Cheapest Mobile Article Discussion

Kernel_Sanders

mobilejunkie wrote: »

How can you upgrade a phone rather than a contract?

I expect the phone ND has bought is a better spec than the one his SIM was previously in. Why can that not be called an upgrade?

NiftyDigits wrote: »

It's clearly not true,as they have more than those networks listed. I used a T-Mobile SIM.

Yes, I see Orange and Tmobile are actually listed as price options on that phone, yet the website still have the statement limiting it to three providers. I've missed out because the Tmobile SIM I used on that abortive Lumia order in January has been declined, presumably because it's not been 6 months since then. This is annoying, particularly as the cashback deal ends today.
They don't list qualification for the pair here, although they aren't excluded in the last clause.

Virgin Media
To be eligible to upgrade 6 months needs to have passed since you joined Virgin Media or 6 months since your last upgrade. Also, you must have used your number in the last 90 days to make a chargeable event.
Vodafone

In order to be eligible for an upgrade 6 months must have passed since you joined Vodafone or 6 months since you last upgraded. You must also have made 2 chargeable events in the last 6 months and have topped up at least £15 in the last 6 calendar months.
O2

To be eligible to upgrade you must have been with O2 for 6 months, or 6 months must have passed since your last upgrade. Also, a chargeable event must have occurred on your number at any time.
What networks don't we offer on Pay as you go upgrade?

Currently we don't offer upgrades on TalkMobile.

grumbler

mobilejunkie wrote: »

How can you have a PAYG "upgrade"? If you aren't in a contract it's just a PAYG.

You upgrade the phone, keep your PAYG sim and don't pay the topup compulsory for new customers.

What's wrong with this?

mobilejunkie

It's just a new phone without a contract.

I never liked the term "upgrade" for contracts - it smacks of the Labour Party creating another false term (the so-called cost of living crisis). Applying it to buying a new mopbile phone without a contract is pure nonsense.

Maybe I can "upgrade" my weekly food shopping too.

grumbler

mobilejunkie wrote: »

It's just a new phone without a contract.

I never liked the term "upgrade" for contracts

Absolutely.
It's more common to use it for hardware, i.e. a phone in this case.

Regardless, as you upgrade the phone, not the contract, what's the difference between PAYG and contract?

Applying it to buying a new mopbile phone without a contract is pure nonsense.

You can upgrade your TV, PC etc.
Why not a phone - especially if you pay a heavily discounted price for it - similarly to contract upgrades (where a 'discounted' price is often just an illusion, unlike for PAYG).

Maybe I can "upgrade" my weekly food shopping too.

You can upgrade your kitchen and appliances.

NiftyDigits

That was a waste of thirty mins of my life. Went to upgrade another PAYG SIM. All ok until I wanted to pay. The Continue button to the Payment page did nothing.

Kernel_Sanders

If you've given up with that SIM then could I have a try with the details, please?

So did you get the £9.99 Lumia 435 some time ago?

mobilejunkie

grumbler wrote: »

Absolutely.
It's more common to use it for hardware, i.e. a phone in this case.

Regardless, as you upgrade the phone, not the contract, what's the difference between PAYG and contract?You can upgrade your TV, PC etc.
Why not a phone - especially if you pay a heavily discounted price for it - similarly to contract upgrades (where a 'discounted' price is often just an illusion, unlike for PAYG).

You can upgrade your kitchen and appliances.

Not a lot of difference. So-called contract "upgrades" I've been offered (unsolicited) can involve a lower specification on both bundle and tariff. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a new contract without cancelling the old one and with the same number.

The only time I upgraded my computer was when I had the existing one rebuilt by my computer specialist. I have bought newer and better computers but the term "upgrade" was a general one. I have upgraded all sorts of things - but (apart from that or home improvements) they were simply buying something new and better (though often new and better means they can't do the things I used to be able to do with the old ones), without recourse to the old item. The only real difference would be if I bought something I didn't have before - like my first mobile phone. Otherwise everything is an upgrade. In fact, I usually only replace something when the old one has broken and I have little choice.

It's always seemed to me an invention of mobile networks and dealers to make taking out a new contract sound like you're getting something special; usually, you're not.

NiftyDigits

Kernel_Sanders wrote: »

If you've given up with that SIM then could I have a try with the details, please?

So did you get the £9.99 Lumia 435 some time ago?

Obtained the LUMIA last week for £9.99.

KittaKatta

Hi, I got a new phone (Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini) with Talkmobile last month as the deal of £15.00 mth for 24 months (5000 texts, 500 mins and 500 MB data) seemed rather good (I had been using a very ancient Nokia until then, on Pay as you go...), however I have been having an appalling service from them since.

First problems: I wanted to move my number to them and, being very particular about ensuring that there would be no problem doing so, I gathered all the required information before I went for the deal, also confirming everything with them in advance. Alarms bells should have rang when someone from their team originally advised me to go to any CPW shop to get the exact same deal that I found online and get the phone there and then. When I tried, I was send away packing (after being offered a more expensive deal...).

When I eventually ordered the phone (over the phone) I was told that I should ring the following day to give the PAC (to get through to them one tends to stay on the line on average 30 minutes with music that does not calm the nerves...). The next day was a weekend and, after another 30 minutes wait, I was told to ring during the week. I e-mailed the customer's service to get clear information on how to proceed (I did not want to wait another 30 minutes to be fobbed off again with another excuse!) and was told to ring on receipt of the phone and then provide the PAC. When I did (another 30 minutes...) I was told that the PAC should have been given when ordering the phone. Eventually (after some somewhat hard complaining from my part) they told me that their system was being upgraded and that I could move my number at the end of May. I was at least offered a a refund of £20.00 for the wrong information I was repeatedly given, and the frustrating waits on the phone, which I asked to get confirmed in writing... Not much use though as now, after spending nearly 2 hours online on two different occasions with their chat service, they refuse to pay it.

The first time I contacted them via chat (and I have it all in writing) I was promised an answer to the problem within 48 hours; after 6 days of receiving no feedback I recontacted them and was told that the refund should be given by CPW and to ring them (aren't they together? They obviously must have shared their customer service number as I always called the number on the Talkmobile webpage!). After threatening to copy the chat onto this forum I was promised that they'd look into it an that I'd get an answer in another couple of days. I am doubtful... but I'll give them another week.

Besides the whole palaver above my new telephone number did not work when I tried to ring or text some family/friends (or they me) and when I called Talkmobile (15 minutes wait on that particular occasion) I was told that the number was not compatible with other networks and needed to be changed (luckily I had not passed it on to too many people by then, still hoping to transfer my original one...); this luckily went more or less painlessly although the refund, which was apparently visible to the person I talked to on the phone on that occasion, then disappeared...

Another excuse I am now given by Talkmobile is that their system is not working and is being upgraded, and that they do not even have copies of their own bills (not sure how they managed to get my D/D!), so much so that I was asked to scan my copy back to them! I feel I am doing the legwork for them!

I am surprised that I cannot find any negative (or positive!) feedbacks in the forum about Talkmobile (although a quick search online scores them one star out of 5...) and wonder if every MSE member is happy with them, or no-one was silly enough to sign up with them or... is it only me?

I have decided to give them another (last) chance before trying with Resolver.

Anyone has any tips?

Many thanks