Want a new phone but still 7 months left of contract

PocoLocoCoco

Hello,

I have a phone on an 18 month contract with virgin. I asked them when I can get an upgrade they said in March. I am fed up with my phone and want a new one.

I went into phones 4u and said I'd like to buy a blackberry on payg then put in my contract sim in. The salesman said I could do that but the bbm wouldn't work, that is part of the reason I would like a blackberry. He then mentioned about them buying my contract off me, giving me cash or something then I take a new contract out with them. I didn't really have time to take any more details and was wondering if anyone knew what thats all about, what's the catch?

Thanks in advance.

sporedude

Hi,

Phones4U sometimes buyout contracts if your at the minimum plan and coming to the end of the contract, normally for them to sell you a new contract.


Think thats how it works, not sure since they offered to do it with 7 months left.

PocoLocoCoco

Anyone else have any input?

I will be popping in tomorrow after work to ask for the details. Do any other companies do this? I have not had much experience with phones4u but the shop is always dead, I don't get a good impression from this.

Thanks

macman

I don't think anyone is going to buy out a whole 7 months of your contract. If you want the latest super duper phone (which then becomes obsolete in 3 months anyway) then you'll either have to run 2 contracts for 7m or pay for a SIM-free model.

LDR28

I called in to P4U Bristol last weekend, just to see what kind of offers are about. My contract doesn't end for another 5 weeks so wasn't looking to do a deal there and then.

Before I knew where I was, I was in a chair at a table with an 'Advisor' who seemed pretty certain that I was going to be his next sale. He didn't look too happy when I left the store 30 mins later without buying anything!

During that time he informed me that they were able to buy out the remainder of my contract and pay me £200 cash for my old handset (which is only valued at around £30 by the recycling websites ATM).

Ultimately it all comes down to sales and profit - I guess they'll calculate the cost of buying out your contract and balance that against the profit margin of a new contract with then. If P4U or any other reseller can make money by doing this, then of course they will.

redux

I'd just buy whatever handset you choose, then when your existing contract comes up, switch to a SIM-only deal without a phone.

It'll probably work out a bit more expensive than waiting and doing a deal on a new phone at renewal time, but not as bad as either having 2 contracts or binning one early.

JimArnold

with 12 month deals disappearing fast and even 18 months becoming difficult to find this could become a common problem

either
1) buy sim free
or
2) pass your phone onto your kids thus getting a new one every 9 months