Sprint is charging a new monthly fee called the $4.99 Account Spending Limit charge.

Early Termination Fees continue to be an issue of contention between consumers, the wireless industry, and regulators. This time it’s Verizon Wireless who has caused a stir by creating a $350 Early Termination Fee for “advanced devices.”

John Mattes, UCAN's embedded reporter, goes out in the field to investigate cell phone kiosks which house "authorized retailers". They make customers sign additional contracts for new phones and plans, that include hidden fees of more than $100 dollars.

DON'T BUY A MOBILE PHONE WITHOUT UCAN'S CELLPHONE PLAN CHECKER and check out NEW MEDIA RIGHTS CREATIVE COMMONS HOW-TO AND LEGAL GUIDES

Check out UCAN's new consumer resource to help prevent unsolicited or SPAM text messages!

T-Mobile begins charging all customers $1.50 for the privilege of receiving your bill in the mail. Oh by the way if you were already paying $1.99 for the privilege of receiving a detailed bill the $1.50 will be added to that total.  Are they also going to start sending it postage due?

UPDATE: Sept. 11, 2009 - T-mobile has withdrawn the $1.50 billing charge.

My wireless phone plan, from 1997, has no monthly charges. That is why I jumped at it and have held on to it. I accepted the terms of the Pioneer Plan and I have kept my end of the contract, for all these years, along with thousands of other San Diegans. I wish I could say the same for Sprint.

UCAN's Executive Director appeared on the Dr. Phil show on January 31st. Learn more.

Britney Spears has declined to appear on the Dr. Phil show, but recently UCAN's Executive Director, Michael Shames, was drafted to help Dr. Phil explain to his viewers why it is not necessary to use violence when dealing with large utilities. 

The program airs on Thursday, January 31, and you can read the preview for "vigilante justice" here.

Dr. Phil's patient will be a 75-year old granny named Mona Shaw. Shaw received national notoriety and an almost cult-following after she visited a Comcast office on August 13, and smashed up the company's equipment with a hammer.

Hopefully, Michael will have the opportunity to show Mrs. Shaw how to properly complain to a large, uncaring utility with bad customer service.  His organization, UCAN, specializes in resolving difficult utility complaints on behalf of its 33,000 members.