Avoid costly cellphone fees and save hundreds of dollars

Switching to a new cellphone carrier can cost as much as $35 per line just to activate the new wireless plan, according to Kiplinger.com. Other fees can add up to hundreds, as well. But there are ways to save.

For a family with four lines, that $35 activation fee adds up to $140. If customers threaten to leave, however, the salesman might waive the fee or let them know when promotions are available, allowing them to sign up without activation fees, according to the article.

The cost for terminating a contract early can cost around $350, according to the article. Customers can negotiate to make the cancellation fee smaller or get rid of it completely. People with good reasons for cancelling, such as moving out of the country, are more likely to succeed. If that doesn't work, people can always try selling their contracts on celltradeusa.com.

Most of the major cellphone providers charge about $20 a month for unlimited text messaging, but there's also a way around that fee. Consumers with iPhones or Androids can bypass the monthly texting bill by downloading the Textfree app, according to Kiplinger. The app lets users send and receive text and picture messages for free over a Wi-Fi or data connection. That will save $240 a year.

EMAIL: bbullock@desnews.com