3 sim card on contract - options

Rebecca.

I am on a pay monthly contract with 3, that ends in June. Yesterday, through my own stupidity, I managed to break my phone beyond repair, so I'm looking to get advice on my options.

Because I'm nearing the end of my contract, I rang 3 yesterday asking about upgrading. They gave me a really awful offer, which I accepted out of panic, but also in the knowledge that I can return it within 14 days. The new phone gets delivered on Tuesday, and I plan to return it immediately and cancel the new contract. Does anyone have experience with this? Do you know if 3 are likely to be difficult about it?

Today, my friend gave me her old phone for me to try my sim card in. It seems to work, but almost as soon as I put it in, I got a message from 3 saying "in a few days this SIM won't work in this 2g phone". I've done a bit of searching online, and found a number of people saying your sim card can get deactivated if you use it in a 2g phone. I really don't want that to happen, so I've taken the sim card out. Does anyone know the actual consequences of using the card in a 2g phone?

I've looked around online and found some much better deals than the one I was offered by 3. I think I will probably end up taking one of these, and cancelling my existing contract with 3, even though this would mean paying the remainder of my contract. If I want to do this, how do I go about doing it?

What would you say my best option is?

Jon_01

3 are very stringent on their phones. If you use it in anyway they won't take it back.

Best bet, don't even open the box, just call them and say you've changed your mind.

To cancel, just call and tell them (if you want to take your number with you ask for your pac code). They'll bill you for the remainder of your contract. Job done.

Rebecca.

Jon_01 wrote: »

3 are very stringent on their phones. If you use it in anyway they won't take it back.

Best bet, don't even open the box, just call them and say you've changed your mind.

To cancel, just call and tell them (if you want to take your number with you ask for your pac code). They'll bill you for the remainder of your contract. Job done.

Thanks. I called them today to ask about the procedue for returning the phone, and I was told the easiest way was when the delivery comes on Tuesday, just to refuse the delivery, then on Wednesday give them a call to sort everything out. I'm a bit nervous about this, just because if I refuse the delivery I won't have any paperwork about the contract. Is this OK?

Jon_01

That's fine. The delivery company will track it all the way back and it'll be marked as 'refused' on their system. You'll be safe.

Fire_Fox

Why don't you just buy a second hand phone similar to your last one, use it until June and sell it on. Then you are free to haggle with Three or indeed change network entirely.

Rebecca.

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Why don't you just buy a second hand phone similar to your last one, use it until June and sell it on. Then you are free to haggle with Three or indeed change network entirely.

I would be happy to do that, but I haven't been able to find any cheap 3g handsets. Can you suggest any which I can get cheaply (bearing in mind I only have £40 remaining to pay on my current contract)

Bowling_4_Gold

You can get a cheap one for £30 from Three. I think you need to buy a £10 top-up, if you order it online but if you go into one of their stores and explain the situation and that you will use your own SIM card, they won't make you buy the top-up.

Look on eBay for a cheaper 2nd hand model if you want.

droid1978

As above you could buy a new phone. The ZTE 102 is a very basic phone. I would go with the Nokia 2730. I would buy a phone from CPW or their online shop as it will be unlocked. You may need to but a 10 pound top up.