As part of its efforts to offer free, customer-friendly services, U.S. Cellular is offering a new Overage Protection program so postpaid customers don’t have to worry if they’re going over their monthly limits.
The plan is free and involves sending a text message to customers when they’ve used 75 percent of their minutes or text messages. Customers get another message when they reach 100 percent.
The carrier started offering the service just a few days ago, and already, about 100,000 customers have opted in – and that’s before any significant advertising has kicked in, according to Alan Ferber, vice president and chief marketing officer for U.S. Cellular.
The notification program is particularly helpful for multiple users, such as families. A lot of parents have been surprised by how much their kids are texting, and the notification program is a way to prevent that bill shock, Ferber says. It can be set up so that either a parent, child or both get alerted.
U.S. Cellular developed the notification system in-house. Last year, the carrier introduced a free contact back-up service, and earlier this year, it rolled out a battery swap program whereby customers can drop by any U.S. Cellular store and get a free new phone battery if their old one dies.