Advice on contracts and phones

phildiggle

Hi All,

First post on MSE, but been looking at the forums for a long time now. Decided to show my 'face' at last.

I'm currently on O2 contract which finishes on the 24th Sept this year, on the £25 a month contract which gives me 400 texts and 200 mins.

Been with O2 for the last 6 years now just because my number is one I can't forget and everyone else seems to remember it, which is handy. Just feel as though I could get a better deal in regards to value for money.

Been looking at the Orange Tariffs and feel that the 600 mins, unlimited texts is the one for me. Dolphin I think it is.

However, I'm bit torn as to which phone to go for: Wait for the HTC Hero to be released or pay the £98 for the Samsung i8910HD phone.

Ideally, I don't want to be paying more than the £25 a month I am, and am currently edging towards the Samsung phone. However, this phone has a minimum contract of £30 a month, which is slightly over budget.

So, what I ask of the MSE forum is this... Is there anything I can do or say to Orange to try and sweaten the deal on the Samsung phone? Obviously I wont be commiting until later this year - am I right in saying I can cancel my O2 contract on the 24th Aug when it's due for renewal on the 24th Sept?

This my first contract phone I've had from O2, have always been on PAYG, so not quite sure on the protocol.

Cheers for looking, hope you can help me.

LeeSouthEast

That is a dilemma. Both are great phones. Good luck!!!

iceburn

have a look at these, if you do it through quidco you get an extra £20 cashback as well

http://www.buymobilephones.net/mobile-phones/Samsung/Samsung-i8910-Omnia-HD/30,10709

fiish

Yes, on 24 August you can give your 30 days' notice to end the contract and obtain your PAC to transfer your number, if you are set on switching to Orange.

Why not wait, though, until then to decide on the new mobile you want? A new handset is becoming available every 2-3 weeks and as you mentioned you are not committing until later.

Also, if you're looking at those smartphones it would be wise to get 'unlimited' data allowances so you can make use of all their features, many of which require internet access on the phone.

Buzby

The longer you wait, the prices go down. It is the market that decides - so if you're patient, you're always better off!

phildiggle

iceburn - thank you for that link, was unaware of the site before, so shall have a look at that in more detail, it's certainly offering what I want. May look at quidco too. That's something I've heard a lot of people say they use but something i've never investigated properly.

Fiish - thank you for the information. Think I predominatly want to swap to orange because of the unlimited texts (I know theres a limit to them) also it's for the orange wednesdays. I've got a payg sim on orange, but find it annoying to having to keep switching sims every wednesday!!

Think i've got my mind more set on the samsung phone now.

Buzby - yup am aware prices drop, but i've got the unfortunate habit of wanting things now! lol. Bit of a childhood habit I'm afraid.

iceburn

phildiggle wrote: »

iceburn - thank you for that link, was unaware of the site before, so shall have a look at that in more detail, it's certainly offering what I want. May look at quidco too. That's something I've heard a lot of people say they use but something i've never investigated properly.

Fiish - thank you for the information. Think I predominatly want to swap to orange because of the unlimited texts (I know theres a limit to them)

you are welcome about the site and quidco is a good site, can get cashback from alot of sites you might visit ie pcworld, comet, more than insurance etc. etc.. But as they say do not let the cashback be the only factor since there is a chance you wont get it. But hey it is free :-)

About the unlimited SMS you do know you can get unlimited sms with O2 as well either as part of the tariff or as a bolt on.

fiish

Buzby wrote: »

The longer you wait, the prices go down. It is the market that decides - so if you're patient, you're always better off!

You are right 90% of the time. Market rules allow prices to go up as well, though, despite the tendency for the pieces of technology that mobile phoens are to fall in value rather rapidly.

I worry that if T-Mobile do get taken out of the UK market the effect would be some price rises across the board. From a business POV margins in the UK are apparently very tight for operators.

phildiggle

iceburn wrote: »

you are welcome about the site and quidco is a good site, can get cashback from alot of sites you might visit ie pcworld, comet, more than insurance etc. etc.. But as they say do not let the cashback be the only factor since there is a chance you wont get it. But hey it is free :-)

About the unlimited SMS you do know you can get unlimited sms with O2 as well either as part of the tariff or as a bolt on.

I've got unlimited texts on mine but its only o2 to o2 that are unlimited. Not sure why - I did enquire about it at the time and they said that it was purely for o2 to o2. Since it's only my girlfriend who is on o2 and the rest of my family and friends aren't - it doesn't really pay off. Plus I live with my girlfriend too so rarely text her that much unless I'm away.

inmypocketnottheirs

phildiggle just to emphasise, as I'm not sure if you already know or have picked up, you can transfer your number from 02 to orange. You phone 02 to ask for a PAC number, then when you have bought your new phone fro orange you call them and give them the PAC number and two days later the 02 line ceases and the orange number updates to the original 02.

I did the same transaction earlier this year.

However 02 will do everything they can to keep you and may offer a strong incentive to stay.

phildiggle

inmypocketnottheirs wrote: »

phildiggle just to emphasise, as I'm not sure if you already know or have picked up, you can transfer your number from 02 to orange. You phone 02 to ask for a PAC number, then when you have bought your new phone fro orange you call them and give them the PAC number and two days later the 02 line ceases and the orange number updates to the original 02.

I did the same transaction earlier this year.

However 02 will do everything they can to keep you and may offer a strong incentive to stay.

Hi, Yes I am aware of that fact - have done this several times before. Have swapped this number that I'm on currently from O2 to Virgin and back to O2 again.

I'm certainly going to say to O2 that I've found a better deal with orange and argue the toss that I've been with O2 for the last 6 years and feel uneasy about changing networks. If they can't offer me anything close to the i8910 then I shall be leaving them.

Pitty I can't ring them now and say this because my phone's absolutely knackered!!