Batter down your annual mobile costs article Discussion Area

Chef_Hermes

I've just read Martins piece about haggling with mobile phone companies. Let me tell you it doesn't work with Three.

I was just about to come to the end of my contract with Three, and after the battle I'd had with them over their RPI rise in the summer I thought I'd have the upper hand.

I use about 3GB of data per month so Three are the only company I can really use. I work away from home alot & tether my laptop as well to write my blog.

My iphone on the One plan from Three was costing £37pm & I was looking to reduce this to about £30.

My phone is in my partners name & we have 2 phones with Three & she has been with them for in excess of 6 years, so you'd think loyalty would pay it's part.

NO!!

Three would only offer us the same deal which is available on the Three website for the phone I wanted. I then looked at a website which is widely touted on the net but has very mixed reviews. I could get the phone I want on the One plan for £13 per month cheaper.

So I visited a Three store, they wouldn't budge either. So now I have churned my phone.
& this is how it works. I went to a third party shop. Explained the situation. I've ported my number to another sim (&company) for 1 day, I've already opened another Three account with the phone & deal I want (still £13 pm cheaper than Three) then tomorrow I pick up my new phone from the shop & we port my number back to the Three handset.

Moral of the story: At Three loyalty isnt rewarded & are clearly making massive profits if you buy direct from them. At no point has Three given me a reason not to do this 'churning' or justify why they cant/wont match the third parties offer.

The up shot is I have the phone I want on the plan I want, saving £13 per month for the next 2 yrs
:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

mije1983

Chef_Hermes wrote: »

Let me tell you it doesn't work with Three.

I use about 3GB of data per month so Three are the only company I can really use.

This is why haggling didn't work. They know from your usage that it is probable you will stay with them.

I could get the phone I want on the One plan for £13 per month cheaper.

Is it a cashback deal? If so read the T&Cs VERY carefully!

Moral of the story: At Three loyalty isnt rewarded

It isn't on any network really. It's all about how much ££ you spend.

The up shot is I have the phone I want on the plan I want, saving £13 per month for the next 2 yrs
:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

At least the outcome was what you wanted

Doc_N

Chef_Hermes wrote: »

My phone is in my partners name & we have 2 phones with Three & she has been with them for in excess of 6 years, so you'd think loyalty would pay it's part.

'Loyalty' has no place in dealing with businesses. Forget the concept altogether. Companies don't reward loyalty unless it makes business sense to. Why should they they exist to make profits, and not for any other purpose.

lemonstar

Any view on this?

Chef_Hermes

mije1983 wrote: »

This is why haggling didn't work. They know from your usage that it is probable you will stay with them.



Is it a cashback deal? If so read the T&Cs VERY carefully!



It isn't on any network really. It's all about how much ££ you spend.


At least the outcome was what you wanted

Not a cashback deal, although the website I describe in original post is available through cashback sites.

forgot to mention. The reason that the other providers don't offer unlimited data as a rule like Three do, is apparently they don't want to slow their networks down.

did think that this was a handy tip, if providers won't match what you can find on the net.

Chef_Hermes

Doc_N wrote: »

'Loyalty' has no place in dealing with businesses. Forget the concept altogether. Companies don't reward loyalty unless it makes business sense to. Why should they they exist to make profits, and not for any other purpose.

So the potential to lose not one but two users makes sense does it?
The fact that I'm going to be £260 better off over the next two yrs & when my GF changes she could be £200 better off over two yrs, still makes no sense esp if she decides to go to another network.

grumbler

It's about how much you and/or your GF spend, especially outside your allowances, not about for how many years you were 'loyal'.

grumbler

lemonstar wrote: »

Does an unlocked phone give you a better bargaining position?
Any view on this?

I don't think so. Unlocking is cheap and easy to do with very few exceptions.

Chef_Hermes

grumbler wrote: »

It's about how much you and/or your GF spend, especially outside your allowances, not about for how many years you were 'loyal'.

it's quite rare for us both to exceed our allowences, but after Three put up my contract by over £3 pm in the summer, then claimed that I couldn't cancel my contract as less money in my pocket (or material detriment) wasn't a reason. Despite saying in the contract it is.

I've made the point to them in the best way. I'll still cane their unlimited data at 3GB every month & in two months time my GF will be on a lower contract with a better phone.

The only ppl that don't really gain are Three.

I do note that from the replies I've recieved, nobody has addressed why it is cheaper to go to a 3rd party & churn, rather than go direct to Three?

grumbler

Chef_Hermes wrote: »

I do note that from the replies I've recieved, nobody has addressed why it is cheaper to go to a 3rd party & churn, rather than go direct to Three?

Because Three know well that the majority of existing customers can't be bothered to go to a 3rd party and then to port their number in two steps. The majority of the customers coming through third parties are genuine new customers that Three pay a big commission for. Third parties use this commission to offer better deals.