan.
– Switch to prepaid service so you can’t go over your limit.
– Avoid premium services such as 19XXXX numbers, as they are often not covered by your quota and can be very expensive.
– Use free Wi-Fi whenever possible.

What does my carrier have to do?

Service providers are required to provide at least one method of monitoring your usage. Also, since 2014, usage warning alerts must be sent when you use 50%, 85% and 100% of your data within 48 hours of you reaching this percentage.

Suppliers must also supply information on any excess usage rates, as they often differ from your usual cost. They need to explain any charges on your bill you may be unsure of and assist with payment due dates for any disputes on your account.

What do I need to do?

It is your responsibility to ensure that the carrier has up-to-date contact information so usage alerts are not lost or go undelivered. Using the above prevention methods will help, but it really is up to you to know where you stand with your data usage through the month and to not go over your limits or have overdue bills.

Check out the Arrow blog for more mobile usage tips today!