How to get your Phone back

Step 2

Determine if your usage is too expensive. Cell phone service providers such as Cingular, T-Mobile, and Sprint are in the business of extracting the maximum amount of money from the phone owner.
All service providers offer multiple pricing plans, but, unfortunately, they almost never help you figure out how to pay less. Study the details of your parent’s plan, and investigate other service providers and other plans. Determine if you parents’ plan provides just voice/text service or voice/text and data service. Data service can be much more expensive. Learn about the other details of the plan such as breaking-the-contract fees and try to understand the tricks service providers employ to make their money.
Determine if your parents’ main complaint is about a single very expensive event such as talking to someone in Timbuktu for two hours one afternoon or about a continuing usage habit such as downloading movies so you can watch them at a later date.
Ask your friends about their service plans. You might even be able to help your parents by finding a plan that is better for your family!