Can I split up a large orange bill over several months?

shell_girl

Hi,
I've been stung (through my own stupidity admittedly) while using my phone abroad... My bill is scarily big :eek:
I was planning to ask orange if I can divide this bill up over a few months- does anyone know if this is something they would consider, or have any tips as to how I can persuade them??

I've also literally this week upgraded (for free) with them, so I guess that's my bargaining tool gone?! Looks like I may have to sell my shiny new hero just to pay the bill :rotfl::o

Will call them tonight obviously- just wanted to check if anyone knows if this is something they will consider.
Thanks anyone who's reading!

Mobiles.co.uk_company_representative

Can't speak for whether they'll agree or not, but as part of the negotiation you should maybe ask to have a credit limit put on the account so they know you're serious about managing this better in future. Most (if not all) contract mobile phones have a credit limit on them and they can vary it.

Good luck,

reehsetin

they do let you set up payment plans but it's whether they will bar the phone that is the question, can i ask where you got your upgrade from?
If they wont unbar the handset if your upgrade was over the phone or online see if they will let you send the phone back and cancel the upgrade and transfer the number to PAYG while you pay off the arrears so at least you can still use the phone number

shell_girl

Thanks both. Got the upgrade over the phone on Friday last week- had been out of contract for ages and was waiting for the right phone to come up for free. Tomorrow I think is last day for cancelling and sending back- they give 7 days I think? OH will be devastated if it has to go back- hopefully I can work something out with them tonight...
ETA- The bill isn't due until 15th September so they haven't cut me off or anything yet- I was just checking my bill online as I knew it would be a bit bigger than usual (never usually go over my contract amount) but bl**dy maritime roaming meant it was huuuuuuuge. Will do my research properly next time- totally my own fault. Gutted

shell_girl

Thought I'd update in case anyone else is in a similar situation.
Called orange last night- they explained that they wouldn't be able to set up a payment plan as my bill isn't overdue yet.
Orange rep advised me to cancel the DD if I can't afford it, as they'd automatically take the full amount out. I'll get a text from them when my bill becomes overdue, she said if I then contact their collections department and pay whatever I can afford off the bill, I'll be able to set up a payment plan then. I asked if the phone would remain active during that time, she said it would.

Seemed quite unorthodox advice- as in can't sort it out in advance, have to let it slip before anything can be done. Going to call them again just to make sure that that's the right advie- just in case I was speaking to someone on their last ever shift who hates the company :rotfl:

CG19a

Try to make a payment over the phone just now if you can. At least then it shows you are serious about paying the bill back and might help when you talk to collections about setting up a payment plan.

shell_girl

Good idea- I get paid on tuesday so will call them then. Thanks!