Mobile contracts: how to escape them early article discussion

pspiller

Silk wrote: »

A JVM error code is not a fault as such but rather a diagnosis as to what the fault is
When a JVM error shows up it will have a fault code after it to tell you what the fault is ...such as 106 Graphics error, 109 OS error, 501 internal error, 531 out of flash memory etc etc etc ...theres about 30 of them so it depends what the fault is.

As Grumbler says if you had it checked by an expert beforehand and he can provide you with a report then you need to do so ..failing that you could ask for it back and have it checked over by a 3rd party before deciding what to do

Hi,

Thanks to you and Grumbler for your posts, there has been a bit more information since then, what I didnt know was my partner took the phone into a vodafone shop and it was them that told her it wasnt water damaged and the JVM error she had was "517" which is apparantly just a software update or something, Vodafone still insist the phone is water damaged but have somehow arranged for her to have a "reconditioned" phone with no charge?? Bit suss - she still wants to get out of the contract because she hates them but it will cost £560 to do so

MrLander

Hi there
I've read previous posts on this thread and would appreciate an opinion on my current position.
I have to leave a contract with T-Mobile early as I have unexpectedly been offered a job overseas in an area that T-Mobile does not service and I am prepared to pay the £500ish to leave the contract I committed to.
However.
The HTC Wildfire S which T-mobile say is mine has T-Mobile firmware on it including a number of applications which are specific to T-Mobile and cannot be removed. Although I am paying to leave the contract and the phone is mine the technical team at T-Mobile cannot provided me with an unbranded version of the firmware and their advice was to "look on the forums" and that I would probably have to Root my phone. Two options I'm not particularly statisfied with.

My concern is that despite paying to leave the supplier my phone still has apps prescribed by T-Mobile draining the reduced data allowance I will have with the new provider, and that I am not being fully released from a relationship which I have paid for the privilege of terminating.

Any thoughts on the topic by other users would be appreciated.
Many thanks.

grumbler

Uninstall apps and ask t-mobile to unlock the phone?

MrLander

grumbler wrote: »

Uninstall apps and ask t-mobile to unlock the phone?

Thanks Grumbler, that was my first move.
T-mobile have unlocked the phone but their software won't let me delete their apps and they can't/won't provide software which doesn't keep their apps permanently installed on the phone.

trisha909

Hi. I'm looking for some sage advice. I'm a serving member of the armed forces and I'm being deployed abroad for 2 years in july of which I found out last Friday. I have been a 3 customer since 2007. I have just called to explain my situation and the lovely bloke on the end of the phone said I had to pay up until Jan 14 with no opportunity for a lower tariff as I'm on a packege which in total will cost 700 quid to cancel. Does anyone have any as advice? . When I originally set up the first contract I explained the high chance of operational deployment and at the time the guy said this is no problem as I would be waivered of any fees :mad:r

Quentin

Unless you have some tangible proof they would waiver your contract, then you are stuck with it.

Maybe someone at home you trust could take it on (maybe you could give them a discount) till it ends in Jan?

grumbler

trisha909 wrote: »

...I explained the high chance of operational deployment and at the time the guy said this is no problem as I would be waivered of any fees :mad:r

£700 is a high price to pay for a basic lesson not to believe to anything that 'guys' tell you to make a sale and earn their commission.

Quentin wrote: »

Maybe someone at home you trust could take it on (maybe you could give them a discount) till it ends in Jan?

Generally a contract can be transferred to another person in which case trust is not an issue.

Buzby

They guy was only half-right.... one network (Orange) will agree to suspend a contract for up to 6 months whilst on active service, providing you provide a note from your commanding officer. Any of the others probably will not - and unfortunately, with this not being a reason to terminate in their T&C's, your options are limited.

You could pass the handset to someone in the UK and get them to take over the remaining contract. In this situation only PAYG is a viable alternative, as when you stop using it - that's an end of the matter until you decide to start using it again without penalty.

grumbler

Buzby wrote: »

.. In this situation only PAYG is a viable alternative,....

What about a contract with, say, 1 month minimum term and 30 days notice to cancel?

zenpi

I agree with guys dad, buyer beware. I've learned this month that taking out a mobile phone contract and getting a free phone means you are really stuck for a couple of years. Doh! The only defence is that the providers are pretty sharp operators who seem to promise the world but don't really and that most of us don't have the time and patience to do the right thing and shop around making sure you are comfortable with the deal.
What have I learned from my irritating experience? By a phone sim free and sign up to the loosest contract you can