Contract with T-mobiel not fully expired but want iphone - options

steveo999

T-mobile have offered me an early upgrade but the one phone they wont let me do an early upgrade on is the iPhone.

The problem is both my ipod and my mobile are having issues and I can kill 2 birds with one stone by getting a 32GB iPhone 4.

Because of this I dont want to wait another few months before T-Mobile let me upgrade and im nto convinced id stay with T-Mobile anyway.

Are there any other options anyone would suggest other than startign a new contract elsewhere and paying the next few months of my t-mobile contract on top? I need ot kep my number too elthoguh I dont think this would be aproblem

vintagegirl

i had 3 months to go on my t mobile contract and got the iphone 4 no problem at all.

thatsean

You can port out at any time, Tmo will just invoice you for the duration of your agreement. How many months to go are you? Did they say why the iPhone wasnt an option?

Oscar_The_Grouch

Here are your options as I see it:

1. High cost for phone - cheaper monthly tariff
If you can muster up the £600 to buy the iPhone sim free from Apple (apply for a 0% card and pay it off at £50 a month over 12 months?) then T-mobile should be able to give you a micro sim. When your contract is up, you have the option of getting your PAC code and going elsewhere for a sim only contract or staying on with T-mobile on their sim only. Either way, it means that your monthly cost is going to go down.

Over 12 months, let's say you can knock £15 off your monthly tariff. That's £180 saved plus you have the option to sell the iPhone 4 and go straight back on to a contract iPhone 5 when it comes out next year. Sale of your iPhone 4 would probably net you £350 so (£180 + £350) a total saving of £530 and means your iPhone actually cost you £70.

2. Hi cost up front then upgrade and sell
This starts out the same way as 1, with the upfront £600. The difference is that when T-Mobile offer you the upgrade to the iPhone 4 at the end of your contract, you take it and sell it straight away. You don't get the saving on your monthly contract, but let's assume you get £500 (net of fees etc) from selling the phone. That means you've still only spent £100 on getting the phone that you want.

3. Cheap phone then upgrade
Live with the fact that you iPod is on the blink for a couple of months and resolve your phone issue by spending no more than £15 on a cheap phone to see you through to the end of your contract. Wait and see what T-mobile offer you as an upgrade and if it's not good enough, get your PAC code and move on. Total cost to you is £15, but it's really inconvenient.

4. Threaten to leave
Getting your PAC code doesn't end your contract - you still have to give notice. Not using your PAC code within the 30 days just means that your contract continues. You could phone T-Mobile and ask for your PAC code and see whether they are willing to up their offer to keep you. If they just give you your PAC code, you've lost nothing.

5. Pay up and go
This is expensive. You'll get stung for the full cost of your tariff (probably less VAT) for the remainder of the contract and have to pay for wherever you move to.

I think that just about covers your options, other than to wait for the end of your contract but that's sort of covered by options 3 & 4. Good luck with whatever you decide.