Majority Consider Paying Phone Bills More Important Than Other Utility Bills

Recent economic hardships may have consumers scrambling even more to stay out of debt, but Americans won't let the wireless payment slip. According to a recent Consumer Spending Behavior survey sponsored by US mobile phone retailer LetsTalk, more than half of cell phone owners are willing to pay increased cell phone bills this year compared to last year.

Surprisingly, over 75 percent of respondents report never being late on their wireless bill, but close to 90 percent admit delaying their utilities bill, ISP bill, landline telephone service bill, credit card payment, or rent/mortgage payment. When asked the primary motivation for prioritizing their wireless bill, over 63 percent agree that their mobile phone is essential to staying connected with families and friends. LetsTalk initiated the survey to better understand customer rationale behind increased spending when economic indicators are not favorable.

"The cell phone is a lifeline that keeps people connected not only to friends and family but to employers and potential new employees. Today, even in the midst of our economic downturn, bills that were once seen as a priority take a backseat to our cell phone bills," said Delly Tamer, CEO and Founder of LetsTalk.com. "The survey confirms to us what we've known for quite some time: cell phones, or more specifically, smartphones, have become an essential component of our everyday lives. We would rather risk our electricity shut off than our cell phones disconnected."

Conducted last month, the LetsTalk Smartphone Consumer Spending Behavior survey canvassed over 500 LetsTalk customers, ages 18 and over.

The full results (pdf file) are available on the LetsTalk website.

Posted to the site on 3rd November 2008