CLEVELAND -- Many people have cell phones these days, and a lot of them are always looking for a better plan, with more minutes, lower rates, or better service.

On Your Side Troubleshooter Chris Caswell reported some tips to keep in mind when signing up for a plan.

When most cell phone users sign up for a new plan, they look for the most minutes with the lowest payment.

But the biggest complaint is actually poor service or lack of coverage.

Consumer Reports is calling on the Federal Communications Commission to force carriers to make some changes.

"A lot of the time for cell phone users, it feels like we're in cell hell," said James A. Guest, president and chief executive officer for the Consumers Union. "First of all, the companies haven't lived up to the promises they made. You have dropped calls, busy signals, inability to get through in areas where their maps say they have full coverage."

In fact, some companies claim that they have full nationwide coverage, but that's not true.

What they may have are agreements with other wireless companies to cover where they don't have towers, costing consumers roaming charges.

"The reality is that no cell phone company has complete coverage in the United States," Guest said.

Many people sign contracts for emergency purposes only. That way, if they need help, authorities are only a phone call away.

"There's the capability right now that you can call 911 if you have an emergency on the road, the capability to pinpoint exactly where you are, but that has not been widely implemented," he said.

Some of the recommendations that the FCC is making include:

• Requiring carriers to provide enhanced 911 to pinpoint a caller's location, before the year 2005.
• A guarantee that people can keep their cell phone numbers if they switch carriers.
• Adjusting the coverage maps to show prospective customers which areas aren't covered by any carrier, indicating dead spots.

These recommendations will maximize the chances of full coverage and make sure that a phone has both analog and digital capability.

"(And it will make) sure that your cell phone company has roaming agreements with other cell phone providers so that you can tap into their system and maximize your chances of making a connection," Guest said.

If you are thinking of using your cell phone in place of your home phone, think again. If you change carriers, you'll have to change phone numbers or even pay a cancellation fee.

If there's an emergency, at least you know that if you call 911 from a regular phone, the emergency crews can pinpoint your location.