Orange vs mobiles.co.uk

s-j-cooper_2

I've been on the same plan with orange for AGES and I usually pay between £15 and £20 a month. I thought I'd check out new phones and contracts, but I dont really know much about how it all works! I've seen the deals on the orange website:

http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/show/plan/dolphin15-24months/24_months/11311/handset/0

But I then stumbled across what seems like a better deal on mobiles.co.uk for just £5 more:

http://!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/orange-lg-cookie-kp500-clearance.html

The mobiles.co.uk deal gives you 500 more minutes a month and you can claim a free gift (Wii, web book amongst other things)

Now at the moment I have a crappy old phone with an out of date plan and by the looks of it I can get a much newer phone, plus a better plan and a Wii!

Is there some sort of con going on here? It just seems a bit too good to be true.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

mobilejunkie

It's normal. There are dozens of threads on here about cashback and other types of deals. There is a thread (at least one) specific to this company, which is actually part of cpw (not as good as you may assume since you're obviously a complete novice). The company is safe enough, but if you go for a cashback deal you should do a LOT of research first. These things are not for the novice, although I and many others do them all the time. Thousands upon thousands have come unstuck by faiuling to put their own legwork in. Free gifts should be safer than cashback (though I only do cashback deals personally).

s-j-cooper_2

mobilejunkie wrote: »

It's normal. There are dozens of threads on here about cashback and other types of deals. There is a thread (at least one) specific to this company, which is actually part of cpw (not as good as you may assume since you're obviously a complete novice). The company is safe enough, but if you go for a cashback deal you should do a LOT of research first. These things are not for the novice, although I and many others do them all the time. Thousands upon thousands have come unstuck by faiuling to put their own legwork in. Free gifts should be safer than cashback (though I only do cashback deals personally).

Thanks for the advice. I see the website has been 'exclaimed' out. Does this mean something negative?

I think I'd go for a free gift offer (such as the Wii).

s-j-cooper_2

Just been looking at the PS3 offers and it seems there are a couple of handsets that come with the PS3 on the £20 a month deal.

These handsets are actually worse than the one I have at the moment, but I could sell the new for for £20 or so and put the sim into my old handset, have a better contract for a couple of quid more than I usually pay a month and also get a PS3.

I'm happy signing up with Orange for 24 months as they are the only network that I can get reception for at home and work.

Sorry if I seem to be labouring the issue (or non-issue!), but as the saying goes 'if it's too good to be true it probably is'!

s-j-cooper_2

I've also seen that they offer £40 cashback through Quidco.

mobilejunkie

Not too good to be true; you just have to know what you're doing and do your research - otherwise it will be.

s-j-cooper_2

mobilejunkie wrote: »

Not too good to be true; you just have to know what you're doing and do your research - otherwise it will be.

I suppose a good, careful read of the small print will put my mind at ease.

mobilejunkie

The small print is only a small part of the necessary research. Read the threads and know who you're dealing with. In this case avoids one major pitfall (company likely to go bust) but is part of cpw (pretty awful in the last 18 months and may try it on to test your resolve). However, I have found this dealer reliable if inefficient - but unlike many other dealers I've only embarked on one deal with them (cashback naturally) and have already threatened to sue over a minor breach of the t&c (which they fairly immediately put right).

s-j-cooper_2

mobilejunkie wrote: »

The small print is only a small part of the necessary research. Read the threads and know who you're dealing with. In this case avoids one major pitfall (company likely to go bust) but is part of cpw (pretty awful in the last 18 months and may try it on to test your resolve). However, I have found this dealer reliable if inefficient - but unlike many other dealers I've only embarked on one deal with them (cashback naturally) and have already threatened to sue over a minor breach of the t&c (which they fairly immediately put right).

So you reckon that if I stick to a free gift rather than cashback my life would be a little easier?

I really appreciate your help by the way!

mobilejunkie

My particular area of expertise and (considerable) experience is with cashback deals. With this dealer I also obtained a small freebie in addition to the cashback - but with the freebie had to chase several times before I eventually got it. I would presume that free gifts are easier to obtain from a dealer who doesn't disappear (as many have) and that this lot are more inefficient rather than dishonest (unlike other parts of cpw). However, many people have been reporting problems with them (getting through for one thing - though I managed to recently).

If you are interested in cashbacks I suggest yuo start with this:-

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=558661

I also suggest to look at Mobiles2Yourdoor - they not only have totally free deals much of the time (not necessarilly on your preferred package, network or phone) and are (at present) completely genuine and reliable. However, if you follow my groundrules you won't become complacent about that - cpw companies used to offer the best deals, were highly reliable and didn't try to cheat as they most certainly often do nowadays (though they have cleaned up their act a little lately, I've also noticed).