downgrading contracts

flamingo747

Can you downgrade contracts without it damaging your credit file?

19lottie82

"downgrading" your tariff (ie reducing the monthly allowances, and thus costs, that you originally signed up for) will not damage your credit file, but you will most likely find that your mobile provider will not let you downgrade your tariff, while you are within your minimum term (usually 24 months). If they do, it certainly won't be within the first half of this minimum term.

It used to be easier to downgrade, but as phones are becoming more expensive, providers need to subsidise these "free" phones with expensive contracts, so your options to downgrade will be a lot more limited.

The only way to find out if you can downgrade your tariff is to phone your provider and ask.

what WILL damage your credit file, is if you fail to pay your bill, in full, every month, on the due date. This will lead to a late payment / default on your credit file, which will have adverse effects for up to six years.

flamingo747

It's not that we can't pay it atm, but dh got an internet dongle in 2012 for 24m to use at work and he's now left that job and his new job is driving work so obviously no use for it! It hasn't been used since November and is costing £19 a month til June.

robbies_gal

i doubt you can but phone and ask i know i downgraded my orange mobile tariff but that was over a year ago now and i think theyve stopped it

WTFH

You could always try "selling it" on to someone you may know. Not sure about the legality of that, or how it would stack up if there is a problem, but if you had a friend who trusted you (and you them), and they needed one, that might be an option.

19lottie82

flamingo747 wrote: »

It's not that we can't pay it atm, but dh got an internet dongle in 2012 for 24m to use at work and he's now left that job and his new job is driving work so obviously no use for it! It hasn't been used since November and is costing £19 a month til June.

You can ASK, but they are under no obligation to let you downgrade I'm afraid. That's the peril of signing up for a 24 month contract!

Just make sure you phone them a month before the end of the minimum term to cancel, otherwise the monthly charge will continue.

flamingo747

None of our friends need it unfortunately. I'll cancel on the phone and in writing well in advance, thank you