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Recalculate your phone and broadband plans once a year, downgrade what you don't use, and file a complaint if the carrier won't let you switch

  • Moderate value
  • Evidence A
  • Saves money
  • Free
  • Takes minutes
  • Some willpower

In plain words

The old plan you are on is often tens of CNY more expensive than the plans sold now. Tens a month adds up to hundreds of CNY a year thrown away. By regulation, a carrier cannot refuse to let you switch networks without a legitimate reason, cannot drag its feet in handling it, and cannot set up a separate rate plan just for people who switch. If it holds you back, file a complaint.

Cost

Free. Checking your bill takes a dozen minutes or so. The hard part is holding firm when customer service won't let you downgrade.

What you get

A rule from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (工信部) says carriers may not "refuse, block or delay mobile number portability service for users without a legitimate reason." They also may not "use technical means such as interception or restriction to affect the service quality of users who port their numbers." And they may not "set special rate plans or marketing plans for users who port their numbers." Old plans are often tens of CNY more expensive than plans on sale now. If you never switch, that is hundreds of CNY thrown away each year

Notes

First check in the carrier's app how much data and how many call minutes you actually used over the past six months, then pick a plan based on that usage. If customer service says "a downgrade has to be done at the service hall" or "it can't be changed during the contract period," ask them for the written basis. If they can't give one, call 12300 (the telecom user complaint hotline) to file a complaint

Evidence grade
A : Specific numbers from meta-analyses, large cohorts or randomized trials; for law and policy, the statute or official text.
Sources
  1. 工业和信息化部 (2019). 携号转网服务管理规定（工信部信管〔2019〕242 号）. http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2019-11/13/content_5451483.htm

Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 5, tip 4. This section is about money and spending. It is general information, not financial or investment advice. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer