3 - 18 Month Contracts Pulled

Exhortation

I got a text yesterday from 3 offering me 25% off a second phone contract if I rang them and quoted a given code. As my wife is coming to the end of her current contract I decided to check out what might be available. I'm glad I did. On pay monthly tariffs 3 no longer offer an 18 month option with the exception of one (and that is only available via Carphone Warehouse and only on 12 phones). Given that they are about to start selling the iPhone, I think this is a major case of shooting oneself in the foot. With another new iPhone undoubtedly just 53 weeks away, who is going to commit to a 2-year contract? Personally, I refuse to tie myself to one phone for that long as the amount of use and abuse mine take I can't guarantee a phone will even function for that long.

Big mistake, 3. I, for one, will be looking elsewhere when it comes to renewal time in February.

BTW, I'm not a Jobs-ophile, I'm a BB owner and I'm proud of it!

OneADay

I had two 12 month contracts with 3 a few years back and non after that when they started shovelling 18 months only.

A friend of mine is on 3 following my recommendations a few years back - he has renewed a few times (on 18 month now but early upgrade means he got tied in on even longer than 18 months at renewal time) but next time he will definitely be moving elsewhere.

All the networks have moved to minimum 18 months and now I think I will go monthly plan or something next time I renew.

It would help if more people stopped taking up longer contracts so networks start to get the message.

spaceman5

Exhortation wrote: »

I got a text yesterday from 3 offering me 25% off a second phone contract if I rang them and quoted a given code. As my wife is coming to the end of her current contract I decided to check out what might be available. I'm glad I did. On pay monthly tariffs 3 no longer offer an 18 month option with the exception of one (and that is only available via Carphone Warehouse and only on 12 phones). Given that they are about to start selling the iPhone, I think this is a major case of shooting oneself in the foot. With another new iPhone undoubtedly just 53 weeks away, who is going to commit to a 2-year contract? Personally, I refuse to tie myself to one phone for that long as the amount of use and abuse mine take I can't guarantee a phone will even function for that long.

Big mistake, 3. I, for one, will be looking elsewhere when it comes to renewal time in February.

BTW, I'm not a Jobs-ophile, I'm a BB owner and I'm proud of it!

i think you will find that most of the mobile networks will be offering only 24 month contracts soon, especially on the new iphone, so you will be in the same boat whoever you are with

Guys_Dad

spaceman5 wrote: »

i think you will find that most of the mobile networks will be offering only 24 month contracts soon, especially on the new iphone, so you will be in the same boat whoever you are with

This is going to be great fun, then. The failure rate of mobile phones is sufficiently high to already cause trouble on 18-month contracts, so what will this be like on 24? In addition, the seemingly insatiable desire of the British public to get the latest handset that gives minimal benefit over its predecessor will really cause envy pain.

The net result, I am sure, will be a great increase in moans in this forum.

Back on my hobby horse which is sim-only contracts and buy your own phone when you want it, not when your contract ends and, if you don't like your network, 30 days notice and move!

spaceman5

Guys_Dad wrote: »

This is going to be great fun, then. The failure rate of mobile phones is sufficiently high to already cause trouble on 18-month contracts, so what will this be like on 24? In addition, the seemingly insatiable desire of the British public to get the latest handset that gives minimal benefit over its predecessor will really cause envy pain.

The net result, I am sure, will be a great increase in moans in this forum.

Back on my hobby horse which is sim-only contracts and buy your own phone when you want it, not when your contract ends and, if you don't like your network, 30 days notice and move!

i suppose though this is the networks way of trying to get some money, take the desire for example, you can buy that sim free for around the £400, but then you need to put a sim in it and pay the network the contract for the sim, i,e the network makes the profit from the sim, but say you got the desire from the network free, on a £35 contract over 12 months they then only get £405, remembering the phone cost around £400 and then they got to factor in the minutes/texts/internet onto that, and even an 18 month contract they would still only get £630, which again is not really going to give them much profit, so i suppose this is the networks way of getting some guaranteed income, although i agree it is a pain

kingofherts

3 do still offer 18 month deals at least they do in a 3store, they are a little more expensive than the 24month and don't include any free internet but you can get any handset (currently) free on an 18m deal