Cannot afford contract phone due to illness, what do I do?

darylt

Earlier this year I had to stop working due to illness and am in receipt of benefit, I am trying to sort my debts and expensses and need to cancell my mobile phone contract as I can no longer afford it...unfortinuatley I am still within the contract and tried speaking to Vodaphone for them to say there is nothing that I can do and have to keep paying.

What do I do?

reehsetin

how long have you had it, will they let you move it to a lower tariff? Is there anyone else who could take the contract on for you?

Quentin

See if you can raise some money selling the handset.

You can cancel your contract. You will face cancellation charges, the handset money will go towards this and see if they will let you pay the balance on the drip.

thatsean

Good advice from Quentin.

Sell the phone, and then call them and explain the situation, depending how far in you are they may allow a lower plan, a temp hold on the contract or a payment plan if you need to spread the payments out for the term charges.

Whilst it's not the networks fault you're ill, if you are proactive and make it clear that you cannot, rather than wont pay, they are likely to try to help. Be aware that Voda do sometimes refuse to set up plans that go over x months, so it may end up being passed to collections, and then you can negotiate with the external DC.

You say that you're getting benefit, so you can prove that you're being honest, why not call them, and then see if you can write to them to see if someone in the complaints team can help - if you include some form of documentary evidence that you're genuine.

darylt

I have rang Voda and it will cost me £392.12 to cancel, but it looks like I can get upto £300 for my iPhone 4S 16Gb, so the shortfall isn't too big.

darylt

reehsetin wrote: »

how long have you had it, will they let you move it to a lower tariff? Is there anyone else who could take the contract on for you?

I have only had it for 6 months out of an 18 month contract and I can't downgrade the price plan, also don't know anyone who wants to take it on.

thatsean

That's great news! Good you were sensible enough to go for a shorter length plan. As you're only dealing with such a small shortfall they should be ok at setting a plan for that, and can even move you onto PAYT with the same number once you're clear with them.

grumbler

A payment plan can will damage credit history. Not as bad as a default though.

Guys_Dad

grumbler wrote: »

A payment plan can will damage credit history. Not as bad as a default though.

No need. Sell the handset and use the capital to pay off the monthly payments as they fall due. You can then use an old Nokia to make use of the bundled minutes.

In the meantime, save a few £ each month for use when the capital is eroded.

I know that sounds easy on paper, but it buys you time to get back on your feet again and you won't be any worse off materially plus you will have had the benefit of a mobile contract in the meantime.

grumbler

Guys_Dad wrote: »

No need. Sell the handset and use the capital to pay off the monthly payments as they fall due. You can then use an old Nokia to make use of the bundled minutes.

Tthis will cost you extra 20%. However, I agree that this is better if more than this will be spent on buying the airtime for the old Nokia if the contract is cancelled.

Guys_Dad

grumbler wrote: »

Tthis will cost you extra 20%. However, I agree that this is better if more than this will be spent on buying the airtime for the old Nokia if the contract is cancelled.

And it buys time to avoid the credit trashing you referred to a couple of posts ago, but I agree about the VAT additional cost.