Refused mobile contract- twice!

rossy71

I'm trying to buy my partner a new mobile on contract, through the black friday deals.
She has had an EE contract for years,paying over the odds, for an old iphone.
I tried to buy a contract in her name, with me as the payee, first through Fonehouse then Mobiles.co.uk
Both times, the deal was agreed online, then cancelled the next day by the company, saying the contract was declined 'by the network' 
Neither of us has any credit issues- we have checked this week- and cannot understand why they are rejecting the contracts.
Could it be because the contract owner and payee are different?

Grumpy_chap

rossy71 said:

I'm trying to buy my partner a new mobile on contract, through the black friday deals.
She has had an EE contract for years,paying over the odds, for an old iphone.
I tried to buy a contract in her name, with me as the payee, first through Fonehouse then Mobiles.co.uk
Both times, the deal was agreed online, then cancelled the next day by the company, saying the contract was declined 'by the network' 
Neither of us has any credit issues- we have checked this week- and cannot understand why they are rejecting the contracts.
Could it be because the contract owner and payee are different?

It comes up from time to time:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6572636/vodafone-credit-check-refusal#latest

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6572821/rejected-mobile-contracts#latest

d123

rossy71 said:

I'm trying to buy my partner a new mobile on contract, through the black friday deals.
She has had an EE contract for years,paying over the odds, for an old iphone.
I tried to buy a contract in her name, with me as the payee, first through Fonehouse then Mobiles.co.uk
Both times, the deal was agreed online, then cancelled the next day by the company, saying the contract was declined 'by the network' 
Neither of us has any credit issues- we have checked this week- and cannot understand why they are rejecting the contracts.
Could it be because the contract owner and payee are different?

1. You can’t take a contract out in someone else’s name. It could be construed as fraudulent by the network.

2. If she already has an EE contract and you are trying to open a second account in her name will be ringing alarm bells at EE.

Brie

Why not just buy her a phone and not get a contract.  Let her do that.  You might pay £500 for a phone and she'll only need to pay for the monthly charges might be as low as £7 a month or similar.  Often much better value.

Emmia

rossy71 said:

I'm trying to buy my partner a new mobile on contract, through the black friday deals.
She has had an EE contract for years,paying over the odds, for an old iphone.
I tried to buy a contract in her name, with me as the payee, first through Fonehouse then Mobiles.co.uk
Both times, the deal was agreed online, then cancelled the next day by the company, saying the contract was declined 'by the network' 
Neither of us has any credit issues- we have checked this week- and cannot understand why they are rejecting the contracts.
Could it be because the contract owner and payee are different?

Can't she switch to another, (cheaper) contract with EE herself, either with a handset, or SIM only? Is her current phone out of the contract period? (I'm not sure why you need to be involved?)

rossy71

Emmia said:

rossy71 said:

I'm trying to buy my partner a new mobile on contract, through the black friday deals.
She has had an EE contract for years,paying over the odds, for an old iphone.
I tried to buy a contract in her name, with me as the payee, first through Fonehouse then Mobiles.co.uk
Both times, the deal was agreed online, then cancelled the next day by the company, saying the contract was declined 'by the network' 
Neither of us has any credit issues- we have checked this week- and cannot understand why they are rejecting the contracts.
Could it be because the contract owner and payee are different?

Can't she switch to another, (cheaper) contract with EE herself, either with a handset, or SIM only? Is her current phone out of the contract period? (I'm not sure why you need to be involved?)

It's a matter of economics- and this is a money site, rather than a relationships guidance page!

rossy71

Brie said:

Why not just buy her a phone and not get a contract.  Let her do that.  You might pay £500 for a phone and she'll only need to pay for the monthly charges might be as low as £7 a month or similar.  Often much better value.

This is a site about money value. I can get her a deal over 2 years for £470- handset and all data, calls included. If I buy a handset for £500 and then pay £7pm for 2 years, the total is £640. Faced with a choice between a £470 deal or £640 deal for the same item, which would you choose?!

Emmia

rossy71 said:

Emmia said:

rossy71 said:

I'm trying to buy my partner a new mobile on contract, through the black friday deals.
She has had an EE contract for years,paying over the odds, for an old iphone.
I tried to buy a contract in her name, with me as the payee, first through Fonehouse then Mobiles.co.uk
Both times, the deal was agreed online, then cancelled the next day by the company, saying the contract was declined 'by the network' 
Neither of us has any credit issues- we have checked this week- and cannot understand why they are rejecting the contracts.
Could it be because the contract owner and payee are different?

Can't she switch to another, (cheaper) contract with EE herself, either with a handset, or SIM only? Is her current phone out of the contract period? (I'm not sure why you need to be involved?)

It's a matter of economics- and this is a money site, rather than a relationships guidance page!

Her switching herself would also be cheaper. "economics"


I wasn't offering you relationship advice - there are boards for that on MSE 

rossy71

I think I need to rephrase the question here:

has anyone successfully bought a new handset on contract for a friend or relative, where they are the contract owner and you are the payee and direct debit holder?

Emmia

Would a family plan work for this? I.e. you add her as an additional SIM user on your current mobile contract?

https://ee.co.uk/mobile/family-account