Orange contract

lady1964

Hi All,

I have an iphone 3G on contract with Orange which runs out early March 2012.

It's looking like DH & I will be moving overseas (non EU) around November time and I realise it's very unlikely that Orange will allow me to end my contract early without paying for the remaining months.

My thoughts are, if it's possible, that I ask them if they can unlock the phone and I buy a sim in our new country to use for local calls there and I'll use Skype for calls home. I would reluctantly pay the monthly contract fee but I would still have use of my phone.

My other option is to leave the phone here, see if I can go over to a PAYG and then use the phone in the UK when on visits - which might only be on one visit between moving and early March but I would expect that I'd still have to pay the £30 monthly charge.

Can anyone advise on the best course of action please?

Much appreciated
Lady1964

grumbler

If you cancel the contract you can save about 1/6 apparently: Paying off contract early.... (do check with Orange).
Also, I think you can downgrade to the next lower tariff before cancelling or regardless.
Don't forget that contract doesn't expire automatically and you have to give Orange 1-month notice in early Feb if you don't cancel it earlier.

Your 'other' option doesn't make much sense to me.

visidigi

Your other option would not require you to move to PAYG, you would just leave it as is to cover you for the one visit (and allow you to have more should you need it) but you will in both cases still need to pay the subscription charge.

Like Grumbler says though, make sure youo cancel with the required notice otherwise you'll be liable for another months rental.

katyboo123

Ok these are the rules... after the mid point of your contract passes (roughly 6-10 months onwards), you can downgrade by one step (so maybe from a £30 tariff to a £25 tariff). But that's it... I would ask about the VAT saving if you settle early, but it depends if you have £144 (6 x £30 = £180 - 20% VAT) spare, now, upfront.

I would suggest calling Orange to explain the situation and ask if you can go down one tariff. Then you can either decide to pay it off in one lump sum £120 (6 x £25 = £150 - 20% VAT), or to pay it monthly whilst your out of the country...

They can definitely unlock the phone. After 3 months of being on contract, but they will charge for this (roughly £20 for normal handsets, not sure about iPhones, and you have to have a zero balance on your account). If you explain your predicament and have been a loyal, good customer in the past they may be able to waive the unlocking fee. Ensure also that you remove all of your bundles / bolt ons, and if you have insurance, check the phone is covered if you move abroad - if not, cancel that too.

And, like everyone else has mentioned, make a calendar reminder when you are 30 days until the end of your contract - you must give this period of notice.

HTH and hope everything goes ok with the move X

lady1964

Thank you, I've been with Orange for about 7 or 8 years (need to check) and had thought of trying for a bit of goodwill.

I'm probably going to go with the unlocking as I will need a phone in our new location and I'm not sure how expensive it will be to buy one + the sim card, I need to look into that a bit more.

I don't have any bolt ons or insurance on it, so that's not an issue and I will set a reminder to cancel the contract to give them the required 30 days notice.

Thanks again

Techhead_2

Its worthwhile checking that, not only, will the handset work in your destination country but also that there are no local problems with using your handset with a local SIM. eg Some countries require you to register the handset's IMEI before it will work etc