mobiles.co.uk, TOC question (selling handset, not a cashback query)

johnnytwohands

Hello, I've opted in for an 18 month contract with Orange, £20 a month, 12 months free (by redemption) and a Sony Ericsson w350i handset.
So by paying only 6 months at £20 a month (I've read I need to opt out of two contracts, gadget and insurance, and make sure I have the correct redemption dates down)
I'm planning to be able to spend what levels out as tenner a month for 400 minutes and unlimited texts, perfect for a student who is not expecting to have a landline. I realise the £10 a month is more a long-term saving, as I expect it will be £20 a month for three months, and then a £60 cheque will take about a month more to reach me, but it's something I can just about afford and save around.
Now, let's keep an idea I've had hypothetical, for possible legal reasons:
What if someone, despite the TOC requesting them to maintain the use of the assigned handset, sold the free handset, and put the unique sim deal into an older Orange locked mobile they own. I'm assuming the deal is bound to the card and does not know what phone it's in, forgive me if this is a technical fallacy.
Now, this person would have money from selling the handset to help pay the line rental, but would there be any stage that this would backfire on them, when the specific handset is required for anything, or it can be detected if the handset is not being used? The handset is unlocked, so the price would overall be good boxed on eBay, if someone were to do this.

Does anyone have any knowledge on that area of the TOC and whether this purely hypothetical plan would fly or become a sticky mess?

This is not a thread asking about usual cashback worries.

OneADay

Not really I did that in at least two contracts I remember. Its called profiteering.
The only drawback you might have is if your other phone goes bust - you will have to buy another to stick the sim in - but you could buy one cheap pay n go one in that scenario.

johnnytwohands

If the other phone goes bust, I have an even older one. One of the first to get Snake II I expect. The reason that I may be able to resist temptation and sell the new one is that I only use a phone for calling and texting, although I'd find the camera handy it's barely better than the poor one I already have.
I do like the look, flip-cover, and slightly better camera on this one, but I'd sooner get a further reduced deal, they're things that I won't notice in the long run it's just a 'new' buzz. I won't care what it looks or sounds like when I'm £10 short of a tariff and have calls to make.

So you're saying that apart from the practical problems of not having the handset for backup, there are no regrets when it comes to paying bills etc... thank you very much, I wasn't sure if it was detectable or something they clamped down on.

The question and answer are for information purposes only, breaching TOC is not encouraged by the forum.

thommy

with orange, the handset is not part of your contract. however, with a third party mobile phone company, say for example, something horrendous happens with your service and you wish to terminate your contract, you may have to return the handset,or pay for it, if you have not had your contract for a certain number of months before your request to cancel (i stand to be corrected if these goalposts have been shifted).
if you're confident you're going to keep the contract full term then there should be no problems. i've done the same as oneaday - eg recently took out an orange contract, gave the not so good phone to my wife, sim in better old phone.

johnnytwohands

Thanks Thommy. I chose a contract I could see through to the end, having always believed that contracts, for good reason as far as the network is concerned, are expensive to break off. But certainly something to think on a little longer. Thanks again for your replies.

Astec

Hope you've done the maths right on this. £10/month after cashback and selling a phone isn't great for 400 min.

Better off with a sim only quidco deal? £11.25 for 02 800 min or maybe one of the Voda ones?

johnnytwohands

I'm taking them up on the time returns can be done in, having kept the sim card and phone untouched since it came through the door recently.
The new plan is the 3 mobile 15.75 per month 700 mix and match, with hundreds of minutes free to someone on 3, which the most likely candidate for those minutes is on, and free blyk calls whenever I'm near wifi. Along with a C510 which has a camera good enough for the 'this is a case where I don't have my actual camera' situations and to provide all functions I would ever demand of a telephone, with the added bonus of skype support.
Lastly, I bought via quidco referral, so the first 3 and a bit months are covered by their £55 reward.
I'd sooner pay a slightly higher flat rate without the complications than struggle for 'what should be enough' and have a poorer handset I pass on as soon as I get it.

Thanks for all the replies, I'll have the knowledge on handset selling for future.