Seems the mobile phone companies are tracking how much "customer service time" you use. If you use too much, they can cut you off as a "cost containment" action. From BoingBoing:

"Our records indicate that over the past year, we have received frequent calls from you regarding your billing or other general account information," the letter reads. "While we have worked to resolve your issues and questions to the best of our ability, the number of inquiries you have made to us during this time has led us to determine that we are unable to meet your current wireless needs."
"Therefore after careful consideration, the decision has been made to terminate your wireless service agreement effective July 30, 2007."

Subscribers who have gotten letters from Sprint terminating their service won't have to pay the early termination fee. Their account balances will also be set to zero. But subscribers will have to sign up with a new wireless provider by July 30 if they want to keep their phone numbers. Otherwise, the numbers won't be available after the Sprint service ends, the letter states." News.com

I guess they learned from the insurance companies...we want your funds but don't expect much in return. What is next? being charged for customer service?

Imagine we gave students a set number of reference question tokens, each semester, and if they used them up, they'd have to buy more? Maybe they'd take our service more seriously, or value it more.