Are charges sneaking on to your phone bill?

This post is not about grocery savings but it could save you money.

I happened to look at our cell phone bill one day and noticed an extra $10 charge. I called my service provider only to discover that it was a third party billing and that I had also been charged the previous month.

I wonder how many of you will look at your phone bill and find charges you did not approve. Most charges are overlooked by the customer and run up for several months. The cell phone provider cannot remove the charge -- you have to contact the third party that made the charge and have it out with them.

I immediately called the third party and not so calmly demanded my account be credited. They said that they could not credit my account but would send me a check. After two weeks of not receiving a check, I went on line and reported them to the BBB and within the week, I had my check for $20. I am not sure how the charge got on my account but it was a horoscope daily reading charge for my cell phone. I don't even have internet on my cell nor do I download songs; I barely know how to text, but I do have a teen - so maybe that is how it happened.

If you have internet on your cell phone or teens that download songs or have any type of on-line activity, read this article by Smart Money -- "Third-Party Service Fees Sneaking Onto Wireless Bill."

It is frustrating that this is not regulated -- but there is good news - maybe help is on the way for stricter regulations...

"In early March, AT&T Mobility (formerly Cingular Wireless) settled out of court with the Florida Attorney General's CyberFraud Task Force, agreeing to reimburse thousands of its Florida customers who were billed by third-party companies for ringtones, games and other services that were advertised as free. The restitution is expected to surpass $10 million, says an AT&T spokesman."

Same goes for the internet and your home phone. Be aware of what you sign up for -- at times, there is a third party trying to lure you off course on the internet. A friend of mine recently found three months of charges on her phone bill. She is in the process of getting this credited.

Here is another must read post: How to Recoup Money from Third-Party Telephone Billings. It is not as easy as you think.

So, if you are looking for some extra cash, stop and take a look at your phone bill, you may be paying for services you did not request.