Contract lengths - where did 12 months go?

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

I don't know why there are "minimum" lengths for Mobile Phones. After all the people pushing the deals say the phone is free (confused)
I read somewhere an idea to take SIM only 30 days and use a 0% credit card to buy a SIM free handset. Then you can ditch and switch easily.

boliston

I reckon contract could work for people who consistently use their full allocations of voice/text/data.

If you DON'T use most of it then sim only has to be the way.

I got a second hand iphone 3gs and normally spend less than £10 per month on voice/text/data combined on payg!

rev_henry

lozzaman wrote: »

You don't have to sign up for them? All the networks offer 1 month and 12 month SIM only.

Well, if I want a free phone bundled with a contract then yes I do. 5 years ago I could get still get a decent phone on a 12 monther. The networks are not giving customers what they want.

Snakeeyes21

rev_henry wrote: »

It is outrageous and anti competitive. I quite agree. I've just about accepted having 18 month contracts - 24 months is just a joke.

Is 6 months extra really that bad? or are you just being a bit of a drama queen?

rev_henry

Snakeeyes21 wrote: »

Is 6 months extra really that bad? or are you just being a bit of a drama queen?

Yes! I was used to and liked upgrading every year. Now I can't. I am the customer and I cannot get what I want.

OneADay

rev_henry wrote: »

Yes! I was used to and liked upgrading every year. Now I can't. I am the customer and I cannot get what I want.

Start a campaign to bring back 12 month contracts. I have a deal on 12 months ending in November and another contract which wont end for another year (18 month contract). So its a long wait to get a new phone.

Money_Grabber13579 wrote: »

It's basically because the phones everyone wanted back when 12 month contracts were available cost around £100 -£200. Now, everyone wants a phone that costs £400-£500 pounds and the only way to ensure customers pay a reasonable amount is to lengthen the contacts. I've heard Tesco still do 12 month contracts though.

Networks could easily bring back 12 month contracts if they wanted to. There are cheaper phones they could sell or with the expensive ones, they could charge more on the tariff and/or ask for customer to pay towards the phone at start. I would sign up to those.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

I was in an 18 month contract during the Vodafone 500MB Fair Use Internet fiasco. ***NEVER AGAIN***. I will always go for SIM only and buy my own handset. You have so much more power to leave the network. Thank god I got out of the contract in the end early. But I have learned from it.

18 and 24 month contracts are for stupid people (I was one of them) who see the nice shiny handset and the "too good to be true" deal and get sucked in like a piece of dust up a hoover. I would however *perhaps* consider a 12 month contract and I am quite prepared to pay more monthly or pay towards the handset.

Half_Price_Sky

There was a joke in a recent Simpson's episode where Millhouse gets his cell phone confiscated by the school teacher. Millhouse cries "Please Miss......I was only on month one of a 60 month plan!"

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

OMG Imagine a 60 month contract!

MoneyGypsy

Luckily my problem is solved. I got the £7.50 t-mobile deal for 12months that was on another thread. Okay no phone included but for that price I can buy one on ebay!