Q: I’m so frustrated with my telephone service. The bill is usually wrong, the landline drops calls and I’m tired of calling customer service. My cell phone service is better, especially since the company allows rollover minutes. I’m thinking of cancelling the landline completely. Any advice on the best phone carrier? — Darryl Dissatisfied

A: Dear Darryl: In the past weeks I have squared off with a couple of phone companies.

Even though one issue was recently resolved and I’m not giving up on the other, my druthers would be to go back to the telegraph system.

Seriously, you’ve got to base the landline elimination decision on your frustration levels: How often the company errs; the amount of time you’re without service; valuable time spent contacting customer support and/or waiting for repair personnel; important calls missed; and so forth.

Moreover, while a security system can incorporate a wireless phone service, the plan isn’t without problems or higher costs. So check into this area before making a decision.

So far as cell phones are concerned, I expect most customers agree phones’ use is much better from even a year or so ago and not necessarily just because of certain advanced phone technology, such as Blackberry features and the like.

Whether the availability of more cell towers resulting in fewer dropped calls to stricter regulatory measures by state attorneys general, more and more consumers seem to experience fewer problems with their cell service. In fact, one of the most irritating of all the companies’ policies — the automatic extension of contracts when changes are made to a user’s plan — has hit the highway, in large part, because of the aforementioned legal and regulatory achievements.

So to answer your question and to be absolutely objective because I’m still embroiled in my own phone company controversy, I checked with Consumer Reports, the granddaddy of consumer product and service-related advice. The publication’s Jan. 13, online magazine (www.consumerreports.org) makes the case for Verizon as the best cell phone carrier for most folks, especially with regards to overall customer satisfaction and customer service.

funeral perils

An insightful reader sent in an additional prescription to further avoid a theft during a funeral. In case the potential burglar is clever enough to discover the whereabouts of the mourners’ homes, ask a couple of friends who wouldn't otherwise attend visitation, the funeral, etc., to house sit.

tax tip

Readers may recall last year’s Tax Tips, where I suggested a pointer each week to help taxpayers prepare for Uncle Sam’s annual cut. Today’s column begins the 2009 version which I’ll postscript through April 11.

Donating to charities before the first of the year counts as a deduction on your return. In fact, you can include both cash contributions charged to a credit card in 2008 even if you didn’t pay the bill until this year and checks mailed by Dec. 31, 2008. (Be sure to get a receipt from the charitable organization.)

Also, bear in mind that the deduction for donated property is limited to the item’s current fair market value. Download the free “It’s Deductible,” a tax program that provides the current donation values allowable by law. Go to http://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/itsdeductible/index.jsp.

Ellen Phillips is a retired English teacher who has written two consumer-oriented books. Her Consumer Watch column appears on Saturdays in the Business section of the paper. An expanded version is at www.timesfreepress.com under Local Business. E-mail her at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com