Flex pay from EE- wierd

mills705

Hi

Just a quick one but with EE they seem to now offer 'flex pay' which is you have a DD for the phone and a DD for the plan.

However the default option is for the phone to be on a 36 month contract and most plans are 24. Meaning after 24 months you can upgrade the plan but not the phone?

I bet people will not realise this and it will cause chaos down the line as they will then have 3 DD's going!

You also need to contact them to then get a normal all in one plan!

flaneurs_lobster

In what way can this be considered "flexible"?

Woodstok2000

You can pay the phone contract off early, and/or upgrade whenever you want. Not for me, but some people must like it!

southsidergs

It's standard across rhe industry now. Oncre phone is paid DD for it stops stopping the "overpaymnet" complaints after contract end is missed

PHK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6652935/flex-pay-from-ee-wierd

This is not new. The current version of flex pay started in 2023.

This is normal practice with most providers. You have a loan for the device and an airtime contract. It allows you to change airtime contract without waiting to finish paying off the device.

The_Groat_Counter

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81862399#Comment_81862399

And this is a Good Thing. Over the years, there will have been a vast number of people who've carried on paying for the same plan after the minimum contract period (i.e. after the point at which their mobile handset had been 'paid off'), rather than swapping over to a cheaper SIM-only plan.

True, some of them - and I came across them - will have been people who had a (possibly vague) awareness of this, but just never got round to doing anything about it.

mills705

Thanks all - I have found out that you can't upgrade again with 12 months flex pay outstanding still. Still think its a bit cheeky having the default option to 36 months when most airtime contracts are 24 though.

Maybe I am old school as I usually get a new phone/ contract every 2 years - usually with EE!

I will speak to them again and see what they can offer me.

flaneurs_lobster

Under OFCOM rules, airtime contracts cannot be longer than 24 months.

You didn't notice that you'd signed a contract for 36 months for the phone? You "assumed" it was 24 months?

Not sure if "cheeky" is the correct term to apply to EE offering you extended credit and you not understanding the terms.

mills705

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81865954#Comment_81865954

No not signed up to it.

When you go to upgrade on EE website they default to 36 months

southsidergs

Yrs default to 36m but you can change to 24m. No idea why it's such an issue for ypu OP tbh

mills705

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81866294#Comment_81866294

If you dont work in the industry and understand it.

If you are told you have 2 contracts which technically run side by side - one is 24 months and other is 36 it doesn't really add up.