AMARILLO, TEXAS -- It's a lot like sticker shock, opening your cell phone bill at the end of the month to find overage charges have caused your bill to skyrocket and WHAM -- bill shock.
"Bill shock is a real consumer problem that needs to be fixed", said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, in 2010 one in six mobile users experienced this "bill shock" after seeing those sudden and unexpected increases in their bill. But now, there are new rules for cell phone providers.
"Send voice or text alerts to notify consumers when they approach and when they reach monthly plan limits, voice, data and text that would result in overage charges", added Genachowski.
Carriers should begin implementing those alerts in the next year to year and half.
For cell phone junkies -- that's good news.
"A whole lot of my friends go over and they have to pay a lot of money", said one Amarillo local Weston Bowen.
"Having a warning would help me to set those minutes and be careful with them," said West Texas A&M student Tabbitha Burnett. "Anything to save anyone money is going to help us in these times so I think that's a good thing and it should be done."
"Being notified is better than being in the dark", continued Burnett.
So no more bill shock for wireless customers, unless you're a customer of AT&T who says it's always used alerts to notify subscribers of overages.
"At AT&T, it has always been our practice to ensure that our customers are not surprised when they get their bill and we will continue in our efforts to educate our consumers on the use of their wireless devices", said Senior Public Relations Manager for AT&T, Alejandra Arango.
While the alerts won't necessarily do away with overages, at least you'll be more aware of them. Of course, you could always just get unlimited.
"I have unlimited", said Burnett. "I enjoy the heck out of it."
