Credit Check from O2 Simplicity to Contract

Paulalfc

Hi

Does anybody know if they do a credit check if you change from being on the O2 Simplicity deal (and have been for last 3 years) to change to a contract, as i would like a new phone?

Many Thanks

Paulalfc

kai666

did they not do a credit check when you took the plan out originally?

if so, i can't imagine why they would

spinningsheep

No mate, if you are already on pay monthly of any description, you will not be credit checked, its classed as an upgrade,thats all. You only get credit checked if you are starting a whole new contract. But you will need to go on 18 or 24 months contract now, 12 months has gone.

Paulalfc

Thanks for your help - much appreciated :T

digp

12 MONTHS CONTRACTS HAVE GONE. what a scandal indeed.

fiish

I am with you in not being happy that contracts are getting longer, essentially increasing the switching costs for us consumers and enforcing a 'loyalty' that is hardly repaid unless we demand it.

However, I don't agree that 12 month contracts going is scandalous - it is simply a matter of business. Customers locked in for longer are worth more to the operator and also mean they can spend less on phone subsidies in the long term.

There are other advantages to changing phones more slowly. It is good for the environment as fewer phones are thrown away after being replaced. Thanks to European consumer laws the phones have to be warranted for at least the contract length, so this means phones are now also designed to last longer. Plus, we now have 30-day contracts without handsets which are much better value for money, and buying SIM free phones ot use with these actually result in some savings compared to even 12 month deals (except when buying the very most expensive models).

So I think it is a positive thing overall, I don't really see that consumers are obviously worse off - in fact we have more choice now.

Plus, 12 month contracts are still around, just not as good value as buying SIM only and getting your own SIM free handset. Do you really need a new phone every year?

jasonwatkins

i must be in a minority then as i prefer longer contracts - i signed a 24 month deal with orange today and i'm perfectly happy with it.

i think i prefer them because my credit rating is so bad and if i get the opportunity to get a long deal then at least i don't have to worry about it then

fiish

jasonwatkins wrote: »

i must be in a minority then as i prefer longer contracts - i signed a 24 month deal with orange today and i'm perfectly happy with it.

i think i prefer them because my credit rating is so bad and if i get the opportunity to get a long deal then at least i don't have to worry about it then

IMHO it is a preference thing - a long contract can be good for you if prices (to other customers) increase significantly during the contract term. You are tied to the network but they are also tied to you - they cannot increase your charges (well except those pesky 'additional services') without giving you an escape.

I am not picky about contract length - my only hard requirement is that my handset must last at least the contract term.