I have a pre paid ATT unlocked flip phone (cost $30) that I load up with $100 every 6 months or so for voice and text. My internet service at home is WIFI and my iPod Touch gives me all the iPhone features and Apps over my WIFI network and at public WIFI locations. I also have a "Voice over IP" telephone at home that works over my WIFI that only costs $12 per month and gives me unlimited calling anywhere. Everyone wants to get you on a payment plan and I'm doing all I can to stay off them. After Bank of America hit me with excessive overdraft fees a couple of years ago, I've declared war against all these companies that are trying to squeeze you for every buck they can. Another good one is decline the sodas at fast food joints and restaurants. They often charge in excess of $2 for a soda when it costs them pennies. Just decline the super sized meal and ask for water, and not the bottled kind. I request tap water and it saves a lot. I'm totally off the soda now and find that water is just as satisfying and healthier too. It's war people and you have to get into it and fight just as hard as they do.

The headline is very misleading.  Its not overcharging, its overuse.

"Thirty-five percent of people with a household income under $30,000 a year now own a smartphone" This proves the point that so called needy population is responsible for their demise due to their own contributory gross negligence in their life. you see it on the T subway all the time - individuals of poor means with fancy iphones. Is this device also an obama entitlement? other examples include welfare payments used for alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling. there are substantial numbers of people earning 6 figure salaries who only own a basic phone and basic plan.

My friend teaches in Europe and has a data/phone plan of about $15.00 a month.  It is just like gas mileage.  Ford Focus's in Euope nearly twice as many miles a gallon or Kiloeter a lieter as in the States.  Congres approved Price Gouging.

Ridiculous, what next, people asking for more cell phone regulation or to get subsidies for their cell phones. Come on, take responsibility and pay your bills and stop complaining. Why not just manage your phone usage better. Perhaps get the kids to pay for their usage either via money paid for jobs or chores or good grades and cut their cell phone off if they cannot pay. These are the same type of people who end up coining the term predatory lending.

In this age of rampant consumerism "discretionary" becomes "necessary" and the hucksters reap the profits. We live too high off the hog. We behave like kids in a candy store as the wonderful products of modern technology multiply exponentially. Our world cannot sustain this reckless behavior. The irony here is in what the economists tell us; Our extravagance sustains our economy. What to do?

I confess having trouble feeling sympathy in this case. I have a smartphone and Verizon Wireless plan. My monthly bill never comes close to $100. I just don't find monitoring my voice/data/text usage that hard. Consumers need to take some responsibility for how they use products.

This story is very troubling.  Most people don't use their "phones" to make actual phone calls these days.  They use their "devices" for pure entertainment and to stave off boredom.  As a result, they've filled their time, ALL their time, with mindless entertainment, whether it's surfing the Net or texting/tweeting inconsequential occurences or thoughts, etc.  And now, as the article clearly indicates, many, many people have become addicted to their devices, so much so that they panic when they feel their service might be cut off, so they pay their phone bills before their medical and utility bills!  Yes, this situation is troubling for our society.  People sign up for these plans and they don't seem to understand how they work.  And excuse me, what about those so-called "unlimited" plans?  Why aren't more people on them?

I have no sympathy for Celozzi. Her kids could have a pre-paid phone for about $7 per month. When the minutes are gone, they would be done. Where was it written that every human had to have unlimited internet or texting in their hip pocket? Give me a break. A "smart phone" is not a phone, it's an expensive portable computer. What is she teaching her kids about budgeting and fiscal responsibility?

I own stock in Verizon, from back when I worked for GTE, so I must admit I profit from all the doofuses that worry about appearing as social losers if they aren't in constant contact with  3 close friends, 12 less close friends, and 158 'I think they might be my friends, but only if I send them a text 53 times a day' friends.  RedGlare, you nailed it, phone companies have found a quite legal way to exploit the social anxieties of a large fraction of our population.  And it should be 1000 times more embarrassing to them, and our society, then wasting your life and money watching "honey boo boo". How can you raise people's standard of living when they squander the meager income they have in such a fashion?

It is disturbing to me that cell phone companies charge so much for, what incrementally to them, costs almost nothing.  Overage charges are a joke.  Then they "allow" you to upgrade your phone every two years for what seems like a great price, and charge you dearly for that privilege monthly over the next two years that you are "locked in".  And, God forbid, that you would leave them during your period of indentured servitude, they shamelessly charge you for that too.

That's why I've left the big three and joined a new company where I don't have to monitor minutes or worry about overages.  I'll check new comments for any who want to learn more.