cell phone advice requested - i am unhappy with the high bills!

[StellaBlue]

I have a cell phone with a major national cell phone provider. I am happy with the service, but, since I am on a fixed income and trying to save up money, the bills are killing me. I thought about getting rid of it altogether, but it's just too handy when meeting people and I want it in case of emergency (even though hald the country is 'out of range').

When I signed up, they told me it would be $45 a month for however many minutes I got (I don't remember, but I do know I NEVER come close to using all the minutes - it was the cheapest plan in which calls are free within the network). When I got my first bill, though, it was $60! $45 plus a whopping $15 'service fee'. Uh, HELLO?! I thought the $45 was the 'service fee'! I am PISSED.

This was about six months ago. The fee to cancel the two-year contract (these should be illegal, IMHO, next they'll be doing them on laundry detergent!) is $150, which I also don't have.

Should I call the company and threaten to close my account and see if they offer me a better deal (this worked in the UK when I lived there), or should I try to change plans (I can do that on their website, but it's unclear whether you are entering ANOTHER full two-year contract or just AMENDING your current one, and I don't want to LENGTHEN the contract). Or should I just scrap it and get a pay-as-you-go?

Any insight from people in-the-know about cell phone companies would be greatly appreciated. I am paying a full day's salary for the 'privilege' of having my dad call me ten times a day for no reason at all.