Is it worth waiting for the sale for a mobile?

jenniewb

I currently have the S3 on PAYG and need to get a new handset but it's looking like I'm going to end up getting a new contract because I can't afford a new handset outright.


My current handset, on the day of it's 2 year warranty has decided to start over-heating to the point where it's too hot to hold to my face and I'm worried about it being a fire risk if I leave it to charge by itself overnight. I was looking for a handset which is ideally better than the S3 but just something not worse than.


I wasn't sure if it's worth waiting for the sale as to memory I've not seen any amazing deals on mobiles in the sale in the past. Does anyone know if in the past there have been decent deals? I'd rather stay with O2 but am OK to move, the only company I'd never go back to is 3.

pepdavies

Tried giffgaff? Spread the cost without getting a contract you don't need.

SeduLOUs

Can you buy a phone outright on a 0% purchases card and pay for the phone gradually that way? It would still work out cheaper over the long run than buying a phone on contract.

System

Look at carphonewarehouse payg upgrades.

Samsung Galaxy core prime is available for £69.99 as a pay as you go upgrade. I realise it's not free but means no ongoing line rental costs.

DCFC79

Buy the moto g 4g for under £100 from amazon and get a Sim only plan.

jenniewb

SeduLOUs wrote: »

Can you buy a phone outright on a 0% purchases card and pay for the phone gradually that way? It would still work out cheaper over the long run than buying a phone on contract.

Sadly can't get any credit anywhere. I have a bad credit file and despite spending the last 5 years painstakingly paying bills on time and not taking out any further credit, it turns out because I use a building society rather than a bank (Nationwide) it stands for nothing so my credit file is empty and after trying several times in the last year I'm unable to get any credit unless I take out one of the massive interest credit cards. Hence I also get turned down for mobile phone contracts when I've asked.

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Look at carphonewarehouse payg upgrades.

Samsung Galaxy core prime is available for £69.99 as a pay as you go upgrade. I realise it's not free but means no ongoing line rental costs.

Can't afford that much in one go; even £70 is above my head. I can budget for £20 a month maximum and ideally I'd like to stick to £15 or lower if possible. I can put money aside but it's likely to take a year or two to save enough for a decent handset at todays prices.

DCFC79 wrote: »

Buy the moto g 4g for under £100 from amazon and get a Sim only plan.

£100 is above what I can afford. I wish I could, but I just don't have that sort of cash to spend in one go, it would take me the best part of 6 months to save up for this, I was trying to see if there is a way to get a new handset before then.

jenniewb

pepdavies wrote: »

Tried giffgaff? Spread the cost without getting a contract you don't need.

Thanks! I didn't know GiffGaff did handsets! Fantastic! They've got a few handsets at around £15-£20 so will be looking in to this, am not sure if they'll accept me because I've got a bad credit rating but I will definitely try


I was last turned down for a contract when I tried with o2 whom I'm currently with when I tried in August. I've been a customer with o2 on PAYG for over 3 years now, always topped up without fail each month on direct debit but was told that my credit file stood against me. The contract I was being offered was £20 a month when I applied.

SeduLOUs

jenniewb wrote: »

Sadly can't get any credit anywhere. I have a bad credit file and despite spending the last 5 years painstakingly paying bills on time and not taking out any further credit, it turns out because I use a building society rather than a bank (Nationwide) it stands for nothing so my credit file is empty and after trying several times in the last year I'm unable to get any credit unless I take out one of the massive interest credit cards. Hence I also get turned down for mobile phone contracts when I've asked.

I would imagine it makes little difference whether it shows as a building society or a bank.In order to obtain credit, you need to prove you have a good track record with credit (although I realise this is a bit of a paradox). I realise it doesn't help the current phone predicament but I'm going to go a bit off topic anyway.

I'd honestly suggest applying for one of the "massive interest" credit cards as a means of building some history. Put a few purchases on it each month and ALWAYS pay the statement in full, and that way you won't be affected by the horrendous APR as you won't be accruing any interest at all.

Eventually if you are good with the card they will increase your limit, and you can look at adding another credit builder card to your file, and over time you should have access to better lines of credit.

I started this process a while back after having a default on my file from a few mistakes several years back. At first I could only get a £200 limit card for an eye-watering APR of 49.9%. Roll on two years of steady limit increases and carefully managing them, I still have the default on my file (due to drop off mid 2017) but have recently been accepted for a £5k limit MBNA card for a money transfer (to use for stoozing), as well as a £3k limit Santander 1-2-3 credit card to earn cashback on my fuel and supermarket spends. The old 'builder' cards are long closed.

mobilejunkie

Credit files maintain negative information for six years. That will affect you for another year, therefore.

System

Is signing up for a 24 month contract, such a good idea, if you can't even afford a £60 phone?

SeduLOUs

mobilejunkie wrote: »

Credit files maintain negative information for six years. That will affect you for another year, therefore.

Correct, but after that the file will be 'clean' and show no history at all, which is often just as bad and won't massively improve OP's prospects of getting access to decent lines of credit and/or mobile phone contracts.

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Is signing up for a 24 month contract, such a good idea, if you can't even afford a £60 phone?

I'm inclined to agree here. If money is quite tight to the point that mustering up £60-£100 is a struggle at the moment, I'm not sure it would be wise to commit to a contract payment of £20 per month for the next two years.