Talkers take note: Starting in January you’ll have to pull to the side of the road before you pick up your cellphone—or face a heavy fine. Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill into law on Aug. 16 that bans using a handheld cellphone for any purpose while driving. Chicago and…...
Local Phone Cost-cutter analyzes 50,000th bill!
CUB is celebrating a milestone this week: Our free online service, the Local Phone Cost-Cutter, just analyzed its 50,000th phone bill. That means the tool has shown Illinois consumers how to cut their AT&T local phone bills by $9.9 million per year—definitely a reason to celebrate! The Local Phone Cost-Cutter, created…...
She saves big with a CUB-created Consumer’s Choice plan
One of the major consumer victories of the year was defeating AT&T when the phone giant tried to get rid of the CUB-created Consumer’s Choice plans–low-cost local calling plans it is required by law to offer. CUB has proven time and time again that these plans are necessary for consumers–consumers like Myrna Orenstein,…...
T-Mobile offers new phone payment plan
John Legere is at it again. The quirky T-Mobile CEO, who likes to call his own industry “stupid, broken, and arrogant,” has introduced yet another promotion that we hope takes the wireless industry at least a baby step closer to its customers. On the heels of his new “Jump” plan, allowing customers to upgrade…...
Hanover Park utility bill clinic: $132 per year in customer savings
CUB’s outreach team is always on the road, visiting cities, towns and villages across Illinois to hold clinics that show consumers how to save money on their utility bills. This week was no different–CUB staffers Laura Goldberg, Ivonne Hernandez and Yami Newell took to Hanover Park and showed consumers how…...
What’s hidden in the fine print of your wireless contract?
How many of us are guilty of signing contracts or agreeing to terms and conditions without really looking into the fine print? Just last year, Carnegie Mellon researchers published a report showing that it would take the average Internet user 76 work days to weed through all the privacy policies…...
U.S. Cellular’s sale to Sprint: Three things you should know
As of May 17, U.S. Cellular finalized the sale of its Midwestern markets to Sprint, forcing many Illinois consumers to switch their cellphone service to another carrier. Both companies sent out information to current U.S. Cellular customers in the area, but it may be confusing or overwhelming. So we want…...