Upgrade within contract

buffness

Hey, just wandering if anyone can help me on this before I call Carphone Warehouse.

I got a contract with them in December last year - Its an 18 month contract so theres still ages left on the contract (due to expire 26th July 2010)

My monthly bills should be £35 a month as thats the tariff I have. However, because I am abroad alot with my job, my bills tend to be WAY over that amount.

Just to give you an indication:

December 2008: £20.02
January 2009: £46.59
February: £154.69 (!!)
March: £57.44
April: £65.79
May: £123.11
June: £77.62
July: £63.61
August: £68.06
September: £87.07

After looking over at those amounts, they are silly amounts!

My average monthly bill is £76!!

The reason I am posting this, is because I dropped my phone and the screen is cracked on it. The insurance I have does not cover this, therefore I am left with a cracked screen on a Nokia N96!!

Do you think, if I asked Carphone Warehouse whether or not I could upgrade within contract because of the amount that I am paying each month?

The reason I am posting this first, before ringing them is because I am not really good at negotiating or bartering with companies, so any tips would help IF there is a possibility they would honour this.

Thanks! xx

sporedude

Errr they might, But it would add the contract onto what you have left, So possibly running into 2011. But if they dont there isnt really much you can do except buy a cheap PAYG handset.

buffness

Thanks for the info...

Its a long time isnt it to have a contract for! Do you think other companies would upgrade me or would it just be the CPW that would consider it, as I have bought my contract through them?

sporedude

Hmmm I dont think a network directly would, But yeah its a hella long time for a standard contract! Hmmmmmm Try Phones4u, they sometimes do buyouts, But it depends on how long is left.

Also what network is it?

buffness

My contract is due to expire July 2010... so theres a long time left on it.

And, its on o2

sporedude

Ahhhhhh, You could still try Carphone, Say you pay quite a huge sum every month and want to see if you can upgrade it to another contract. May result in another contract being taken out though. Did you check if your home/contents insurance covers mobiles?

DarkConvict

Just have a word with either Carphone Warehouse or your operator. I would guess if you want to move to a more expensive contract or just up the current tariff, i'm sure if it was possible they would be happy to sell it to you.

Snakeeyes21

Why not just lose your phone

DarkConvict

Snakeeyes21 wrote: »

Why not just lose your phone

Errr, well then he will just have to buy a new one. The operator will not replace or amend the contract if you lose or damage your phone.

OneADay

DarkConvict wrote: »

Errr, well then he will just have to buy a new one. The operator will not replace or amend the contract if you lose or damage your phone.

Not if he has insurance (which he said he does).

andyg99

Vodafone will sometimes upgrade you in the contract but would be looking to extend your contract probably for another 18 months.

You could however look to pay off your contract, as another poster suggested Phones 4 U are very good at doing this and you would also be able to trade your Nokia N96 online(even though it faulty) and get money to put towards paying it off.
The other thing you can do to reduce how much you have to pay off your Voda contract is reduce it in £5 incriments every month till its down to the lowest tariff(£20).