Batter down your mobile contract cost

rozeepozee

My contract is about to expire and I contacted BT to see what they could offer on an upgrade. I am currently on a SIM only promo paying £20 per month for 150 mins and 50 texts. I also got £100 cashback on this 12 month deal.

BT said the best it could offer was a fancy schmancy Sony Ericcson K700i (my current phone is ancient) with 100 xtariff anytime mins and 50 texts for £6.99 for the first 6 months and £22 for the second 6 months. It was adamant there was no way it could offer me more (I'm not a heavy user and only wanted 50 more texts!) I told their rep in the Customer Options Team I was investigating and could she call me back later.

After half a day's research using this website (thanks Martin and all those who take the time to post on the forum!), the best deal I could find was e2save offering the same phone on an 18 month T mobile tariff with 200 xtariff anytime mins and 100 texts plus an in car holder, in car charger, hands free kit and 3 months insurance. I didn't want to transfer as I am reasonably happy with BT (apart from a few problems claiming my cashback), didn't need the extra minutes but did want the extra texts.

When the rep called back I was as nice as pie and explained I had found a better deal and I would have to transfer if BT could not do any better. Although she couldn't offer me extra minutes (unless I paid extra - I don't need them anyway), I eventually got: a Sony Ericcson K700i with 100 x tariff anytime mins and 100 texts plus like a rabbit from a hat, an in car holder, in car charger, hands free kit and a standard headset for £6.99 for the first 6 months and £22 for the second 6 months. Although this works out at a bit more than T Mobile I get to avoid the hassle of changing to a different provider on an 18 month contract (especially T Mobile and its mixed reviews) and I am a happy bunny!

Power to the People!!!:grouphug:

JimArnold

Another vodaphone experience
1) don't bother with the leaving Vodafone option - they'll only offer crap uogrades - "you aren't a big user" - £30 a month
2) sent a written cancellation 6 weeks before 12 months is up requesting PAC
3) wait for phone call and browse web; choose phone and work out the best price over 12 months !!!!!! are good for this
4) when phone call comes (2 days later in my case) then explain eg "I can get a Se 750i on O2 100 minutes and 100 textx for £210 for 12 month cost" (true but relied on cashback which I didn't mention!)
5) 1st Offer new 750i + 75 mins & 100 texts £17-50 a month on 18 month contract but includes stop the clock
6) 2nd offer new phone + 125 mins + 250 texts £20 - no I'll can make that £17-50 as well on 12 nmonth contract but I can't do stop the clock except on 18 months (?true? with extra mins and texts I didn't care)

I don't think there is anyone you can call who will give as good offer I think you have to wait for them to call - and they will!
I suspect I could have done a smidgeon better if I had really haggled

New phone eher in 2 days and apparently my new 12 months starts now!

Tondella

Latest orange experience:
BF's contract had expired, as a heavy user he had been paying £50 for 600 premier tariff (600 xnetwork anytime mins, 150 txts). Used the one compare site and came upon the 3 tariff, 500 xnetwork anytime minutes plus 100 free txts for £31 per month. Phoned up orange and explained how we had found a better offer with three, first customer service lady made deadly mistake of saying "we rarely match three tariffs" i.e. suggesting that orange could do it when they wanted to. Got through to the magic retentions dept, where we were offered £30 tariff for 500 minutes, 100 txts and upgrade to swish new Motorola V3, plus half price tariff for first six months.

Have to say that we were offered the price match straight away, Orange service rep was lovely and personable the whole way through. Obviously being a high user and long-term customer helps grease the wheels but this site still saved us £330 this year when we are saving for a wedding and trying to pay off cc debts. Thanks!

sushi_3

Hi there,
This tip has worked a treat for me and as my contract is about to end I made the call. I've previously been paying £30 for 200 mins. Now they've offered me 500 cross network mins plus 100 texts plus 15 photo messages plus tri band package plus FREE W800i for £15 p/mth for first six months and £30 thereafter 18 month contract tho.
Am still deliberating and waiting for the W800i to come in stock before I take up.
Advice/thoughts on this offer welcome.
Sushi

knuckledragger

sushi,
depending on your tastes and needs, try for an SPV M500. My friend just got one on a free upgrade and loves it. Still plenty of room for mp3 tracks...

Saffie_2

I am with Vodaphone. I wrote to them asking them to cancel my contract on the last day. Needless to say i recieved a phone call from them a few days later asking me if i was unhappy with their service?!
You know the story...
I managed to get my price plan down by £5 per month
Doubled my minutes and texts
And got a free new phone!
They even had the phone delivered to my work the next day!!

I would recomend giving this a try.
I'll sertainly do it again when my new contract is up...

:j

Daveboy_3

Just thought I'd let you know how I got on with Orange...

Until recently my bills averaged about £50/month, although they dropped a bit recently as I no longer use it for business. My tariff was Talk 200 which gives 200 xnet minutes and no texts for £30/month.

I phoned orange and chose the menu option 'If you are thinking of leaving Orange press..'. I asked the guy if I could have the PAC code for transferring my number to another network, and he asked why I was leaving. I explained I have had a few problems with orange's service in recent months and wasn't happy. He then asked if there was anything they could do to persuade me to stay. So I asked what he could offer.

To cut a long story short I got a Sony Ericsson K750i (which I love), 200 Xnet anytime minutes a month, 3000 (yes 3000!) texts a month, for £20/month. I know I won't use all the texts every month but it does mean I'll never pay for texts. This was a 12 month contract.

A bit of advice, I never took the deal on my first call, and when I phoned back a couple of times I spoke to different people who tried to change/go back on the offer. In the end they said the original offer was a mistake, but they would honour it anyway. So if you phone and they offer a decent deal, take it there and then as you might miss out if you hesitate!

Hope this helps.

stefr

I have a rare tale where this did not work. After contract ended (15/month for 100mins and 50 text) I started calling vodafone and watching the price of the phone I wanted come down (may 120 to August 50). I was determined to get it for 0. In September things went wrong though. The price jumped to 70 and they wanted an 18 month contract instead of 12 month contract if I upgraded. I called again and sent a letter requesting my PAC codes. No phone call ever came and I ended up signing a new deal with orange. Even on the phone call when the vodafone employee read out the PAC codes to me they would not come near the offers I could find elsewhere. It was bye bye vodafone for me.

Green_Badger_2

Thanks so much for this tip. I've just got them to give me 500 minutes and 100 text messages over an 18 month contract. That's longer than strictly necessary but I was negotiating wanting to kep the number anyway so it doesn't matter. I'm paying £15 for 6 months, then £30 for the next twelve. That way it works out at £25 a month overall. Much appreciated!

little_witch_uk

Just been on the phone to o2, I'm currently paying £45 of 600 x-net mins and 50 texts but I only use 400 of those mins and alot more texts. I've been with o2 for close to 7 years now ( 2 on contract and 5 on PAYG). My contract doesn't end till November but they said when it does they'd be happy to offer me 500 mins and 400 texts for £25 and a new phone lets just hope they keep to it.
I'll keep you posted.
Little Witch