Mobile contract almost up, new contract or SIM only or pay as you go?

Fusspot

Hi, just wanting some advice as I don't want to jump in at the deep end and make a costly mistake.


I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 mini phone with Three, costing £28 per month. I want to pay less than this. When I rang Three to ask them the date my contract is due to finish they offered to renew it there and then to £36 per month, I told them no way!


My contract ends in February so I am looking round for cheaper options, am not fussed with Three and their customer service, I renewed with them two years ago and they never offered me anything cheaper than the going rates in their shops.


I like my phone and it suits me but I guess I like the idea of getting a new phone too but someone has advised me it may be cheaper to keep the phone, get a SIM only contract or pay as you go, but then I said what about when my phone conks out, then I will have to buy a new one but they say that with contracts you end up paying more for the phone in the long run, but its the outlay for the cost of a good new phone.


Which is the best way to go? I jumped into this contract two years ago and I don't want to do the same again as I am wanting to save money but I love the Samsung Galaxy phones and don't want to go back to the very basic ones.

marvin

why not get yourself a free ASDA sim

and use their month free (just make sure you activate it before the 2nd Feb even if not using it then) or

Sainsburys Mobile https://www.phoneshopbysainsburys.co.uk/free-sim and use their buy 1 get 2 free offer (buy 1 monthly £15 bundle get 2 months free)

and see how it goes you can probably then, should you wish to do so, get a better deal on any contract as a new customer or continue on the PAYG

There is always GiffGaff

Collabora

If you like your phone then when the time comes just get a sim only deal. Three do these from £7 a month depending what you want and as your phone will be locked to them it would be better unless you get it unlocked.

http://www.three.co.uk/Store/SIM/Plans_for_phones

Inclusive UK data: 500 MB
Inclusive UK minutes: 200 mins
Free calls to 0800/0808/0500 numbers
Inclusive UK texts: All-you-can-eat texts
Contract length: 12 month contract

£7 a month

flashg67

I've just changed over to a sim only plan with 3 and plan to keep my S3 a bit longer and be more MSE about phones, rather than having to have the latest phone. The one I have does what I need for now.
If it does die, it is cheaper to fund the phone with cash, or even short term on a credit card - you do usually pay more for a phone on contract. Put some of the difference in a separate account to buy a new phone when you want/need to?

I don't think 3 are alone in not offering retention deals - I think they're good value anyway. EE wouldn't do much to keep my business

Fake_Northerner

I was the same at the end of last year. My contract was about to run out on my iPhone 5 and wasn't feeling the need to upgrade to iPhone 6 so I looked at sim only contracts.

I've gone with 3 where I get 200mins, unlimited texts and unlimited internet for £15. I've got that on a 12 month contract but they also do that as a monthly contract too. It all depends on what you want from your contract? I wanted a lot of data and you can't beat 3 when it comes to their prices for that.

I don't think mobile phone companies are similar to the likes of Sky/Virgin, Etc where they give you discount just to keep you. I was with O2 for 10 years, phoned up to let them know I was leaving my them for 3, they asked my contract details, I told them and they said there was no way they'd match their prices.

prowla

Well, you could change your existing contract at the end of Feb to a SIM only one without a minimum term; it should at least halve the monthly amount; otherwise you will paying over the odds on your existing one.

Fusspot

Thank you for your replies. I've been into the Three shop today in town and they can offer me a SIM only contract for £10 per month with the amount of calls, texts, data etc that I can use and is right for me. To upgrade with a phone contract for the S4 or S4 mini I will still be paying over £20 per month, even as much as £32 for the big S4.


It is nice to have a new phone after two years but the one I have does what I need for now so I may consider hanging on to it for now and just saving up for when I really need a new phone.