Three Contract Terms

mardybum72

Hi all, just joined up so that I could post this question. I've had a brief look and couldn't find help, but to be fair I only looked for 5 minutes.

I've been with the Three Network for quite some time. I'm now on my 3rd handset with them, at one point I actually had 2 contracts with them whilst waiting for the cheque to come from Phones4U that paid the original one off for me

Anyway I digress. The current phone/deal I have I started around this time last year, an 18 month deal that was an upgrade. As I can't remember the exact date I got the phone/new tariff, I called them yesterday to ask when I can upgrade again as I am keen enough to stay with them, but I'd like a newer phone/bigger tariff.

I couldn't believe that they told me I can't upgrade until September!!
When I asked them how they worked that out, they said that the contract didn't start until June!
I told them that June was when my previous contract would have expired, and they said the new one does not come into effect until the old one expired? I don't remember anybody telling me that at the time. I changed from a Mix N Match tariff to a 500mins + unlimited texts, and it defintely changed well before June!

So I called them back later yesterday to change my tariff to the lowest available (£15 p/m) for the remainder of the term. My thinking is that I can probably get an auto cashback deal elsewhere to pay it off. They said I would have to pay £10 to downgrade, and that I would have to agree to another 18 months on the new lower tariff .... yeah right, like that's gonna happen!!

Needless to say I am now a bit miffed.


I was hoping somebody may be able to offer me a solution/idea/get out?

Or is it just "tough" ?

nomoneytoday

If you upgrade early, the new contract still starts from the date the old one finished. I believe that's why 3 now only allow upgrades one month early instead.

Did you use the P4U cheque to pay off the old contract balance?
AFAIK there would be x months times monthly rental minus 10% due to them...

kingofherts

Its the same with all networks, if an early upgrade is allowed the new term agreed is added to the end of the previous contract. so uprgading 3 months early an 18 month deal will result in 21 months until the end of the 2nd contract, same amount of time overall tho, 36 months. Until recently 3 allowed customers to upgrade 100 days before the end of the contract but now its 42 days, you may still be able upgrade at 100 days thru the call centre but your range of options will be greatly reduced.

DarkConvict

As above, an early upgrade still means you fulfil your existing contract length by adding the remaining to the new contract. It is the same on all network, they don't let you out early. Due to cost of phones those last few months are profit against the cost of the phone they gave you at the start.

Fire_Fox

At the end of the day what you have agreed to is a legally binding contract. If you want to upgrade your handset on an annual basis rather than every eighteen months to two years, get a one year contract in future. You always either have to sit out your notice or pay off the old deal which is money down the drain: money you could be spending in the pub/ putting towards your next handset/ buying accessories.