You may know that sinking feeling when realizing you’ve made a bad choice on a cell phone contract. It might have sounded great at the time, but now that your financial situation has changed, an initially attractive deal has suddenly lost its appeal. Worse yet, it may now be a liability for you.

So what can you do to deal with this scenario without tearing your hair out in frustration? The following are just a few ways that you can use to deal with a bad cell phone plan.

Ask for Help

This is probably the most obvious but least used method. Most people shy away from letting their cell phone company know about their financial troubles. But if the plan isn’t working for you anymore, or if you’re having trouble making payments, contact your provider to see if they can help you. Always ask as many questions as possible.

In most cases they’ll be willing to cooperate as long as they don’t lose you as a customer. It can be easier for them to keep an existing customer than acquire a new one. So call your service provider and see what they can do.

Price Matching

If you are unsure how the cell phone company will react, ask around to get some quotes from competitors. If you present your case effectively, they may even agree to match the price of a competitor to keep you as a customer. This is a good way to get a reduction on your monthly bill.

Many people complain about being treated badly by big companies, but they never take any action. If you’re serious about getting out of a bad deal, then let your provider know as soon as possible. Most corporations have a complaints department to deal with any problem issues with service or billing.

Be specific with your complaint, and highlight the reasons you have for considering the deal to be a bad one. If you have a good reason to object to your agreement, you can file an official complaint with regulating authorities such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau.

Pay to Terminate

Sometimes it is easier and more effective to just pay an early termination fee to get out of your contract, but this should be a last resort. Make sure to get the cancellation in writing so you are not liable for any monthly recurring payments.

In the end, you can use this as a learning experience for the next time you choose a cell phone plan. Using these tips will help you resolve the situation, and be sure to do proper research into your provider before signing another contract.