'Backdoor upgrade' question (T-Mobile)

gpmartin

I’m looking for some advice about how best to get a new phone and contract with T-Mobile. I’m a low-volume user (current package has an allowance of 100 minutes and 100 texts, which I don’t exceed), but I need a new phone, and could do with Windows Mobile and internet access so that I can synchronise calendar and e-mails with my work e-mail account. I’m looking at the HTC Touch 2, which buymobilephones.net currently has for £20/month (18-month contract) on T-Mobile for 100 mins, 100 texts and internet, with £55 automatic cashback, plus possible Quidco cashback.

I’ll see if T-Mobile can match this with an upgrade, but given what they’ve offered me so far, I don’t think they’re especially interested in pulling out all the stops to keep a low-volume user! My contract expired earlier this month, and I’m currently paying £5 a month, with no contract extension, so can leave at any time.

Therefore, assuming T-Mobile don’t want to match the deal, I’m wondering how best to get a ‘backdoor upgrade’ and get onto the new package with buymobilephones.net. I’ve very keen to keep my current number, so I think I’ve got three options – please could you tell me which is likely to be the least hassle, and if any of them might not work?

1.Get a PAC code, transfer to another operator PAYG, then get another PAC code and give it to buymobilephones.net when I purchase the contract

2.Downgrade to PAYG with T-Mobile, get a PAC code, and give this to buymobilephones.net when I purchase the contract (I wouldn’t have thought this would work, but buymobilephones.net seems to say that you can port a T-Mobile PAYG number to a new T-Mobile contract)

3.Get a PAC code, transfer to another operator PAYG, buy the contract from buymobilephones.net, then get another PAC code at a later date, and port it to the new phone after the contract has started (will this work? The advantage is that it means I can use up credit on the other operator’s PAYG before transferring my number to the new phone)

Which of these do you think is my best option? Are there any other options that I’ve not thought of? Thanks in advance!

Jon_01

Option 1 will always work.
If you go to Orange payg, you can port in, in the morning and request your pac in the afternoon. So you can turn round in around 6 days...

Astec

I did something similar to option 2 on o2 a few years back. Ported from contract to PAYG to contract all on o2. Also, I didn't need to top up at all to receive calls (no outbound obviously).

Btw, £20 on an 18m contract is very good...

semelak1

Hi,

Which plan are you planning to get ? I am almost in the same boat you are (currently with T-mobile PAYG paying £15 and would like a new phone)
http://www.buymobilephones.net/mobile-phones/HTC/HTC-Touch-2/85,25993

gpmartin

Hi

Don't think I've made enough posts to include a link, but if you click on the link you gave, then go to the 'Internet plans' tab, then it's the second one down (T-Mobile Combi 15 + Web'n'walk). If you look further down, you can also get it on a 12-month £30/month contract, with £65 cashback.

Astec

Just had a look, without internet, £15/month on 18m contract. So £270 for the contract, £40 auto cashback and £20 quidco. Possible £210 for a touch HD 2?!?! Or is the Touch 2 different?

I've broken my Touch Diamond and 9 months from upgrade so this is tempting...

Are these phones unlocked?

gpmartin

Ah - it's not an Touch HD2, but a Touch 2 - they are different. I think the Touch 2 costs something like £270 new unlocked, and goes for about £150-200 on E-bay. So a pretty good offer, I think. Don't know whether T-Mobile do them unlocked or not, though.

Astec

Yeah just realised it's not the Touch HD2 :-(

It's still a decent specced phone (personally I see it as comparible to the Iphone 3gs spec wise), but not 'the daddy'! Still a good offer too IMO.