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Heading off on vacation is a chance to get away from it all, but while you're gone, the bills keep rolling in.
Or do they? You probably remember to put a hold on your newspaper and mail delivery, but temporary service suspensions, which are offered for everything from your land-line and wireless phones to your high-speed Internet and cable TV, allow you to shut down your services (and those monthly bills) while you're away. Setting them up is as simple as calling your providers and asking for "vacation service" or temporary suspensions.
Depending on the provider, where you live and the length of time you'll be away, you may be subject to minor fees for suspension. (See the chart below.) Still, the savings can be substantial even for travelers on short trips.
Although the Dish Network charges $5 a month for service suspension, someone subscribing to its $90 "America's Everything" satellite TV package would still save $17.50 during a weeklong vacation.
Try these four tips to get the most out of vacation service suspensions:
- Be specific. The fees and terms vary depending on where you live and why you're requesting a suspension, says Wesley Chin, a spokesman for Verizon. Head out of your wireless plan's service area or to your vacation home (where you've separately arranged for service), and the policy may be more generous than if you simply want a reprieve from your bill for a few days. Your hometown may also dictate details. Florida, for example, has particularly lenient policies thanks to seasonal residents and substantial tourist draw. Verizon customers there can suspend their services for up to nine months, instead of the usual six. Plus, the usual $10 service charge is waived.
- Mind your contract. If you have a contract with your provider to receive service for a set period, ask what happens to that contract, says Linda Sherry, a spokeswoman for Consumer Action. Providers usually extend your contract by the amount of time you're away. But exceed their maximum, and you may be extended further. Or worse: T-Mobile may cancel accounts that aren't reinstated after its 90-day limit.
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- Determine a backup. Return home from vacation to find service hasn't been reinstated? No thanks. Expressing this concern to the major providers, their reps insisted that providing exact dates negates this issue. Even suspended, your wireless phone allows you to call 611 (customer service). Use that to reactivate your wireless service and then dial your providers' toll-free numbers.
- Avoid vacation notices. If you opt to suspend your phone service, be cautious about leaving a message noting that you're on vacation or providing another number where you can be reached (a service most providers offer), says Lauren Russ, the executive director of the Burglary Prevention Council, a nonprofit education group. It's like letting newspapers or mail pile up. "That's a red alert to would-be burglars," who may test-call a home they believe unoccupied, Russ warns.
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SmartMoney talked to the major national providers about their policies on temporary service suspensions. Sprint Nextel did not return calls by deadline. Representatives from AT&T and Comcast declined to provide policy specifics, citing wide variation based on consumer needs, location and suspension purposes.
"We're locally managed," says Comcast spokeswoman Jennifer Khoury. "It gives them the advantage to tailor policies to their local market."
As for other companies, here's what to expect from some providers on your next vacation:
| Company and service | Costs | Details |
|---|---|---|
Alltel (cell phone) | Not available | No suspension policy in place; Alltel will work with customers individually |
AT&T (cell phone) | $10 per month | Up to six months; suspended phone service reactivates automatically when you use the phone to make a call or send a text message |
DirecTV (TV) | Free | One week up to nine months |
Dish Network (TV, Internet) | $5 per month; $10 if customer is leasing the receiver | Up to six months |
Time Warner (TV, phone, Internet) | Zero to $1.99 to deactivate service, plus rental fees for equipment | Minimum of four weeks, up to six months; suspended phone service continues to receive messages |
T-Mobile (cell phone) | Free for periods of fewer than 30 days; $10 per month | Up to 90 days |
Verizon (TV, phone, Internet) | Up to $10 to deactivate service, plus up to $10 per month | Minimum of four weeks, up to six months |
Verizon Wireless (cell phone) | Up to $15 to deactivate service | Up to 90 days |
* Data from individual providers. Fees and policies may vary by location.
This article was reported and written by Kelli B. Grant for SmartMoney.
Published Aug. 1, 2007
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