Mobile phone brokers query

wyattwolf

Hi, my contract with orange (well EE now I guess) is up and looking to get new phone. iPhone 5s probably... Is 4G worth it?

Looking on uswitch.com there are deals through companies such as mobiles.co.uk or mobile phone direct, are these good firms? They offer better deals than dealing directly with O2 or EE shops. Can I take my number with me? Talking to EE earlier today they gave the impression I couldn't take my number with me!?

Thanks

grumbler

wyattwolf wrote: »

Is 4G worth it?

See the sticky at the top of the board?

Looking on uswitch.com there are deals through companies such as mobiles.co.uk or mobile phone direct, are these good firms?

Define 'good'.
They supply you with the handset. The contract is with the network directly. Don't miss quidco/TCB cashback, but if it's a redemption deal (where you have to claim cashback from the company several times) make sure you do your research first.

Can I take my number with me?

You can - to another network. That's what PACs (Porting Authorisation Codes) exist for.

Talking to EE earlier today they gave the impression I couldn't take my number with me!?

Just google for, say, 'porting number' instead of talking to EE.

BTW, a contract is not the only way of getting a new phone. There are sim-free phones and sim-only contracts or good PAYG deals.

wyattwolf

4g seems to be a mixed bag of reviews at the moment.

Quidco/tcb/redemption? No idea what these are amigo. new kid on the block here I'm afraid.

My iPhone 4 is knackered after unscheduled impact with floor, can't afford to buy phone out right so contract seems best option for me. PAYG not what I want that's for sure.

wyattwolf

When I spoke to EE earlier she gave impression that if I cancelled contract with them to start new contract via alternative broker I wouldn't be able to keep number even though it's same network!?

grumbler

Top Cashback Sites

Cheap Mobile Phones: Compare, switch & save - Money Saving ...

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And as I said, porting a number is easy to another network only. If it's the same network, you can port it in two steps via another network PAYG sim, but I've heard that Orange started stopping customers from doing this recently by not allowing to port the number back to them. Don't take my word for this.

Also, IMHO, if you can't afford buying a new phone outright you probably cannot afford one of the most expensive phones at all.

wyattwolf

Thanks for the links

If that's the case with orange then that seems to be a stupid business practice for them as most people would rather keep their existing number.

There is a world of difference between buying a iphone outright and doing a contract!! So you really shouldn't be making such assumption fella regarding my finances!

grumbler

wyattwolf wrote: »

If that's the case with orange then that seems to be a stupid business practice for them as most people would rather keep their existing number.

Nothing 'stupid'. If people want to keep the number they have to upgrade directly via Orange at much higher cost.

There is a world of difference between buying a iphone outright and doing a contract!! So you really shouldn't be making such assumption fella regarding my finances!

Why? Is £600 really "a world of difference"?
IMHO any person that doesn't have £600 saved can't afford paying £35+ p.m. for a mobile toy (effectively borrowing £550+ for 24 months often at 50%+ APR).

It's a different story if you do have £600 (i.e. can afford buying outright), but prefer a contract because it's cheaper in total over 2 years (hardly ever the case for top iPhones).

wyattwolf

Don't see how buying a phone outright and then all the credit is cheaper than a contract by a great margin?

Just like to point out I'm here for advise on the thread subject, not your financial opinion fella. You know nothing about me or my finances so please don't comment.

grumbler

wyattwolf wrote: »

Don't see how buying a phone outright and then all the credit is cheaper than a contract by a great margin?

, , , ....

I don't know your definition of "by a great margin" though.

wyattwolf

Again not the original point of this thread but laying out £600 or paying £30 at the start of a contract is a big difference.

criboo

I'm not convinced buying a phone outright is any cheaper, or much cheaper when after high-end phones/contracts.

I paid £500 for my phone outright, and spend £18/month on it. Over a two year period that's £932. Had I taken the same contract package with the same provider for the same phone on the same day, I'd have paid £37/month plus an upfront fee of £50. That totals £938, meaning I've saved a grand total of £6 over a two year period... The only major advantage is that I can cancel my contract with a 30 day notice period.

I really don't see why anyone with "under £600 saved" shouldn't have a high end phone. People generally stick to their phones for a good length of time, you're never going to be asked to pay off twelve months at once and forking out £500 upfront is harder to swallow than spreading the costs over two years. If there were no contracts, far fewer people would have smartphones and it would be bad for the industry and the consumer in the UK.