Verizon [1]
T-Mobile [2]
Cingular [3]
Sprint Nextel [4]

As with any bill, it would be very rare to find a company to alert you if you exceed your plan minutes or if you spend more than you intended. However, the following examples show you how to prevent over-spending. There is no reason any subscriber should be surprised when the bill arrives. By checking your account regularly, you can stop using your phones and avoid minute overage charges. In addition, you are strongly encouraged to report any cramming (unauthorized charges) immediately to the company in writing by sending a certified return receipt requested dispute letter. The dispute letter should be followed ASAP by filing an on-line complaint form to the California Public Utilities Commission at www.cpuc.ca.gov [5] for any unauthorized charges.

1. Verizon Wireless customers can check their balance and minutes any time. #BAL (225) gives the last payment and the balance. # MIN (646) gives you the number of minutes used. It's FREE of charge and Verizon will text message if someone has not blocked the Internet. Whether you have Internet access or not, you can check your status every day to protect yourself. Internet account checking is also available.

2. T-Mobile customers can be proactive. By dialing these short codes on their handsets, customers can obtain balance, usage and messaging information. Dialing #BAL# (#225#) and pressing send will get you your balance.  There are also short codes to track minutes used #MIN# (#646#) and messages used #MSG# (#674#). In addition to short codes, T-Mobile customers can use their handset to obtain account balance and usage information from the web via T-Zones mobile web homepage. The information is also available by logging into an account through T-Mobile's homepage at www.t-mobile.com [6] and this can be done through any computer connected to the internet. Account information is also available by calling T-Mobile at 611 from a handset or 800.937.8997 from a landline. Customers can use self service options to check balance and usage information or if they prefer they can speak to a representative. For those customers that have difficulty with the English or Spanish offerings we also offer a translation service with our live representatives.

3. Cingular customers can check their balance and minutes any time as well. By pushing the *646# send - Cingular will send a text message with remaining minutes available. You can also view the instuctions at the Cingular website [7]. If you have an internet active phone you can always log onto Cingular.com, access & view minutes and balances that way.

4. Sprint Nextel customers can view their minutes by signing into their account on the Sprint website, or by dialing *4 and following the voice prompts.