Please recommend a simple, safe contract

Somersetlad_3 · 18 November 2006 at 9:48PM

I was on easymobile which worked perfectly for me, as I was mainly phoning and texting just one person, who was also on easymobile, at a rate of approx. 300 minutes a month and 200 texts a month.

The cheapest phone/tariff deals seem to be 'cash back' offers; I feel wary of these as I do not want the hassle of getting into disputes with 'dodgy' companies.

Am I being needlessly nervous?

Can you recommend a 'cash back' company that is reliable in paying up?

Or can you recommend a simple, safe deal?

I do not need or want a flashy phone, just a deal that is hassle-free and inexpensive.

Thanks for your help.
Paul

MoneySavingSpender · 18 November 2006 at 9:51PM

Gone through several cashbacks, some need chasing up, so long as u follow good advice and follow conditions to the letter, they're fine except for a couple that spoil the rest, the mobile outlet and phones2u spring to mind

if you don;t want cashbacks:
http://threestore.three.co.uk/clearance.aspx
don't forget £100 via quidco

billsavings · 19 November 2006 at 8:55AM

If you dont go the contract route Virgin Payg are offering 3p a minute calls to other users,and 3p texts to other users.

http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/genericContent.do?contentId=payasyougo.tarrif.shop.sm018

It piggy backs on T-Mob, as does Easy M so you know reception will be ok.

Somersetlad_3 · 19 November 2006 at 1:08PM

Thank you for your advice so far.

Can anyone tell me of a 'cash back' company that has proved hassle-free in their experience?

Paul

jnm21 · 19 November 2006 at 9:33PM

Look at orange with magic numbers. You could stay as pay & go that way. For £10 per month, you should cover that usage (please check as this is a first thought).

As for cashback, ALL RETAILERS have had bad reports (no matter if one person has had 20 contracts with one which were all fine). The purpose of cashback is to profit from confusion or forgetfulness. That said, people with money saving blood in their veins mange to work them very well.

If I had to take a deal out now, I'd be looking at the best possible price from these retailers in the order listed:

Any network's direct offers
TheLink
CarphoneWarehouse
Dialaphone
e2save
[edit - late arrival thanks to MM] Mobileshop
buymobilephones.net
onestopphoneshop
mobileoutlet

Unfortunately, that list in descending order of reliability roughly represents how I would list them in descending order of value (ie network direct = least best prices, but no cashback to go wrong whereas mobileoutlet do great deals, but have variable feedback on paying cashback).

PS also check out Vodafone family (should be a banner on https://www.vodafone.co.uk).

nick1234 · 19 November 2006 at 10:47PM

from my research there are loads of 12 month free deals but they are from less well known companies. i did think e2save for cashback deals but now have heard too many bad stories from users to even consider them.

best bet would be the fixed deals suggested on 3.

jnm21 · 19 November 2006 at 10:58PM

I believe that CPW also have a new site (the phone spot) - wonder if it is the bad press for their existing offerings they are trying to shake?

Also has anyone else noticed that dial-a-phone's offers have gone down hill - perhaps because they are so well known & popular?

Somersetlad_3 · 20 November 2006 at 8:05AM

jnm21, your comments and list are very helpful - I am researching the options there.

Thank you.
Paul

Mobile_Mole · 20 November 2006 at 1:13PM

jnm21 wrote:

If I had to take a deal out now, I'd be looking at the best possible price from these retailers in the order listed:

Any network's direct offers
TheLink
CarphoneWarehouse
Dialaphone
e2save
buymobilephones.net
onestopphoneshop
mobileoutlet

A useful post. But I'd be interested to know why Mobileshop does not appear in your list given that, in my opinion, a couple of the really bad dealers have been included.

Cheers
Mark

jnm21 · 20 November 2006 at 9:38PM

When I read that I thought oversight, but then thinking where they'd go, I don't know - they would have been no. 2 or 3 until a few months ago. Didn't they move the goal posts on people (instead of paying after x days they said it was y days & their BACS payments were said to take 10 days)?

Edit: Yep, you're right - they should be up there - added in!

jago25_98 · 20 November 2006 at 10:31PM

Hi Somersetlad.

Why not go to easymobile.com and copy and paste your usage stats?

Here's mine and I'm also looking for contracts, seems I spend £105 a year, about £75 less than a £15/month contract.

132 Call(s) to service numbers -16.466
19 Fees -1.250
1 International Text message(s) -0.200
8 Mobile internet -2.177
330 National Call(s) -55.983
19 Payments 105.000
574 Text message(s) -27.850

So it looks like pay&go with Fresh for me and short conversations.

Oh, and I even considered contracts with phone included so I could sell the phone. Haven't seen a deal that works as far as I can see, better to buy a separate phone.

The key is adding up total cost of ownership over the year.

Please recommend a simple, safe contract

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