unemployed but would like a contract.

kondormid

Tried to order a mobile phone through mobiles.co.uk today. As I am currently unemployed they said I can only have a sim only plan as they will not attempt to put a new unemployed customer on a 24 month contract.

That is understandable and even commendable.

They then told me that if I ordered a sim only pre payment monthly plan and stayed with it for three months then I would be able to go on which ever plan with which ever phone I wished.

Does that sound correct and likely?

My reasons for wanting this contract are...

I can afford it, with or without the cashback it would be an ok deal for me personally. My goal is to get a 10.50 plan, with a free handset (nokia 100 will be fine) 100 mins on orange. I am fine paying 10.50 a month for it, but would obviously like and prefer to have a cashback deal. The current one is 23 months cashback over a 24 month contract and that would of course be great.

Being an orange customer would also get me £5 a month off orange broadband which I intend to order as soon as I am an orange customer, and I could use the 100 mins to make daytime calls. Use the magic number for free calls ect.

Any comments on my thought process?

grumbler

orange/mobiles.co.uk
....

kondormid

I knew you would point me in the right direction grumbler. It seems a bit on the fence but as I would be happy enough with a 10.50 contract (especially month to month) it seems a good idea to try it out and see.

Worst thing that could happen is I end up with a half decent contract for my purposes anyway.

Thanks for the quick reply, keep up the good work.

Buzby

You haven't actually stated the reason why you need a contract....? There's a lot to be said about butting you financial history at risk because of something down the line, so taking out a contract places all the rsik with you - and there's nothing you can do about it.

Unless you go PAYG, and avoid the contract alltogether. As you don;t want a top of the line handset, you can pick up a reasonable alternative for cash on an auction site, and you are not having to look over your shoulder if times get rough.

kondormid

Good points Buzby, I can not see me ever needing the phone less than I do now (due to illness ect) but at the same time I try to keep my call cost as low as possible.

I did a lot of wading through various senarios and the mobile phone contract came out the best value for what I use currently. It is less than £2.50 a week, I do not want an iphone, I have a camera already, I just want something that makes good sound financial sense.

It does make sense, even without cashback. With cashback it starts to look silly not doing it.

macman

You can maybe afford it now. Supposing (worst case scenario) that you are still unemployed in 12/18 months time? Will you still be able to afford it then?
I appreciate that you are not looking for an expensive contract, but the principle is the same.

snugglepet20

What about Giff gaff PAYG 10 quid a month gets you unlimited texts, internet and 250 minutes so its really cheap and just buy a phone if you are not after anything top of the range. Plus if you don't have the money one month you can just not buy the pack.

kondormid

You can maybe afford it now. Supposing (worst case scenario) that you are still unemployed in 12/18 months time? Will you still be able to afford it then?
I appreciate that you are not looking for an expensive contract, but the principle is the same.

You really are preaching to the converted here macman I was self employed until one night in November 2007 I suddenly got the stomache ache. A few months later I had undergone a 5 or 6 hour op that involved removing part of my liver with 29 staples holding me together. I had only gone in for keyhole gall bladder surgery too, was supposed to take 20 mins. I thought I would be fine a few weeks after the staples were out and would be back to work earning . But I have been in and out the hospital like a yoyo. A few years ago they told me that the only way they will operate on me again is if I am near death anyway, as apparently it will leave me in more pain than what I am in now.

So seriously, I am never going to work again, it took me a long while to accept that as a fact and I guess half of me still pretends one day everything will be ok. For instance they keep telling me to claim disability, but I do have the odd good day, and those days I like to walk a bit even if it does hurt me later. If I claimed disability I would be scared to walk anywhere incase someone saw me, I am lazy enough already!

On the good side I suppose is the fact I can't do alot either, so I don't spend a lot of money on anything. I just sit here, or lie in bed, or go to the hospital.

Aye, ya never know whats round the corner alright. My life just changed one night, straight out the blue.

snugglepet. I don't need 250 mins or internet, or unlimited text for that matter but that sounds like a terrific offer for those that do. The 10.50 a month on orange is really only 5.50 a month to me cause it will drop my broadband bill by £5. And then there is the cashback which I guess means they end up paying me, but of course thats a bonus and rarely should be included in comparisons as it isn't guaranteed.