Price comparison website moneysupermarket.com has just published its fourth annual Mobile Money Report – and it shows that the average Briton 'wastes' 45% of the inclusive calls and text message allowance from their mobile phone tariff. The company says those unused calls and SMS messages are worth almost £13 billion annually – or £250 per person.
Customers with 'pay monthly' contracts waste an average of 137 minutes and 153 texts every month, while pay as you go customers waste 16 minutes and 29 texts per month. The calculations are based on calls costing 20p per minute and text messages at 10p each.
While this is an excellent opportunity for moneysupermarket.com to promote its mobile phone comparison service, it's worth pointing out that not using an allowance isn't necessarily the sign of an inappropriate tariff. Nevertheless, it's a timely reminder to make sure you're getting the best mobile deal.
Mike Wilson, manager of mobiles and broadband at moneysupermarket.com said "With a rise in the popularity of the iPhone and other smartphones with increased capabilities and internet access, the allowance of texts and minutes on a tariff has become less important. It's great that consumers are under their monthly allowance to avoid any extra costs, but it's also important to get the most out of your contract for what you pay each month. One of the best ways to do this is to assess what your monthly usage is and find a contract that suits you best."