Batter down your mobile contract cost

sisleyfamily

Sorry to be so blunt but it would appear that between my mobile provider (Mobile Express - Carphone Warehouse) and T Mobile I have been well and truly shafted for another 6 months. An offer too good to be true online with M.E. for a Nokia 6230 on Tmobile, 200 free minutes and 200 texts (1st six months) with free line rental for 12 months and £30 for another 6 months on an 18 month contract I thought, at the time was a good deal. I have been with TMobile for several years and had great service and coverage and as I have some difficuties the disability helpline have been extremely helpful. After six months on contract I contacted Tmobile to arrange my text needs and spoke to them about the contract and asked when the best time would be to call up to cancel the contract. I was told then that the contract would now be full rate but I could cancel at 12 months with no charge which effectively meant that I was paying the same. When I called tmobile yesterday I was told that if I want to cancel I had to pay a further £180 (six months contract rate) I have sent an email of complaint but really have little hope unless someone knows anything I can do to persuade them??

boysmum3

Myself and my partner had an O2 online account since 2002, with 500 free texts and 500 free minutes off peak for £20, however we were using phone in day occasionally and getting stung! When we moved house decided we couldn't afford average of £60-70 month between us and that we should go PAYG - phoned O2 to keep same numbers and the advisor told me not to do PAYG as too expensive and he could offer us rate of £10 month with 500 texts and 300 mins with no minimum tie in time - we said yes please!! Even with occasional peak use haven't had a monthly bill above £15. And of course O2 offer 'treats' with extra freebies... like extra 10 mins anytime minute a month..doesn't sound a lot but kept my bill down at £10.12 last month!!

Down side is no upgrade on phone - however we are not bothered about having the latest models and will shop round for a bargain when i need a new phone.

On O2 subject.. just got an online PAYG SIM for my son as long as you top up £10 month get choice between 100min calls or 300 texts month included.. this offer came on my AOL home screen so not sure if still ongoing.

tw0906blue

Another Newby with mobile phone questions! :rolleyes:

I have been with Orange since forever. Now I have a contract that has my husband on a second number. He runs his own business so doesn't want to change his number (understandable) but he can't afford not to have his mobile working for 10 days or so! But with quarterly bills of £80, with 120 minutes and a text bundle of 200 - which I always exceed - I need a better contract!

I called Orange and they were "unable" to do anything until February....so February has arrived and I want to improve the contract I have....but I get lost in all the comparisons etc.

Can someone point me to a reliable comparitive site which speaks in easy to understand terms for an aging brain and a newby moneysaver!

Thanks

knuckledragger

tw0906blue,
Just to clarify a very important point- When porting a number between networks, you will not be "without a phone " for 10 days. The old network will still work right up to the scheduled day of the port. (If my port from Tmobile to O2 is anything to go by, you'll actually have two tariffs on the go with the same number for a few hours!).
For comparisons, take a look at:
http://www.reestitmutton.co.uk/
or https://www.!!!!!!!!!!!!!.co.uk (still can't hyperlink it for some reason...)

There should be something to suit on one of those sites.

pana37

knuckledragger wrote:

tw0906blue,
Just to clarify a very important point- When porting a number between networks, you will not be "without a phone " for 10 days. The old network will still work right up to the scheduled day of the port. (If my port from Tmobile to O2 is anything to go by, you'll actually have two tariffs on the go with the same number for a few hours!).
For comparisons, take a look at:
http://www.reestitmutton.co.uk/
or https://www.!!!!!!!!!!!!!co.uk (still can't hyperlink it for some reason...)

There should be something to suit on one of those sites.

the link to compare is down last time i looked i was thinking of getting a 12month cashback deal from http://www.phones2udirect.co.uk/home/default.asp dont know how good are the cashback deals from these guys i have orange phone and looking probably for a o2 deal.
any thoughts??

knuckledragger

pana37,
I did a bit of searching on phones2U and wasn't happy with what I read. I opted for a cashback deal with OSPS. I know there are issues with getting the cashback from them also but they are part of CPW and do react swiftly to county court summons...

starving_artist

Seems like Orange are not interested in negotiating if you only spend £25 a month. I get 200 minutes to landlines but no texts at the moment. I mentioned Three and O2 deals offering 200 cross network minutes and texts and a free phone. Orange would only offer 200 cross network minutes and 100 texts if I sign up for another 18 months. I've been with them six years but looks like I'll have to leave if I want a better contract. Seems like new customers get the best deals (at any network).
My only hesitation is that six years ago mobile 02 reception in my area was rubbish. Not sure if it has improved that much and don't want to get stuck with the wrong network.

David_Mee

starving_artist wrote:

Seems like Orange are not interested in negotiating if you only spend £25 a month. I get 200 minutes to landlines but no texts at the moment. I mentioned Three and O2 deals offering 200 cross network minutes and texts and a free phone. Orange would only offer 200 cross network minutes and 100 texts if I sign up for another 18 months. I've been with them six years but looks like I'll have to leave if I want a better contract. Seems like new customers get the best deals (at any network).
My only hesitation is that six years ago mobile 02 reception in my area was rubbish. Not sure if it has improved that much and don't want to get stuck with the wrong network.

Depending on what you're after - Orange do a 3000 texts for £20 and then you pay extra for calls

pana37

looks like https://www.reestitmutton.co.uk is down are there good comparision web sites for pay monthly contracts not orange

Spangle_2-2

Just thought I'd let everyone know that I followed Martin's advice and got excellent results! I've been a customer with Orange for at least 4 years and so thought it was definitely time to reap the benefits!

I'm in my final year at uni and had been on a student contract where I was paying £40 a month for 400mins and 1000 texts - I thought this deal was good at the time, but by following what Martin said I've managed better. I've now secured a deal where I only have to pay £25 a month and I get 500 anytime mins and 1000 texts plus a swanky new motorola rokr phone which madonna has been advertising of late! Wicked!! I'm mega chuffed! Thanks Martin!

Also a bit of advice for students in their final year - upgrade before you graduate so you can still take advantage of student deals (1000 free txts in Orange's case) for a whole year after you've finished with your student days!!!