Five easy steps to a better phone deal

TELSTRA has today revealed changes to customer costs but how do you know if your telco is giving you the best deal? Here are five simple steps to take control of your phone bill.

TELCO giant Telstra has rolled out a bunch of new deals today but how do you know if your telco is ripping you off?

Competition is rife between the three big guns — Telstra, Optus and Vodafone — but it doesn’t stop there.

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Smaller providers known as MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators) including Amaysim, Boost, Dodo, Kogan, Moose, and Belong all want a slice of the pie too.

Our appetites for data are bigger than ever and now thanks to the telcos all trying to grab your attention there’s cheaper deals to snare.

But it’s not all happy days, you may be splashing cash unnecessarily just to stay connected.

Here’s how to work out if you are with the right provider.

1. CHECK YOUR CHARGES

Sounds simple but I’m always surprised how many people don’t do this.

Pull out your latest statement and find out what’s included in your offer.

If you’re a data-hungry customer then check how much you are chewing through each month.

Beware of deals spruiking “unlimited” data charges.

Some telcos have been given a rap over the knuckles for claiming to give you unlimited data.

This isn’t the case — once you munch through a certain amount of data your speeds slow down to snail’s pace.

Not cool.

Once you know how much data you munch a month hunt for deals that will include this and ones that you’ll be unlikely to go over the limit.

2. PLAN OR NO PLAN

For those who are not locked into a plan this is great news — you’re a free agent and are not tied down to anyone.

You can pick and choose which telco you plan to hook up with.

Commitment is not necessary.

You can swipe left or swipe right.

If you own your handset outright make the most of this.

Some of the biggest financial traps can be just to waltz into a fancy telco store and sign up on the spot.

Chances are you won’t be getting the best deal

3. USE COMPARISON WEBSITES

A good place to start is by comparing deals online.

It only takes a few minutes so don’t be lazy.

It could end up saving you a small fortune.

Telco comparison website WhistleOut is one of the best, it shows you the hottest deals going and what you’ll get in return.

I sniffed out my current retailer by searching online to find what could give me best value for money.

It has saved me more than $1000 a year.

4. THE LITTLE GUYS

There’s three telco networks in Australia — Telstra, Optus and Vodafone — and a fourth is in the making — TPG.

And then there’s all the little guys who piggyback off these networks.

Don’t be afraid to try them, their deals are often cheaper but be mindful you won’t always get all the bells and whistles with these such as free access to music streaming services or free footy viewing.

5. NUMBER PORTABILITY

Ditching and switching telcos is simple.

Mobile phone portability has made this easier than ever.

Most of us want to keep our same number — unless of course you have a crazy ex and you’ve probably blocked their number anyway.

The new telco will do all this for you, all you need is a new SIM from your new provider and they do the dirty work for you.

Good luck switching and saving!

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@sophieelsworth