PAYG/CONTRACT Whats the best plan of action?

I_HATE_BRITISH_GAS

Hi I have been with Vodafone for over 10 years now as where I live (rurally) its really the only option.

TBH every year I go through the rigmoral of waiting for my contract to expire then phoning threatening to quit and then they put me through (or send me a letter with a "special" number on) to the "please dont quit we will give you the best deal in the world" team where basically I get the phone I want for free but ultimately they end up shafting me with my monthly bill.

They promise me it wont go over the agreed monthly price plan with evidence of my usage that they are looking at and I also have a "barring limit" which they always ask if I would like to cancel but I refuse - In theory when I get to a certain amount per month on my bill (about £30) I shouldnt be able to make any more outward calls or texts, however it has never yet happened.

My bills should be around £25, they are about £45-£50 if not more.

And my phones always die or play up about 10 months into having them forcing me to upgrade, more through random software failures not through me breaking them.

Now for the 1st time I can afford to buy a new phone so my question is whats the best thing to do? buy my own phone and go PAYG? If so whats the best deal? Or just stick with Contract (maybe buy my own phone and get a good tarrif?) or just threaten to quit again and let then offer me the moon on a stick.

grumbler

And your airtime requirements are ...?
If Vodafone is the only signal you are getting, then other PAYG / sim-only options are:
Ovivo
Talkmobile
Lebara
??

I_HATE_BRITISH_GAS

Right this is my price plan:

£26.60(Inc. VAT)
Your Plan comes with 600 minutes, unlimited texts and 500MB mobile internet and 500MB BT Openzone Wi-Fi

I dont really use the internet and if I do I use my BT total broadband router if at home or if Im in town I use the BT openzone option that I get for having BT total broadband.

I never use up all the minutes, Maybe im getting charged more for phoning landlines however my online vodafone bill states "Charges not covered by your price plan £0.00" ?

Last months bill was £46 and this is quite normal.

grumbler

What you say makes no sense. Standard landlines are included in your allowance. Is it that difficult to check your itemised bill instead of guessing what you keep paying extra £20 for every month?

I_HATE_BRITISH_GAS

ok grumpy chill out we are not all as savvy as you when it comes to phones and technology (hence the reason im on this forum right now asking for help) Im more of a car man myself, Forgive me if this all seems obvious to you all but so does adjusting the valve clearances on a Rover V8 to me, we cant all be good at everything:D

I have just had another more detailed look at my bill online (never done it before today) and Im paying an extra tenner for cover me insurance apparently - must have took it out 15 months ago when I signed up! I think the rest has gone on texting my friends who live abroad.

I just phoned vodafone and spoke to a human (the good old fashioned way) and have been told my contract ends on the 8th june and I know I can upgrade now if I want but feel I have more leverage if I can threaten to quit(?)

I used to find the best deal I could in the papers by up and coming obscure phone companies and say the reason I was quitting was I had found a better deal and unless they could match it I would quit (unbeknown to them O2 talk talk 3 etc didnt cover my area).

He told me that if I kept my phone and chose the option "sim only" I could have that on a 12 month contract @ £10.50 PM (300 min unlim text 250 meg) and that should do me as I apparently use on average 183 mins 110 text and 6M internet, he said going PAYG would end up costing me about £35-£40 a month at that rate, Does that sound right?

So to the people in the know: what seems like my best options?

Thanks.

Herongull

Switch to Ovivo (PAYG works on Vodafone network).

You would get 150 minutes, 200 texts and 400mb free (yes, £0 ) each month.

If you need on average 183 minutes per month, this means an extra 33 minutes above the free allowance. This will cost you 33x8p=£2.64 per month on average.

So switching to PAYG will mean you only pay £2.64 per month (on average) rather than paying £10.50 per month on contract.

As well as saving you money each month, PAYG is flexible - you can leave anytime and low risk - no huge bills if your phone is lost or stolen.

No brainer!

grumbler

I agree about Ovivo that is pretty much unbeatable, but even Talkmobile give you 300+1000+500Mb for £8x6 that is much better than Vodafone offer to a loyal customer.

I_HATE_BRITISH_GAS

Thanks, just had a quick look and I think they also want £15 Sim registration aswel.

I also need to bear in mind that if I want a new phone for about £400ish? (is that about how much they cost these days) vodafone normally give me one if I say im leaving - on an 18 month contract - (mines pretty much had it but I may just claim on the insurance Ive been paying!)

So if I call that (400 divide by 18 months - average life of one of my phones) = £22.22 PM + £2.63 + 83p sim reg = £25.68 PM (+any abroad texts) with no cover (183 mins 200 texts 200GB) but can leave whenever I want.

Or stick with what Ive got (600mins unlimited texts 500GB) get another free phone and drop my cover for £26.60 (+ any abroad texts) but be stuck with an 18 month contract.

Does that make sense Im confused:huh: and my head hurts, give me an engine any day LOL

grumbler

I_HATE_BRITISH_GAS wrote: »

Thanks, just had a quick look and I think they also want £15 Sim registration aswel.

This is your credit that you will use later.

I also need to bear in mind that if I want a new phone for about £400ish? (is that about how much they cost these days)

This depends on the phone. Some cost £500+, but very good ones are available for £150+.

vodafone normally give me one if I say im leaving - on an 18 month contract

All decent contracts are 24 months nowadays. E.g. http://www.omio .com/phones/lg/nexus-4/deals
Judging by their sim-only offer they were not very keen on holding you.

zagfles

We got a Huawei Ascend G300 for £85 from Vodafone - a very good phone, there's a massively long thread about it here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4165069

Herongull

Grumbler is right.

Don't count the £15 sim fee because it gets you £15 worth of credit (to pay for the extra calls above the free allowance).

You don't need to spend £400 on a phone. I love my £50 T-mobile Vivacity - I have lots of apps on it and seems plenty fast enough for what I need.

You may want to spend a bit more than £50 depending on what extra features you want, but I'm not sure that spending hundreds of £ more gives you that big an improvement? Perhaps if you are heavily into games you may notice more of a difference?

If you have a cheaper phone it is less likely to be stolen and even if it is, it doesn't cost that much to replace.