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Cellphone

3 things that stink about cellphones

A recent CUB Facebook poll asked people what was most annoying about their cellphones. Guess what aggravation took top honors? 1)      High Bills: According to CTIA data, consumers with smartphones–such as an iPhone, Android, or Blackberry–use an average of about 800 MB of data per month. That’s far less than the standard 2…...

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The ‘un-carrier’ under fire over the cellphone industry’s uncomfortable truth

A federal lawsuit accusing T-Mobile of profiting off a scam called “cramming” shines a spotlight on an uncomfortable truth in the cellphone industry: Wireless companies can make lots of money off of so-called third-party charges–even when they’re fraudulent. Cramming is when third-party companies throw charges on your bill for services you didn’t authorize.…...

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5 security tips for your cell phone

With maps, music, cameras, web browsing, and email capabilities, owning a cell phone can make you feel pretty invincible.  But did you know that your mobile phone can also leave you vulnerable to scary viruses and identity theft? When we think “Internet security,” our thoughts often don’t stray from our…...

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What’s the deal with my data?

Cell phones have changed a lot since they were introduced 40 years ago (remember those old brick phones?).  Nowadays, not only can you talk and text from your mobile phone, but you can send email, play games, navigate trips, check the weather and listen to music. But all those bells and…...

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CUB helps a grieving husband

After Aurora resident William Schweihs lost his wife, Louise, in April,he didn’t expect the headache he received from Verizon. Fortunately, CUB was there to help. William’s wife had been on a prepaid cellphone plan with Verizon, and her plan required her to maintain a balance to pay for her use. So…...

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AT&T’s big move could save customers $15/month

Following T-Mobile’s lead, AT&T over the weekend took a step to end what one writer called “the phone subsidy scam.” It’s a common practice to get a big discount on a new smartphone, and then pay off the balance of the device’s price tag through higher monthly fees over a…...

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Giving Tuesday: For CUB, ALL the battles are big

In honor of “Giving Tuesday”–the national day to support nonprofits–CUB has created this nifty Holiday eCard, with the CFL candle theme, pictured here. It allows people to honor friends and family this Holiday season–and support CUB’s fight for lower utility bills. That fight made headlines this year, as we helped to…...

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FCC to consumers: Here, you take the keys!

It’s hard to believe that it’s actually illegal to take a smartphone to a new carrier, without getting your old carrier’s permission, even if you’ve already paid for the device in full. In fact, it’s so absurdly illegal that the maximum penalty is a $500,000 fine and up to five years…...

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A gut punch to cellphone scam artists

We hope this is the beginning of the end for the insidious “cramming” scam. The nation’s big four cellphone companies are voluntarily banning most premium texting services from their bills–charges that have been a major culprit in the scam. The agreement was pushed by 45 state attorneys general, including Illinois’…...

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Five things to remember when buying a new cellphone

Two months ago I was debating whether or not to buy a new smartphone. My contract was over, my once powerful smartphone had lost its lightning speed, and I realized I was paying a premium monthly charge for a cellphone subsidy I had long since paid off. The internal debate raged…...

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