Better to upgrade early or cancel contract and buy new

Lucy_cars

I've had an EE contract for years (Back when they were Orange)
I decided not to have insurance (Yes, my fault) and lost my phone in Grecce.
Brought a cheep-o replacement.
Now back and I can't upgrade for another 6 months I've asked how much to upgrade early and they say £200. I'm still paying the £30 a month for this awful phone I have at the moment and would like just a reasonably good phone. I had the first Google Pixel which I adored and wouldn't mind getting another one.
If I ask them to let me upgrade early at a cheaper price do you think they would let me?
Alternatively maybe I should sell the cheap phone (£50 for a Acatel anyone?) cancel the contract and buy a handset. I know it might work out cheaper long term to be sim only but I would have to buy the handset also. Anyone know a normal cancellation fee for EE?

I'm leaning towards just upgrading early but I know that would lock me in for another couple years. Advice please.

mobilejunkie

Buy the phone and use the existing sim for 6 months before looking for a sim only. About as obvious as not losing your better phone unless you like throwing money away as well as your phone.

isabellac

If you try to upgrade early you will be expected to say on the same price plan that you're currently on, or take a higher one - as you're still in contract they won't be able to put you on a cheaper deal than what you originally signed up to, which will probably be a little higher now after the RPI adjustments. If you want to go ahead with the early upgrade, I'd say have a good shop around with retailers who handle EE upgrades and/or contact the retentions team for an offer, as their instore prices are notoriously over the top.

20aday

Have you consider looking at the likes of Envirofone etc to see if they have any second hand Google Pixel phones at a reasonable price?

Then, once you're at the end of your minimum term, you can shop around for a SIMO deal that suits your needs (and budget).

In terms of cancellation fees it's normally whatever your monthly tariff comes to, times the months remaining, less VAT.

Cisco001

Get a decent £180 - 250 phone. this will last you 2 - 3 years
Switch for SIM only or PAYG once min contract term serve.

macman

Do you mean you had no phone insurance, or no travel insurance? If you had the latter, then claim on that.

clearancer

I've got 6 months left of my 2 year contract, and I phoned up to get an early upgrade. I was told £120 to upgrade today, or to wait for 8 days when EE will be running an upgrade offer so I would pay £60.

Lucy_cars

Thanks, I was thinking something like that but I'm a bit concerned that those type phones (refurbished) because they might break but I suppose without insurance that's a risk with any phone. Just don't want to be tied in to another contract term. Could buy the handset and wait until the contact is cheap enough to upgrade early.

Lucy_cars

Ah I'll give them a call, they told me £200 which seemed a lot. If it's down a bit lower and they give me a new handset maybe that would be fine.

Lucy_cars

Thanks all, I think I'll just try and upgrade early - If I can get the price down and get a new handset it'll be quite cheaper than buying a new handset I think (and keep the phone number I've had since I was 15).
Top tip: Don't think that you don't need any kind of insurance when you're travelling...

Lucy_cars

No. I'm the worst. I'd had phone insurance for years and was trying to cut costs.. didn't work out really.