I think I’m getting screwed!

FlyTrap_2

Hi, I would like some advice on reducing my mobile bill. Here’s my current situation,

• Currently on month 6 of a 12 month contract with T-Mobile
• My Tariff is the now discontinued £17.87 Everyone 100 (50% Extra), however, the 50% extra bit has rolled over from my previous contract and has now expired. I currently receive 100 mins cross network anytime per month.
• I always exceed my 100 free mins and my average bill is about £35pm (although this has been over £50 a couple of times in the last 18 months).
• I have looked into changing my tariff, but there aren’t any available to me that would improve my situation.
• The vast majority of my calls are to my wife on the land line or her mobile (she is currently on Orange pay as you go)

Option 1
I am toying with the idea of buying out of my contract which ends on the 8th June 2006. I’m told by T-mobile that after my 30 days notice, this will cost £78.74, although I think I need to add my exiting bill of £33.15 and next months bill before I get the true buy out cost!
I will then get two of their special offer phones (one for me and my wife), on the special offer 18 month tariff - Relax 150 with Text. This tariff is half price (£12.50) during months 1-9 and 16 – 18, with 150 min’s free (any time/any network) and 100 texts.
This would mean we would have 300 min’s between us to use up, which will stop be going over my allowance and running up my bill, all for £25 per month.
The downside of this is that for 6 months of the contract we would be paying our £50 per month for the dame setup. And It will cost me £78.74 to buy out of my existing contract.

Option 2
Stay in my existing contract, and get one of the phones mentioned in option 1 for my wife. My existing free 100 min’s per month should not be exceeded as there will be 150 min’s to utilise on the new phone. Also during months 10 – 15 when we will be paying full whack on the new phone (£25pm), my contract will be up for renewal so I can move onto the same contract (presuming it’s still available) which will offset the months we will be paying the full amount.

I personally prefer option 1 as it will get me a new shiny phone, although it’s probably the less sensible of the two!

Any advice will be appreciated.

seaniboy

stay on the deal, ive got 300 mins thanks to everyone 200 50% extra deal, on the current t-mobile tarrifs I get 200 mins for approx £3 more than im paying now , get a payg and unlock it

FlyTrap_2

Im not with you. My 50% has expired, how would staying with my current deal help? And how would getting a PAYG help?

smcicr

i'm probably missing something here but can you not swap to the £29pm "Relax 200 (12) Self Service" (as shown on the website). while this won't get you a nice new phone (probably) it will save you a minimum of £6 per month on your current estimated spend (providing 200 minutes will cover your usage - you don't state that specifically).

wait out your contract on that tariff and then switch to something more suited to your needs either within tmobile or with another provider?

darrenithell

I recommend you keep you contract as it is and cancel nearer to your expiry date, when the penalty won't be so bad.

Get a new contract phone for your wife with 12 months free line rental via cash back on a 12 month contract. I recommend a deal with https://www.mobileshop.com, they are very reliable with cash back deals and have the Nokia 6030 on O2 200, you'l pay £30 per month line rental and get £360 cash back.

Avoid 18 month contracts if possible, they nearly always work out to be more expensive and you have to wait longer for your renewal/next free phone.

seaniboy

50% extra does not expire? I have had it over 2 years, only downfall is that upgrades are crap, but as a whole generally all Tmob upgrades are! lol