What should I do .... need to reduce my bills

Ruby789

Hi all,

I got stuck in a 24 month contract at stupid money when I got my iPhone many years ago. £45 plus £11.99 insurance. I really only use it for data and texts, I use maybe 60 mins a month on calls. I didn't upgrade 18 months ago because I was worried i'd commit to the wrong package again, but still paid the same amount ... smart I know. Now I need to sort out my debts once and for all so I need to cut my outgoings so i've seen the following options:

1. Continue using my existing ancient iphone till it dies, cancel the contact and go to Giff Gaff and protect my bubble. But I don't understand the unlocking thing? How much will this cost?

2. Get brave and see what they'll do for me. I've been with carphone warehouse for years. I could do with a new iPhone (the most basic they have) but can't really afford a contract no more than £28 a month. Will they upgrade a handset and downgrade a contract without hitting me up for a big upfront fee and long term committment?

Advice please

Wanted to ask what you guys thought before I rang them and committed to something more expensive than I need. Think they have 'muppet' in my notes!

shakeitright

What network is your iphone with?Also how long have you got left on your contract?

HappyMJ

So are you out of contract now? Get your PAC number and switch to a SIM only deal such as Talkmobile from the carphone warehouse. Go through TCB (topcashback) and it's £2.17 a month for 6 months for 300 minutes, 1000 texts, 500MB data or Ovivo Mobile which is 200 minutes, 200 texts and 500Mb data for free (£5 upfront for the SIM) then when the phone finally dies then look around for a new one on a new contract.

Ruby789

Thanks for the replies.

I am now out of contract.

The handset is second generation so won't live too much longer.

I'm with O2 and have good coverage at my house. Vodaphone doesn't work where I live and think Orange is patchy but i'll ask around. How can I tell which masts the cashback people and Ovivo use?

Thank you, sorry i'm clueless!

gravitytolls

The cashback people don't use the masts, the phone companies do, you just buy your next phone/sim through a cashback site to get some cashback.

cancel your contract, they'll offer you stuff, either say NOOOOOO, or see what they'll do for you, if you've been paying the initial contracted amount for months, I figure they owe you something.

Does it have to be an iphone, there are so many excellent cheap phones to be had on all networks.

Ruby789

Ahh now I get you. Thanks.

Would prefer an iPhone then I won't need to get an iPod as well.

Giff Gaff seem decent. Will also check out those other two and make that phone call to Carphone Warehouse (who I actually don't rata at all!). Just too lazy to leave.

latecomer

Dont forget to phone your network too (Orange/Vodafone etc) as they might do you a loyalty deal too.

buscape

Ruby789 wrote: »

I need to cut my outgoings so i've seen the following options:

1. Continue using my existing ancient iphone till it dies, cancel the contact and go to Giff Gaff and protect my bubble. But I don't understand the unlocking thing? How much will this cost?

This is the sensible option unless you want/need a new phone. Since you only use 60 minutes a month, there's plenty of choice from Three, Tesco Mobile, Vodafone, Orange, Virgin Mobile, T-Mobile and Talkmobile

2. Get brave and see what they'll do for me. I've been with carphone warehouse for years. I could do with a new iPhone (the most basic they have) but can't really afford a contract no more than £28 a month. Will they upgrade a handset and downgrade a contract without hitting me up for a big upfront fee and long term committment?

I wouldn't go to Carphone Warehouse, it would make more sense to ring up O2 and see what they will do for you. You can get an iPhone 4 for £26 a month on 24 month contract if you really want/need to upgrade.

Option 1 (sim only with your old phone) makes more sense from a money saving point of view.

lovinituk

Ruby789 wrote: »

The handset is second generation so won't live too much longer.

My iphone 3G is 4 years old and apart from some minor scratches on the case is still going strong!

Ruby789 wrote: »

I'm with O2 and have good coverage at my house. Vodaphone doesn't work where I live and think Orange is patchy but i'll ask around. How can I tell which masts the cashback people and Ovivo use?

Thank you, sorry i'm clueless!

O2 do a sim only deal called Simplicity. Thats what I use with my iphone.

buscape

Ruby789 wrote: »

I'm with O2 and have good coverage at my house. Vodaphone doesn't work where I live and think Orange is patchy but i'll ask around. How can I tell which masts the cashback people and Ovivo use?

Thank you, sorry i'm clueless!

Ovivo use Vodafone so they'll be no use to you. Check Orange's signal here and have a look at Ofcom's sitefinder so you can see where the transmitters are for all the networks around you.

Spendless_Dosh

We switched to Tesco, sim @ £12.50/month (use the O2 network) no problems so far and service support team is very helpful might be worth investigating.