Mobile phone contract ends 27 May, don't want to renew, what do I have to do?

Loulouloulou

I have been on contract with Orange for about 12 years (!) but have come to the end of the line with them. My contract finishes on 27.05.12 and I don't want to renew or keep the number - what should I do to try and make sure they don't rip me off? (no faith in phone companies!)

Someone at work reckons you have to give 3 months notice, surely he's not right about that? If he is I've missed it by 2 days

I will read the T&Cs on my bills but they are in my sleeping toddler's bedroom so not just now!

Any advice much appreciated

tescobabe69

Its usually one months notice, make sure you put it in writing and phone them, (for overkill, recorded delivery) make sure your phone is unlocked and have your new sim ready.

Loulouloulou

Thanks! I will make sure I do the recorded delivery thing then, I don't want to give them a penny more than I have to, overpriced so and sos that they are.

Just to clarify - what does having the phone unlocked mean? I'm not going to use it once the contract ends, will they need me to "unlock" it so they can disable it or something?

Sorry, I am a total ignoramus when it comes to this stuff (hence am going to buy cheapo payg phone from supermarket instead!)

gardner1

why buy a new phone just put a new sim in old phone if its unlocked

Loulouloulou

My phone is crap (as are all phones Orange have given as free upgrades since about 2004, unsurprisingly they are all the phones no person in their right mind would ever BUY) and the screen's cracked, I hate it so it'll be going to the scrapper.

I don't know if it is unlocked, not sure what that means.

When I say "cheapo" I mean "not an iphone", but I want one that is easier to use than this horror!

gardner1

unlocked means it takes any sim o2 tmobile orange etc

Loulouloulou

Thanks, I did google it and went "ohhhh". I'm not even particularly old, just not very techy!

I don't want to use the phone so will I need to do anything to it or can I just get rid of it?

gardner1

if its old with cracked screen chuck it in the bin

Loulouloulou

I would love to but think my work can get £ for bits or something, there's a recycle scheme so I'll give it to them.

Thanks for advising me, you moneysavers have potentially saved me £££ and loads of grief!

robbies_gal

you can get upgrades via thrid parties like cpw and phones4u btw they have a much better range of phones and you can keep your number

Loulouloulou

Thanks to all who helped me on this thread, an update - I rang Orange stating my intention to cancel and wrote to the address they gave me. I rang back four more times as I never received anything in writing from them confirming this! Still haven't, though my phone was disconnected on the expected date and they eventually sent me a cheque for the £2 they owed me...

Much happier with my new phone - I got a capped £20 pm iphone from Tesco in the end