upgrade via network or third party

Ms_Wheels

Hello everyone,

I am hoping you lovely people can help me. I have spoken to different phone companies and getting conflicting information.

My mobile contract comes to an end within the next couple weeks and I have been looking at upgrade options. For many years I have taken out contracts direct with Orange/EE and always found upgrading easy and with good loyalty offers. This time they did not seem interested and the one offer they had did not match the deals I have found on fonehouse and carphone warehouse (even when these deals have been on EE network). EE have told me that what they offer differs from getting a contract with a third party using their network as EE obtain the phone direct from the manufacturer and any problems I resolve with EE. I think I must be missing something as the one and only time I had a problem with a phone from EE all they did was signpost me and I cannot see how that would differ from somewhere else, i.e. they directed me to Samsung who had it repaired at carphone warehouse geek squad under warranty.

Perhaps I am being naive, but I am struggling to see how upgrading with EE via carphone warehouse is different to upgrading with EE. Could someone please help me understand.

I have heard some perks are only available direct from the network (and this was what I expected EE to say when I asked them what the differences were). One function I need to ensure I have is wifi calling. The phone I want will support this (Samsung S9+), does anyone know if this is only available if a contract is taken out direct from EE rather than carphone warehouse or fonehouse?

I would also like to keep my existing phone number and EE have told me I cannot keep my number if I take out a EE contract with a third party company. This seems strange as I can transfer it to another network but not to EE!

Thank you

PHK

If you upgrade with a third party you WILL keep your number.

On the other hand, if you just buy a new contract elsewhere then you won't be able to migrate your number to the new contract. You can port your number to PAYG on another network and then after a while port the number to your new contract.

What EE mean is that if you need support with your new phone (eg using it) then you'll need to approach the third party as the handset may not have EE's firmware on it.

Features like VoLTE and WiFi Calling may well work if the third party is selling the SIM free UK model (there's a list on EE's website of which ones will). However some third parties will stock models from another , normally European, country and these may not work . So check with the third party what they are supplying. You should be fine with the big players.

Ms_Wheels

Thank you PHK for explaining this.

I assume carphone warehouse is one of the big third party companies and I will check today whether they are selling the UK model.

thanks again.