When can I take a new contract out an avoid the annual increase being applied this year?

tomscfc

Someone I know took a new contract out 5 or so weeks ago and has obviously been immediately hit with a huge increase because of the annual hike.

I want to know when is the soonest I can take a new contract out to not have this increase applied straight away this year? I've managed with my trusty iPhone on sim deals since new but the phone is now deteriorating rapidly after 6 or so years and I need a new one. Looking at some of the contract offers out there they are similar to what I am paying for the sim currently anyway because of data for travelling with work etc so I'll take out one of these on a newer model and get a sim deal after the 24 months again.

I need to take the new contract out as soon as I can with some trips coming up but if I do it now will I be hit with an increase straight away or have I left it long enough into the year? Or if now is going to be impacted, when is the soonest I will be able to take a new deal out without this impacting me? I've tried contacting a few of the providers but they are just providing me templated answers that contracts are subject to annual increases etc and not addressing my specific question.

Anyone able to help? Thanks in advance.

SaverRate

It depends on the company.

Some companies already have said if you take a contract out now you wont get the price increase e.g. ID mobile. 

Others are not that forthcoming so you may need to contact them to ask. 

400ixl

Ask the phone company, anyone on here will be guessing as it can be different depending on what contract you are on today and going to.

SaverRate

400ixl said:

Ask the phone company, anyone on here will be guessing as it can be different depending on what contract you are on today and going to.

Im not guessing with ID Mobile it states it on their website - https://www.idmobile.co.uk/cpi

tomscfc

Damn okay, thought it would be the case but trying to get a direct answer is proving harder than it really should be.

Thanks for the advice though, I'll keep pushing with them.

molerat

Plusnet are showing

The plan price will be increased on or after 31st March every year from March 2024

Vodafone state

Monthly price shown plus all out of bundle charges will increase by the Consumer Price Index rate published in January of that year + an additional 3.9%

Make what you will of that one !

400ixl

SaverRate said:

400ixl said:

Ask the phone company, anyone on here will be guessing as it can be different depending on what contract you are on today and going to.

Im not guessing with ID Mobile it states it on their website - https://www.idmobile.co.uk/cpi

Did I quote you? Nope, so no need to get defensive, it was a general comment as the OP had not said what network they were on, unlikely to be ID Mobile.

HaroldWhistler

tomscfc said:

Someone I know took a new contract out 5 or so weeks ago and has obviously been immediately hit with a huge increase because of the annual hike.

I want to know when is the soonest I can take a new contract out to not have this increase applied straight away this year? I've managed with my trusty iPhone on sim deals since new but the phone is now deteriorating rapidly after 6 or so years and I need a new one. Looking at some of the contract offers out there they are similar to what I am paying for the sim currently anyway because of data for travelling with work etc so I'll take out one of these on a newer model and get a sim deal after the 24 months again.

I need to take the new contract out as soon as I can with some trips coming up but if I do it now will I be hit with an increase straight away or have I left it long enough into the year? Or if now is going to be impacted, when is the soonest I will be able to take a new deal out without this impacting me? I've tried contacting a few of the providers but they are just providing me templated answers that contracts are subject to annual increases etc and not addressing my specific question.

Anyone able to help? Thanks in advance.

One thing you could potentially try is this:

1. Get your new iPhone from Apple directly on a pay monthly basis over 2 years. I.e. rather than getting a credit agreement from a mobile provider for the phone, you go direct to the Apple website (or a store) and get it direct from Apple.

2. Get a SIM only deal from a mobile provider that offers fixed prices.


Regarding (2), you can try providers who use the "main networks" signal. For example:

- Lebara (use the Vodafone network) and offer fixed price 30 day, or 12 month contracts.
- Smarty (use the Three network) and offer fixed price 30 day contracts.
- Lyca (use the O2 network) and do various "MSE deals" with fixed price 30 day contracts.

Other potential alternatives who do short contracts:

- Tesco Mobile (use the O2 network) and for Clubcard customer deals (not all deals), offer fixed prices. 
- Asda Mobile (use the Vodafone network) and offer 30 day rolling contracts.
- Superdrug Mobile (use the Three network) and offer 30 day rolling contracts. 

I do not think there is a provider who will offer both a new phone and a SIM both with fixed prices yet. But if you do each separately, then it is possible to know exactly what you are going to pay. 

tomscfc

HaroldWhistler said:

tomscfc said:

Someone I know took a new contract out 5 or so weeks ago and has obviously been immediately hit with a huge increase because of the annual hike.

I want to know when is the soonest I can take a new contract out to not have this increase applied straight away this year? I've managed with my trusty iPhone on sim deals since new but the phone is now deteriorating rapidly after 6 or so years and I need a new one. Looking at some of the contract offers out there they are similar to what I am paying for the sim currently anyway because of data for travelling with work etc so I'll take out one of these on a newer model and get a sim deal after the 24 months again.

I need to take the new contract out as soon as I can with some trips coming up but if I do it now will I be hit with an increase straight away or have I left it long enough into the year? Or if now is going to be impacted, when is the soonest I will be able to take a new deal out without this impacting me? I've tried contacting a few of the providers but they are just providing me templated answers that contracts are subject to annual increases etc and not addressing my specific question.

Anyone able to help? Thanks in advance.

One thing you could potentially try is this:

1. Get your new iPhone from Apple directly on a pay monthly basis over 2 years. I.e. rather than getting a credit agreement from a mobile provider for the phone, you go direct to the Apple website (or a store) and get it direct from Apple.

2. Get a SIM only deal from a mobile provider that offers fixed prices.


Regarding (2), you can try providers who use the "main networks" signal. For example:

- Lebara (use the Vodafone network) and offer fixed price 30 day, or 12 month contracts.
- Smarty (use the Three network) and offer fixed price 30 day contracts.
- Lyca (use the O2 network) and do various "MSE deals" with fixed price 30 day contracts.

Other potential alternatives who do short contracts:

- Tesco Mobile (use the O2 network) and for Clubcard customer deals (not all deals), offer fixed prices. 
- Asda Mobile (use the Vodafone network) and offer 30 day rolling contracts.
- Superdrug Mobile (use the Three network) and offer 30 day rolling contracts. 

I do not think there is a provider who will offer both a new phone and a SIM both with fixed prices yet. But if you do each separately, then it is possible to know exactly what you are going to pay. 

This is a good idea actually, and I was only considering the first half of a contract avoiding this years increase but would still have a higher monthly rate next year anyway.

I'll definitely check this out - thanks for the idea!