Three Mobile; Should I go for the contract for a new phone? 21 June 2021 at 4:44PM edited 22 June 2021 at 2:09AM in Mobiles 8 replies 81 views

kellyllek

I have some queries and hoping you can help?

I have a Three SIM now but out of contract. I pay about £10.40 a month for 12G.
I plan to get probably a Samsung S20 FE 5G phone. Three actually has some great phone deals with 5G SIM now, with cashback, etc.. . It's even on the MSE phone finder and comes to 653 total for phone and 100GB data at 5G.  There is also TopCashBack offers I think too.  But can I get the deals if I already have a number and SIM with them?

Would I have to port the number elsewhere and bring it back to them to get the deal? Would I be able to get a TopCashBack or Quidco deal too? (I got one with my current SIM, but again, I'm no longer on contract). 

Or would I just have to get a new SIM/ Number?

On top of that I will never use 100GB Data on just my phone, but I will be moving soon and may actually want to use the SIM for a mifi device for my home instead of my phone. If I get a phone SIM deal though will they limit my use to just the phone? Or could I switch it to a mifi/wifi receiver? (paying out the contract of course, and I'd get a more modest data SIM for my phone) 

Would I be better off just buying the phone separately and getting the SIM on it's own? 


Sorry for all the tricky questions! I do need a new phone though, and will be moving to a place currently without wifi. And I'd still like to watch some Netflix and youtube on my 4K TV!

jon81uk

You'll get more responses on the mobiles board.

But if you want a deal offered to new customers you will need to sign up as a new customer and probably get a new number unless you want to faff with porting it off three and back onto.
Contacting Three and seeing what deals they will offer you might work (but no cashback as an existing customer).
Or check to see if it is cheaper to buy the phone outright and keep your current contract.

JGB1955

My experience is that buying a phone elsewhere and then signing up to a new monthly contract with 3 is FAR cheaper!  You can keep your existing phone number too.

kellyllek

Yeah the phone is the S20 FE 5G.  It's retailing for for more than the deal.  Deal comes to £653 total for 2 years with 100GB 5G data.  Plus with TopCashBack, it'd be hard to beat I think? 

Phone alone on amazon is £478.   So it'd come out to paying approx £175 for 24 months of 100GB 5G..    that same plan direct from Three for 24 months is £300...    so we're looking at at £125 savings and ability to pay it over time.     

but maybe I can find a SIM deal alone for much less... May have to still faff with the phone porting though.  but the SIM I'd realy want for home wifi anyway.. 

tough decisions!

On top of that we contacted BT to ask how many GB We  use for wifi a month, and they say because we are unlimited they don't provide that info!!! 

I'm hoping my youtube and netflix accounts may have that info but probably not! 

Thanks for the responses. May post to the mobile forums too.  Thanks for the heads-up

JJ_Egan

New home no wifi ??

If no internet then price that up .

flaneurs_lobster

That phone contract deal from 3 looks a bargain. Just one thought (forgive me if this is obvious) have you checked 3 coverage at the address you are moving to? You need a solid fast 5/4G signal indoors to use a mifi or phone hotspot for anything other than checking your emails.  Assume your 4K telly has wi-fi?

kellyllek

JJ_Egan said:

New home no wifi ??

If no internet then price that up .

Canal boat; and on the move.  but nothing is certain. this will probably happen in August. 

kellyllek

gavinbaxter said:

That phone contract deal from 3 looks a bargain. Just one thought (forgive me if this is obvious) have you checked 3 coverage at the address you are moving to? You need a solid fast 5/4G signal indoors to use a mifi or phone hotspot for anything other than checking your emails.  Assume your 4K telly has wi-fi?

yeah good idea. I'll try to get a consensus from others.  All I can say is I had 02/Giffgaff before and find that Three is overall much better for me. but it's not perfect.. I do travel all around London at least though and seldom lose connection. Occasionally I'll have to work remotely though via whatever connection I have. 

jon81uk

Netflix used 0.7GB to 3GB an hour for most people (How Much Data Does Netflix Use? (makeuseof.com))

So watching 1-2 hours a night for a month could be at least 60GB I would expect.