5 Reasons to Drop Your Cellphone Carrier

The relationship started off strong. Commitments were made and adhered to. But now you're losing that loving feeling. In fact, you've been checking out other potential suitors on the sly. Is it time to part ways with your cellphone carrier? With so many companies vying for your attention, you're right to question if you're truly happy. But keep in mind that, as in some divorces, a breakup could cost you a stiff penny.

"If you're already in a contract, and want to switch before it ends, you'll get charged an early termination fee," says Sam Costello, an iPhone and iPod expert with About.com. "If it's going to cost you $325 [a standard fee], that may overcome any reason you have for wanting to leave."

Still, fees are prorated over the course of your contract. If you're at or near the end, and seriously weighing a split, here are a few reasons it might be time.

1. Your coverage is poor. Most companies today offer decent coverage, but you can't seem to get a signal in your own living room, by the window, or upstairs in the bedroom, and it's driving you nuts. Why should you have to resort to conversations outside? Perhaps there's a carrier with stronger service where you reside now, or where you are planning to retire? "You want to make sure the company you're switching to has good service where you live, where you work, and the places you go to regularly," Costello says. "Check the coverage maps that they offer on their websites and talk to neighbors about their cellphone experiences."

2. You've changed your lifestyle. Transitioning from work life to retirement may mean you want a more relaxed cellphone plan, says John Marick, CEO of Consumer Cellular, a carrier that requires no contracts, which is popular with boomers. No need for all those minutes. Or perhaps you're newly married and want better sharing options to save you money. Do the math: Weigh the costs of your current plan against the plan you want to see if it benefits you to stay or go. Find out from your carrier if you would be charged an early termination fee and factor that into your overall equation.