Orange iPhone contract, any hidden fees or charges I should know about?

Worry_wart_2

I've always been on a pay as you go Vodafone mobile but I'd like to move to Orange as my boyfriend is on that network and I can get a free iPhone with this monthly contract I'm looking at to boot. It's £35 a month for 24 months with 600 minutes, 3000 texts and 500MB of internet usage. I'm just wondering if there's any hidden fees that I could possibly get caught out on? I'm sure I saw somewhere that there's a monthly administration fee, how much would that be?

Thanks

grumbler

Paper billing - £1.50ish
MMS - depending on the plan.
Out of the allowances prices - huge.
Roaming abroad - :eek:

As a side note, I think that the above airtime costs no more than £12. Hence, the phone is 24x£23=£552, not free.

Buzby

£840 for an iPhone? I'd say that's a big catch! Sure, you'll get bundled minutes, but if you don;t use them in full each month (and many, almost 80% do not) that's even more money wasted. The phone will also be locked to the network, meaning its resale value will be diminished. Are you also sure your circumstance to commit to paying this £840 over 2 years won't be a problem if your circumstances change - and the possibility of a fried Credit File. How much is that worth?

As a way of paying up an iPhone, stick in on a credit card, unlocked to any network you choose, and go PAYG or a 30 day SIM only contract, as if you change networks or boyfriends, you're not locked in for X months left.

Great phone choice though - DO get it insured !

grumbler

Credit card?! I hope you mean some 0% one.

mrochester

If you have the means to pay upfront for an iPhone, I'd agree with the above and suggest you do that and then get a 30 day sim only contract. Chances are, for the same amount of minutes, texts and data for the same length of the time, the sim only deal will work out about the same (or perhaps a little bit more expensive) but does afford you an unlocked iPhone, and the ability to change networks and price plans as and when required should something happen in the future.

elephantrosie

i agree with mrochester and buzby. Always always try to go for payg when it comes to expensive contracts like this. how about getting the phone from apple shop and get a giff gaff sim card for ten quids a month? that will cost you 500quids + 10x24 = 740 for 2 years. you get the freedom of changing phones/ numbers/ network anytime you want. no commitment at all.

mnbvcxz

My brother has something similar but they include his home broadband in the £35 though that's a legacy offer. He's rather move to another network but that may just be the bad spot his flat is in.

He was caught out by the 0800 numbers which are quite expensive and not included in your bundled minutes...

Oh and obviously no on is buying iphones this month as the new iphone is due out in a month which will be newer and better and push down the price of the others.

All in all this is a distinctly average deal.

Buzby

grumbler wrote: »

Credit card?! I hope you mean some 0% one.

Not really - Anything under 30% APR would be better than paying the networks extended package price.

Buzby

I still have to say, even if the new iPhone arrives, it will do nothing to diminish the value of the 4 in the short term, especially as it will take many months before supply copes with the demand. Further down the line, perhaps - but not of any imediate concern. iPhones hold their value well as they are a highly prized purchase. Other manufacturers have handsets that come and go, and the prices match them.

grumbler

Buzby wrote: »

Not really - Anything under 30% APR would be better than paying the networks extended package price.

2% per month over two years is £628 for £500 phone. Add £10 p.m. for the airtime and the total cost will be £868 - bigger than £840 that you called a 'big catch'.

ETA: However, if the OP really needs 600m+500Mb I don't think that they will be able to get this for £10 p.m.
If it is £12 p.m., the total amount is even bigger - £916.