Batter down your annual mobile costs article Discussion Area

fiish

Do the retentions thing (threaten to switch to another network). It helps to have a good deal at hand to challenge O2 with. Three normally have rather cheap deals which you can bring to them.

If you are having any minor problems (more annoyances right, otherwise you would have switched ) bringing them up with anecdotes about friends' good experiences with other operators helps.

Sid_Harper

I noticed on T-mobile's online upgrade page yesterday a condition that I read to mean if you have asked to leave, you cease to be eligible for some free gift... couldn't understand what it was about but seems an interesting twist to discourage the usual approach!

Keef180

maracx wrote: »

Contract came to an end thought I would bargain for a better deal from Orange.

After some haggling using the methods outlined on this site, managed to bargain them down to £15 pm, 400 mins, unlimited texts, new phone (Nokia 6500 Slide) and...... wait for it.... I asked, "can I have internet"? To which the guy on the other end replied, "yeah sure, how's evenings and weekends sound", this was the deal clincher for me.

I called Orange about 3 weeks later to clarify the deal as I couldn't see the internet option listed anywhere...they told me this was not included. I argued that the guy (who remembers who they dealt with?? I don't) hadn't made any record of the internet deal so they couldn't do anything because I didn't have enough "points".

Sadly, I didn't check the contract details on paper within the 7 days so now I don't think I have a leg to stand on with regards the internet.

Orange claim no knowledge of it... I feel misled and I feel like kicking myself for not checking the details sooner because I could have sent the phone back and backed out. Now, I have no bargaining power...

Anyone else suffer the same issues???????

I feel I have been misled by Orange too.

Basically last year I upgraded my phone and was offered a deal that involved 5 times more minutes, unlimited texts and a reduction in monthly cost by £20. They also threw in a free PSP for good measure.

It was an 18 month contract which I stated I wasn't happy with as I couldn't see myself living with the same phone for a year and a half.

"Don't worry" they said "after 9 months you get a free upgrade"

Errr no. I phoned up about upgrading and was told that I wasn't allowed to upgrade until the end of my contract. When I quoted the 9 month option I was told that it had been withdrawn from T's & C's and was no longer valid.

I stated that I had been misold or mis-informed and was told I probably was but there wasn't a lot they could do about it as it was a long time ago.

However I did get £35 credited to my account so I did get a little compensation but it still left me fuming.

I will be leaving Orange after 15 years when this contract is up as I have totally lost faith in them now.

71baydreamer

:j :j :j WOW:T :T :T

Thanks everyone, this really works, just called orange and my £35 bill will now be £15 with double the minutes/texts, plus I get a new phone with unlimited internet browsing, plus I get to keep my home broadband:D

Old package: 250 mins, 200 texts, unlimited landline £35 p/month

New package: 600 mins, 200 texts, unlimited landline, unlimited internet, plus a new Nokia 5300 £15

just called explaining I wanted a cheaper deal, 3 were offering all i needed for just £18, they said they could beat it if I stayed, I explained I wanted to keep my unlimited home broadband and at £15/month I wasn't eligible.... if I renew today I can keep it . I must admit I didn't get the phone I really wanted but now saving £20 so I'm happy. Result!!

danoh

This is my mum's story of her contract years!!
First she took out a contract through The Link on a cashback, averaging £3 per month for 200 mins +200 text.
At the end of the contract she rang o2 and they offered the same tarriff for about £10 per month.
So at the end of that she rang again - Here is basically what happened on the phone;

Mum: I'd like to cancel unless you can do me a better deal
o2: Let's see what we can do ... You've been with us a while - How about an 18 month contract
Mum: It depends on how much it costs
o2: It will work out at no cost to you and you get to choose a new phone!

So she gets 400 mins + 200 txts, o2 to o2 unlimited and some international discount - plus an £80 phone for NOTHING.

Lets hope next time they will actually pay her to be with them!

SH111

now in the last month of my contract I gave orange a phone to see what they could do for me.
My first port of call was the standard customer service line. Here I spoke to a lady who didn't seem willing to negotiate on my contract at all.
I next decided to give retentions a ring. Here I spoke to a man who gave me an insight into how the whole system works. I was after a sony ericsson c905 but as I am on a cheap contract I wasnt holding out too much hope.
However I was offfered some good deals such as an se c902 200mins unltd texts for £10 a month. i was really after the C905 though. The man I spoke to informed me that this month retentions were being told not to give away top end phones to save a bit of money but this was being reviewed at the end of december. I was advised that I should take a cheap sim only deal for 1 month and then come january I would be able to get a choice of any phone I liked on a cheap contract.
In conclusion Orange are still willing to give the good phones away however it really depends when you call and if retentions are their priority

FrugalFemale

Just upgraded with Carphone Warehouse on a sim only package with O2, 400 minutes, 1000 text £35 a month but with a £300 credit in my account on a 12 month contract, so essentially no bill to pay for the next 9 months, then 1 month to pay and I can "upgrade" again 2 months before the end. Good if you don't want/need a new phone. Plus a very nice and helpful customer service experience. :T

Went in with the current sim only cashback offer through topcashback.co.uk for Vodafone, £120 cashback on any sim only deal, £15 sim only, reduces to £5 a month, if kept for a year, only have to stay for 4 months thought to get cashback, also another good offer if you can't get anywhere haggling.

CLLC

Anyone got any ideas about retention or threatning to leave with a vodafone 30 day sim only contract??????

digink

Just registered - so actually first post here too (having been reading for a while).

I've just upgraded with Orange after 18 months on their £35 contract. Not cheap.

But anyways, my previous contract has now expired 1 month ago and I've finally got some time to sort out the mobile contract renewal. Used some of the techniques listed here and got the below after 4 calls and 3 hours in total on the phone with the Customer Retentions:

- £10 per month for 18 months, 300 mins 100 texts unlimited landline.
- Samsung Tocco F480

This probably isn't the best deal around but since I've already got a company mobile, I only need a very very cheap personal phone with a small amount of minutes and texts.

I intend to sell the F480 on ebay so this may work out as £20 to £30 for the whole contract period.

Again, thanks for all the info here!

ghill35

Please disregard - just spotted the Vodafone retentions thread :-)


Hi All,

I'm looking for some info on any recent successes with Vodafone.

I'm coming up to end of 18 month contract on Anytime 25.

My bill is between £25 and £50 a month during the year.

Any advice on how to approach getting a better deal and better phone from Vodafone would be appreciated.

I've seen some deals at £25/month that give e.g. 600 mins and lots of texts

Thanks