Phone upgrade pre application

obc18

My phone is on its last legs and I am due an upgrade around now. We have a DIP but our new plot hasn’t been released yet so we are just waiting for the call to reserve and proceed. Am I better off doing the upgrade now before the application goes in or waiting until we are actually completed? O2 have actually offered me a tariff that brings my monthly bill down but I don’t want to cause any headaches or hinder the application. Thanks.

kaMelo

If you upgrade with your current provider then there will be no credit search as they already know you and how you handle your account. (Assuming you handle it well that is.)   What I would say though is why upgrade at all?  Taking a phone as part of a contract is almost always the most expensive way to get one. 
Just buy a phone and see what their sim only offerings are. 

obc18

Thanks I didn’t think of it like that. I know my credit report shows the handset value as a ‘loan’ so I was just wary that the balance now shows as zero but would obviously increase with a new contract.

To answer your question, and to be honest, I like a nice phone! I don’t smoke or drink or buy expensive clothes or cars etc. A nice phone is my treat to myself :-)

kaMelo

And you're totally entitled to do that, it's your money after all.
I assume from your post you are on refresh so a new phone will actually show as a new loan. With that in mind, maybe just this once, buy a phone for now to tide you over and then when things are in place, treat yourself then.

The advice I gave is still true though, taking out a contract with a network that includes a phone is almost always the most expensive way.

obc18

Thanks. I’ll see if the phone holds out for a bit longer. Fingers crossed. Failing that I’ll try and put some cash towards it instead.