All Network Operators should be offering 12 month contracts?

andys27

An EU ruling and a subsequent article on MSE in 2011 entitled Mobile operators forced to offer 12-month contracts stated that all network operators should be offering 12 month deals.

I am someone who refuses to sign up to 24 month contracts as generally my phones do not last that long and also goes out of warranty after 12.

Now Vodafone seem to be the only ones offering 12 month deals that include the handset. How have the companies got around this ruling? By offering SIM only 12 month deals?

I know the phone prices have gone up and the networks need to make their money but in my opinion they should all give us the choice of paying more for a 12 month contract. o2 refresh seems to give this option but it is a rip off because the contract with the SIM card comes as a 24 month so even if you pay off the phone early you still have to wait until your SIM contract expires or pay that off as well before upgrading, this ties you to o2.

GifGaf are another alternative that I like whereby you can have the option to pay off the phone over the term you would like and the SIM contract is 30 day rolling, this is a fair way that the major networks should follow.

Any thoughts?

Jon_01

They all offer 12 month sim only contracts, that's enough to comply with the ruling. No where does it state they have to offer a 'free' phone.

ZhugeEX

I swear this question gets asked every couple of months. Use the search button first.

But yes, as above 12 month contracts are offered. Doesn't have to be with a phone.

Best option tbh is to buy the phone outright or via finance then just take out a cheap sim only deal. They come in 1 month or 12 month options.

Also, every manufacturer provides a 24 month warranty apart from Apple, maybe LG as well. I haven't checked recently.

prl100

andys27 wrote: »

o2 refresh seems to give this option but it is a rip off because the contract with the SIM card comes as a 24 month so even if you pay off the phone early you still have to wait until your SIM contract expires or pay that off as well before upgrading, this ties you to o2.

On O2 Refresh, you are actually able to cancel the airtime once you have paid off the credit agreement for the handset and leave if you so wish. In fact there were lots of people taking advantage of a pricing quirk last year. This allowed people to get a very cheap refurbished iPhone on O2 Refresh and pay it off after the first payment; they only had to pay for a single month of line rental for the sim, and the phone was £240 IIRC.

gjchester

prl100 wrote: »

On O2 Refresh, you are actually able to cancel the airtime once you have paid off the credit agreement for the handset and leave if you so wish. In fact there were lots of people taking advantage of a pricing quirk last year.

Still works. Just paid £144 for a Lumia 1020 on a refresh deal just to use as a camera....

cairndog

:jIf you or someone you know needs an easy to use/ hear/see big button phone look at this now.
Carphone Warehouse are doing this (Which recommended) clamshell phone sim free for £14/95 !! Normal retails around £70.

It's brilliant for older or non tech people and has a basic camera and a radio. There is also an emergency button on the outside if needed and lots of other helpful things.

You need to take the simcard you want to use (or the old phone) into the shop to find out if the deal's available in your area.
It doesn't work on 3G though.

You still get the manufacturers 12 month warranty and they will probably try and sell you an additional warranty for £14.99 but that's up to you and not obligatory.

Hope this helps someone.

Farway

Doesn't seem to pop up on line, at that price, more like over £60is a shop only sale item?

cairndog

Yes Farway you have to go to the Carphone Warehouse shop to get the offer and it's a brand new phone. I watched him unseal the box.

I believe I said you have to go to shop in my post.?