mobile strategy while bankrupt?

london1973

i appreciate this is in a similar vein to a recent thread but I'm loath to hijack!

i'm about 1 month in to bankruptcy, so far so good with my mobile contract (with EE), just keep paying the bills-my iPhone and ipad are on the account and it runs at about 100 a month

the contract is due to expire in the next few months-does that mean automatic credit check to renew, and loss of account?, - in the past I've always been champing at the bit to get the free upgrade so I have no idea what actually happens when the contract term ends-if I can just keep the phone/ipad I've got and pay the bills as norm that would be ideal

NotEvanAPot

Request a sim only deal, should cut the costs right down - somewhere around £20 per month per device. Or use the iPad on hotspot sharing with the iPhone, pay for 1 sim only package and pocket the saving for something nice - that's £960 saved per year!

As your examiner wasn't interested in budget, the extra few quid can go towards whatever you wish it too, should you not be in receipt of income that could be subject to an IPA/O.

london1973

whilst I appreciate your budgeting tips that's not what I was asking! apols if unclear

ignoring the cost what actually happens at contract end? do they just continue billing until the customer requests his upgrade?

point being if it can just carry on as normal that MAYBE an option, rather then opening a can of works that might lead to credit checks and losing the account

alltaken

My understanding from a previous contract is that payments continue on a 30 day rolling contract at the same rate. If you give notice then 30 days is given and it ends, if you do nothing then it carries on tying in for 30 days each time. You can upgrade without an external credit check being carried out, internal data is used for upgrades.

You can of course request a sim only 'downgrade' that would not have any effect on future upgrades as you're continuing the contract on a different tariff.

The devices are yours to keep due to the minimum contract term being complete with all payments made.

National_Debtline

london1973 wrote: »

ignoring the cost what actually happens at contract end? do they just continue billing until the customer requests his upgrade?

Hi

My own EE contract ended a few months ago and I’ve just been paying as normal. It will just keep running until I choose to change contract or leave them.

James
@natdebtline

london1973

thanks, and you are absolutely correct Alltaken, I have just called them-contract rolls over until you make a move
assuming a downgrade will definitely NOT initiate a credit check?! if so then that's what i'll do at the time

NotEvanAPot

Spot on by alltaken, apologies for cross wires. My advice is to downgrade though, if not taking an upgrade at contract end, because what you are paying is device plus connection. To continue is madness, as you'll continue to pay instalments for a device you already own outright.

london1973

yes agreed Pot

NotEvanAPot

National_Debtline wrote: »

Hi

My own EE contract ended a few months ago and I’ve just been paying as normal. It will just keep running until I choose to change contract or leave them.

James
@natdebtline

If your contract included a handset you did not separately purchase, by continuing you are paying way over the odds. Contact and ask for sim only or an upgrade.

alltaken

london1973 wrote: »

assuming a downgrade will definitely NOT initiate a credit check?! if so then that's what i'll do at the time

Networks, like other providers of credit, will form time to time run anti fraud checks which may include checking with credit reference agencies, the likely hood of one of these checks indicating you're bankrupt and then ceasing the line is extremely small IMO. We would have heard of such cases on the wider internet and MSE no doubt, we have not.

The bankruptcy is a mute issue with the network unless trying to create a new and separate connection, i.e a second line. I have not heard of a network revoking an existing contract due to insolvency unless instructed to by the OR's office, you're willing to pay, they're happy to continue taking your money...

In your case you would be modifying a current service by way of an upgrade, which would already show as 'approved' or some other terminology on the advisers screen, otherwise an option to upgrade/alter your current plan would not be given.

Budgeting aside, changing to a different tariff via an upgrade is an internal mechanism that would not require external credit data for a customer such as yourself, in my experience.

National_Debtline

NotEvanAPot wrote: »

If your contract included a handset you did not separately purchase, by continuing you are paying way over the odds. Contact and ask for sim only or an upgrade.

Thanks, it’s a good point but I’m fortunately in a friends and family deal so it’s not as bad as it seems while I make my mind up. I agree that in general it's best to reduce the cost or upgrade at the end of the contract though.

James
@natdebtline