Buzzword: "Bill shock," and what you can do about it

If you've ever opened your monthly cell-phone statement only to stare, bug-eyed, at an outrageously high charge, you aren't alone. A survey from the Federal Communications Commission [PDF] estimates that one in six cell-phone users—some 30 million Americans—experience "bill shock," a sudden increase in charges caused by unknowingly exceeding the allottment of minutes in a mobile plan.

Jeff Blyskal has been covering the FCC's investigation into bill shock on the Consumer Reports Money Blog. A victim of bill shock himself, Blyskal wonders why more carriers can't help subscribers avoid such overage charges by sending them reminders when they are close to maxing out their monthly allotment of minutes.

For more on bill shock, how you can avoid it, and the latest on the FCC's investigation, visit the Money Blog:

• FCC: 30 million Americans stung by cell-phone "bill shock"

• Snagged for exceeding your cell-phone minutes? Help is on the way

• 7 ways to protect yourself from cell phone overage "gotchas"