Can you reduce your phone tariff during your contract?

mobile_man_2

Hey,

I should probably know this myself but...

Currently I have an Orange contract which I have had for about 6/7 months. My contract currently is one of the higher end tariffs at £40.00 a month 24 month contract (although I do get a 30% discount). I get 1200 minutes and unlimited texts. My last bill I used 200 mins and 600 texts which would probably amount to a £20,00 tariff.

Has anyone tried/succeded in reducing your tariff with a network? I've got no idea if this is possible so any advise would be much appretiated.

OneADay

Something like 9 months into a 18 month contract with vodafone, you can drop down £5 a month till you reach the lowest possible tariff on the network.

T-mobile no longer allow it (at least not till you are in final month) not sure if Orange do allow it (their policies will merge when the two companies become one).

Jon_01

I think Orange are now only allowing a downgrade in the last month of the contract.
All the networks have increased the time before they let you drop a tariff as people were signing up to top end plans to get a free phone and dropping with a few months. . .

Buzby

It is strongly discouraged - primarily becasue the discount provided is based on your agreement to pay £X amount over 18 or 24 months. This also affects the price you would have paid for the handset.

Around 10 years ago it was common to sign up for the highest tariff to get the phone free, then after the first month ask to be dropped to the lowes, this meant you got a bargain, and the network was left to carry the loss.

Steadily, each network brought in various policies to reduce their exposure to this consumer scam, operiting minimum tariff periods, or removing the ability to change the tariff at all - unless it was to a HIGHER costing one.

loveangel88

I was able to reduce my phone taffif from £35 to £25 8months through a 18month contract. Rang up and said im not using the mintutes and can i have it reduced to my average mintutes each month, i had 600 was using 400 at most so they did, worth trying if u dont get it 1st time, keep trying. Im on Orange

greyster

Buzby wrote: »

It is strongly discouraged - primarily becasue the discount provided is based on your agreement to pay £X amount over 18 or 24 months. This also affects the price you would have paid for the handset.

Around 10 years ago it was common to sign up for the highest tariff to get the phone free, then after the first month ask to be dropped to the lowes, this meant you got a bargain, and the network was left to carry the loss.

Steadily, each network brought in various policies to reduce their exposure to this consumer scam, operiting minimum tariff periods, or removing the ability to change the tariff at all - unless it was to a HIGHER costing one.

ah the good old days. Even the independant stores profited as they got more commission for you taking out a higher initial tariff.

talkalot

Did your phone come from Orange directly ? If so then Orange do a best plan review every 6 months. They will advise you what type of plan is best suited to your use. If you only use 200 min a month and are paying for a higher plan they will let you change if you ask them. This is only done every 6 months.

slewis1972

Anyone know if its possible to downgrade to a lower tariff, after 9 months on 02 still?

Scott

PotatoPotato

slewis1972 wrote: »

Anyone know if its possible to downgrade to a lower tariff, after 9 months on 02 still?

Scott

Hey i am thinking about the same thing as Scott.

Does o2 let you downgrade your tariff after 9 months (in a 18 month contract) and let you keep your discount?

For eg: i am on £30 x 18 months, with £10 discount. Therefore i am paying £20 per month.
Can i downgrade to the next lowest (£25 x 18 months) and keep my £10 discount? Effectively £15 per month?

Edit: Same thing about keep discount and upgrading to the next tariff, considering my options

t_mob_insider2

greyster wrote: »

ah the good old days. Even the independant stores profited as they got more commission for you taking out a higher initial tariff.

shame for the people in todays climate loosing their jobs and taking pay cuts who cannot reduce their plan because of people in the past abusing the systems.
Originally Posted by Buzby
It is strongly discouraged - primarily becasue the discount provided is based on your agreement to pay £X amount over 18 or 24 months. This also affects the price you would have paid for the handset.

Around 10 years ago it was common to sign up for the highest tariff to get the phone free, then after the first month ask to be dropped to the lowes, this meant you got a bargain, and the network was left to carry the loss.

Steadily, each network brought in various policies to reduce their exposure to this consumer scam, operiting minimum tariff periods, or removing the ability to change the tariff at all - unless it was to a HIGHER costing one.

PotatoPotato

PotatoPotato wrote: »

Hey i am thinking about the same thing as Scott.

Does o2 let you downgrade your tariff after 9 months (in a 18 month contract) and let you keep your discount?

For eg: i am on £30 x 18 months, with £10 discount. Therefore i am paying £20 per month.
Can i downgrade to the next lowest (£25 x 18 months) and keep my £10 discount? Effectively £15 per month?

Edit: Same thing about keep discount and upgrading to the next tariff, considering my options

Just a little bump :T