Ideal time to upgrade phone contract

gino_76ph

Hi.

I am due for an upgrade late this month of June on T-mobile. I was previously on a monthly rolling contract but renewed it last year for a 12-month one when T-mob had a promo last year.

I'm currently paying £25 with unlimited text, unlimited data and 700 minutes. I'm aware i am not using the whole of those figures but it would be nice if i can maintain those numbers. I am using a Galaxy S3 and i would like to upgrade to the new S4 - LTE version.

Is it the best time to check out the deals now? Or wait till the sales come when more better deals come? Or shall i wait till around September when the S4 will be on its 6th month of release (I know these companies have a yearly release cycle especially with their "flagship devices")?

Any advice will be helpful.

Cheers.

bobbyo

As with the OP, I was wondering what the optimum bargaining time was.

Currently nearing the end of a T-Mob contract. T allow you to upgrade with THEM six weeks before end of contract. With 30 days to go, you can ask for a PAC code & go elsewhere (or stick with T-Mob)

Obviously, after the end of contract, you are free to do what you like, but, WHEN is the best time to negotiate?

In the 6 week window?
In the 30 day window?
Or
When your contract has totally expired?


Thanks

Cycrow

If your on a sim only contract then you can carry on your contract for as long as you want on a month to month basis after the 12 months is up, so you continue to pay the same amount, and will cost you the same as if you got another sim only contract (with the same allowances)

if you got a phone with the contract, then you are most likly paying more per month, so at the end of your contract you will continue to pay the same price which will end up costing more than if you switched to sim only straight away.


So if you plan to get a new contract with a phone, then if you are already on a contract with a phone, the best time would depend on how much the new contract is. If its cheaper, then its best to upgrade as soon as your in the window for upgrades, if its more expensive, then its best to wait until your contract is coming to an end.

If your on sim only, then it wont matter waiting a few months for a better deal on the phone. When the phones first come out they will usually be on a premium contract, so just wait until they get changed to a cheaper one (which can be about 6 months after release)

But always try to negotiate the cost of the upgrade

robbies_gal

if u want the best deal id say wait till the 30 day mark-the 6 week upgrade is just an incentive for the customer dont thin they negiotiate on price

gino_76ph

As per my current T-mobile contract's circumstances i feel i am on the cheapest/best deal that i can be. Technically i was on a SIM-only plan that was upgraded to a 12-month plan from last year when an opportunity to "upgrade" (or should i say renewal) came.

I'm on the 6th-week window to upgrade hence T-Mob told me i CAN upgrade now. Carphone Warehouse told me differently. They said i cannot yet upgrade as i need to ask/pay T-mob for an "early upgrade fee". But according to T-mob their "agreement" with CW is now somewhat blurry and in their twilight as they have a new service now which is EE. But i should be able to upgrade via CW or P4U even. Confusing? I know. I am as well.

I'd like to upgrade to the Galaxy S4 on EE. I was given £99 for the LTE-powered phone, 2000 minutes, unlimited texts & data for £37 a month on a 24-month contract. That's £17 more of what i am on right now. Do i need it? Sounds like a good deal to you?

But if i get a 12-month SIM-only plan i could get the cheaper £31 but only with 3GB data which maybe is enough (T-mob claims that i only use less than 1GB per month of data which....i could be swayed to believe as i mainly use my phone to check news, weather, internet radio, Twitter et all for say a maximum of 8 hours per day in total; i use my home wifi network at home so that saves me) but another downside is no phone.

Would 6 months of waiting be enough for better deals (i.e. cheaper monthly tariff with "double" the numbers?) or try and see this month or next at least as the sales have started and see what deal they can give me?

fishforsale

If you dont need 4g then, move to virgin

I have been with them for 2 years and get 2500 minutes, unlimited texts, unlimited internet, + 500 minutes to 0845,0870 0800 numbers

for £10

but you would probably get it for 15, or 10 without the 0845 add on

gino_76ph

I would like to have 4G. I feel 3G/3.5G is getting a bit old technology. And slow. Faster data is now becoming important and a necessity to me.


So, shall i wait till the prices become cheaper/allowances become double? Switch to another network? or stick it out with my current one?