Has anyone used direct mobiles to buy a phone?

cat4772

I'm an existing t-mobile customer and my contract expires on 26/3/14.

I want to get an iPhone 5s (32Gb), and found a good deal on mobiles direct £217 for phone and £27 a month for 500 minutes and unlimited texts and data -via MSE.

I asked t-mobile if they could match it - they can't. The guy then said that if mobilesdirect went bust, I'd be liable for the contract, and they've used different company names to get people to sign up. If I went for the deal, I'd not be able to keep my number and they'd not transfer it.

Was t-mobile guy talking rubbish? Should I go for the deal or is it too good to be true?

Cat.xx

hieveryone

What is the actual name of the company as you've mentioned two different ones there?

cat4772

Direct mobiles.co.uk

Sorry:o

hieveryone

Ah in that case I can't help you as I bought from another website.

If you're looking for a good deal on iPhone 5S, have a look at mobilephonesdirect.co.uk - I got mines for £27 a month.

I think the number transferring thing is probably correct - I worked for a big phone company years ago and my memory recalls something along the lines of they cannot transfer between the same company (if that makes sense).

cat4772

I think the deal is very similar from them, 219 for phone and 27 a month. Did you have any problems with it?

Cat.xx

hieveryone

cat4772 wrote: »

I think the deal is very similar from them, 219 for phone and 27 a month. Did you have any problems with it?

Cat.xx

They were a bit slow, and a bit hard to get a hold of, but other than that, totally fine!

Poppy9

The company only facilitate a contract. If they go bust and you are not on a cashback deal then you won't lose out.

When you take out a contract with them you will be paying the mobile network direct for the rental

Is it this deal

If so you enter a new contract with T mobile via this company.

If you want to keep your number port it to a PAYGO sim on any network and then port it back to your new contract.

There are cheap deals on there if you pay more upfront. Compare effective monthly cost.

cat4772

Thank you - I'm going to get me an iphone

MataNui

He is talking rubbish about one point not the other. Your contract will be the T-Mobile regardless so it makes no difference if this company goes bust (unless you are on a cashback with them). He was being correct about the number though. You wont be able to keep your phone number. You would need to cancel your current contract, get the number transferred to a PAYG sim, then port it back. If you are off to get the phone now then that wont work for you since you need 30 days notice to get the PAYG sim and you need to USE the sim and T-Mobile will only port in numbers in the first couple of weeks of a new contract.

Poppy9

MataNui wrote: »

He is talking rubbish about one point not the other. Your contract will be the T-Mobile regardless so it makes no difference if this company goes bust (unless you are on a cashback with them). He was being correct about the number though. You wont be able to keep your phone number. You would need to cancel your current contract, get the number transferred to a PAYG sim, then port it back. If you are off to get the phone now then that wosnt work for you since you need 30 days notice to get the PAYG sim and you need to USE the sim and T-Mobile will only port in numbers in the first couple of weeks of a new contract.

No you don't cancel you ring and ask for your PAC code saying you are porting your number to another provider. This will automatically start the cancellation process - depends if you have to give 30 days notice or if you are out of contract how long this is.

You buy a PAYGO sim from anywhere and do it with another network. The sim can go live straight away. You ring your new provider and give the PAC code, they will take a few days to transfer over your number and meanwhile you will have a temp number on new sim.

Once number transferred you then ring your PAYG provider and ask for PAC code - make sure you had a PAYG with no tie in. You then take out your new iphone contract and give PAC number and again you will have temp number for a few days.

Bit of a fiddle but depends on whether you really want to keep your number. I've done it in the past and it didn't take long as you will be given your PAC number over the phone or by text immediately usually -I did it with T mobile and Vodafone.

Read this thread about T mobile ETF

and also when you terminate ask them to unlock your phone so you can sell on

cat4772

an update:

today I filled in a form online and a lovely chap at directmobiles called me back. He is processing a t-mobile upgrade for me and I'm getting the iphone 32Gb at 217 and the minutes, texts and data at 27. He confirmed this is an upgrade and I get to keep my existing number. The phone should be here tomorrow so I'll report back how that goes. But in theory I've now saved the hassle of porting the number twice.:j

By my reckoning, I've saved myself over £150 and got a much better phone than I originaly sought to get. And saved myself some hassle.

Thank you Mr Lewis for this site and providing the cheap iPhone comparison article
:money: