CUB Connects: Real Saving for Real People

I want to offer-up a personal anecdote: a story about CUB Connects, one of the CUB Policy Center’s most successful initiatives to date, and how it continues to save my family money. Not long ago, I encountered a consumer dilemma – one with which many of us are all-too-familiar nowadays: My teenage daughter came to me wanting a Smartphone. As it turned out, I also needed a new phone, and our contracted family-plan with a well-publicized national telecommunications provider was soon to expire. For the first time in years, I found myself with the unique opportunity to shop around for new phones and the type of plan that made the most sense for me and my family.

I launched my investigation by asking my provider how much extra monthly cost I would incur by buying new phones with the plan I wanted. The more intelligent of the two phones required, of course, a data plan with a significantly higher monthly charge. My provider at the time responded by informing me that my monthly bill would double, and that I would have to accept a new and non-negotiable two-year agreement. My next course of action was to approach a different national carrier with the same proposition. I am sure you can see where this is headed: Their response was nearly identical. Discouraged, and feeling forced to choose between two expensive solutions, I turned to CUB Connects.

Launched by the CUB Policy Center in 2011, CUB Connects is the first web-based program of its kind with a mission to provide residential phone, internet, and cable customers with transparent and up-to-date information – helping them to realize financial savings. The site’s database is populated with price comparisons and coverage details on telecom providers in Oregon. And an actual CUB employee is available to respond by phone to questions and concerns as they arise (a veritable luxury in today’s service-based economy!)

So, after accessing the online database, and working with our trained CUB Connects staff person, I discovered a better option. The new plan meets my family’s needs – from the shiny new phones, to coverage, to contract flexibility, and reduced monthly fees. In fact, I continue to save around $100 per month to this day. I even access the same network as before. Had I not peered into my own back yard, none of this would have been possible.

The moral I hope to achieve through this story is that having to navigate a wildly confusing and unregulated marketplace is daunting. It is frustrating to no end and inaccessible for the vast majority of consumers. But this is precisely why CUB Connects supports everyday people with the tools and resources to make informed consumer decisions that result in immediate financial relief. Truth be told, CUB Connects is the ONLY resource offering you side-by-side up-to-date information on telecom options without trying to sell you anything. Take a look for yourself by visiting www.CubConnects.org, and discover the information you need to find the right plan and save money.

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