MSE News: Mobile operators forced to offer 12-month contracts

Guys_Dad

tifo wrote: »

You can have a cap put on at your monthly limit ....

Oh yes? Try reading this https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3011106 and telling OP.

thor

Anyone know how effective this new EU rule will be? Ofcom claim they will be enforcing this but didn't the EU also issue a directive saying that all electrical items must have a 2 year warranty? Take up of that rule appears to have been very hit and miss so far.

rev_henry

tifo wrote: »

You can have a cap put on at your monthly limit ....

If you're abroad, the charges can take a while (days/weeks) to be sent through to your home provider, so your home network don't actually know how much you've racked up abroad and thus can't stop you.

tori.k

um...dont they already offer 12 month contracts, thats all i've ever had with both three and O2

rev_henry

12 month contracts with free phones are a dying breed these days. I know vodafone don't do them full stop atm, possibly same with Orange.

Gorgeous_George

If a £360 handset with a £20 monthly calls package costs £35 per month over two years, it'd need to be at least £50 per month over a year. Forget to cancel after 12 months and the phone companies make even more.

Apart from the financial implications, there's an environmental cost of short term contracts with millions of additional phones being manufactured so that chavs can have their gadget fix.

GG

simax

As soon as my 24 month O2 iPhone contract ends I'll be going either 1 month Sim Only, or going to GiffGaff until the phone croaks it's last.

robbies_gal

i think its a good thing-regardless of the cost i want the choice of a 12 month if i choose to pay more fine-i like to change my phone once a year and now i can

tied in at the moment but i can only wait then do what i want to do not what they decide

MyOpinionCounts

This thread spurred me into registering so I could post. This was the best news I could have heard today and NO I am not pro Euro.
I have been with T-Mobile for 12yrs, just because it was easier to call at the end of my then 12mth contract and get an upgrade or money off my line rental. In June 2009 I signed up to a 18mth/£30 contract for 700mins, unlimited txts, unlimited internet with a BB Curve. BIG mistake!! Couldn't use the internet because no Blackberry addon (didn't want BB messenger or push email), hardly used the texts let alone the minutes, when I called to upgrade in December 2010 a fast talking sales person tried to pressure me into an even longer contract. "We can give you this, this and this BUT only if you sign up to a 24MTH contract". Thanks but no thanks! I have learnt my lesson about wanting the newest phone but paying the price for the handset in a longer and more expensive contract.

I spent a week of calling t-mobile trying to get them to honour what I thought initially was a good deal for an 18mth upgrade at the time after a bit of haggling, on the Desrie HD only to be told that the deal was invalid and they will not be honouring it; (an enthusiastic sales person was offering it free, but as it is a PREMIUM handset apparently I should have paid a much higher monthly price on a 24mth contract) I was upgrading mine and DH phones and DD was going from Sim only to a contract.

Well the outcome was, my DD got the phone she wanted on an acceptable tariff at a price she was happy to pay on another network and the same with DH.
As for me :-), after that many years loyalty to T-mobile I expect better, I am currently on a 30 day Sim only with t-mobile that suits my usage AND when a deal on the phone that I WANT at a price that is right ( I shop around and compare prices weekly) comes along then I will commit to a contract again. The fact that 12mths will now be compulsory again, will serve all the GREEDY mobile service providers right for trying to force people onto a longer, less competitive contract. Because just when you've upgraded inevitably there are ALWAYS better deals made available and you miss out, so............ I will now watch and wait!!! The consumer rules!!!
And as a post script when I went into CPW recently, I was told that Orange was now only offering a minimum of 24mths on a new contract and that all the providers were moving towards this, hence the now poor pricing for 18th contracts. I will now continue to watch and wait..............

PA244UL

i have recently taken out a three year contract with three network if this new law comes in can they hold me to a three year contract.does anyone know