Advice on mobile contracts when made redundant.

Bigbear65

I have recently been made redundant and am now struggling to get through on short-term work. My priority is keeping the roof above our heads and food in the kids mouths and have found a great deal of assistance in many areas, council tax, utilities etc.

The one area of spend I have not been able to tackle is the cost of our mobiles. Between us we have 3, 2 with Talkmobile and 1 with O2 at £7.50 / £17.50 & £32.00 per month. All are 12-15 months into the contract terms

I have called both companies and they say that there is nothing I can do to cut the cost down. Can anyone suggest how I can approach them to cut / defray the monthly cost?

Many thanks

pepdavies

Sell the handsets and use really cheap basic ones. That will give you something to offset the cost, even if it doesn't cover it all

grumbler

Bigbear65 wrote: »

...Can anyone suggest how I can approach them to cut / defray the monthly cost?

In a word, you can't - if you already asked and they refused.

gjchester

Bigbear65 wrote: »

I have called both companies and they say that there is nothing I can do to cut the cost down. Can anyone suggest how I can approach them to cut / defray the monthly cost?

Many thanks

The phone cost would have been subsidised based on the contract running to the minimum term. The networks usually will be unwilling to reduce prices due to that.







You could consider if the phones are newish higher end and in good condition selling them and using that money to pay the contract and move to a cheap phone to use the inclusive minutes and texts.

Cisco001

Can u downgrade ur tariff?

bazzyb

Cisco001 wrote: »

Can u downgrade ur tariff?

No. ...................

Bigbear65 wrote: »

I have called both companies and they say that there is nothing I can do to cut the cost down

kazwookie

I would ring again and ask to speak to one of the supervisors / manager, and try again.

d123

kazwookie wrote: »

I would ring again and ask to speak to one of the supervisors / manager, and try again.

Why?

The OP has a contract, the networks will expect them to fulfil what they signed for. The networks subsidised the handsets in expectation of getting the subsidy back over the contract.

It's unfortunate the OP was made redundant, but unfortunately the contract doesn't have a right to cancel or reduce if made redundant.

Just like the electricity or gas provider won't reduce the cost of electricity or gas if you were to phone them and say you've been made redundant.

Quiet_Spark

Bigbear65 wrote: »

Can anyone suggest how I can approach them to cut / defray the monthly cost?

Proving you have a stage 4 cancer would do it, but you don't really want any disease that automatically classifies you as vulnerable if you can help it.

As already suggested, sell the handsets you have and buy cheaper ones to help offset the cost.

dealer_wins

Another person that signed a 24 month contract without a second thought about what would happen if they lost their job/income at any point, and with no savings to fall back on in the event of loss of income.

If companies will let you off, they will have to let everyone else off, otherwise is is discrimination against the ill prepared. Its an EU law (maybe LOL)

ballyblack

maybe get friend to take over your contract?