My 3 contract dilemma HELP please

brownbabygirl

I am 15 months into my 18 month contract with 3 (500 mins on £15 pm ) and my phone has decided to die on me. I really rely on my mobile so not very good news and I never took insurance.

I called 3 to ask whether I could get an upgrade now (hoping to take advantage of their 1100 mix and match on £20 pm promotional offer) and they said I had to wait until one month before end of contract before I could apply for an upgrade! So I went to a 3 store in town for them to have a look at my mobile in case it could be repaired for use in the meantime. They said it could be repaired by head office but phone has many cracks so would cost me so I am better off upgrading now (apparently I can upgrade now afterall!). So I ask if I could have the promotional offer and he said not on an upgrade.

I am unwilling to pay nearly double per month on an upgrade! I am quite upset about this. I could go and buy a brand new Nokia 6280 and use it till the end of my contract but that doesn’t make sense.
Basically what are my options now if I need to use a mobile? I am thinking about calling and paying 3 the remaining £15 x 3 months I owe them and get my PAC (hopefully might get a better upgrade offer then?!) and leave then come back and at least get quidco plus the promotional offer.

What do you think? Any ideas/strategies much appreciated.

Quentin

Compare the cost of cancelling now with buying a cheap second hand one to use for the 3 months.

If there's not much in it you could buy the second hand phone, use it till you get your free upgrade then sell it on - at hopefully around the price you paid for it.

Starting again (even with quidco cashback) is usually more expensive over the life of a contract than taking a retention offer when you ask for the PAC at cancellation time.

brownbabygirl

I am only willing to spend £30 for a temp phone but cannot find any at that price. I tried ebay

brownbabygirl

I just had a thought. I have a samsung X660 which I tried to unlock online to accept my 3 SIM but it did not work. I might take it to a shop to get it unlocked for £10 and use that until September, when my upgrade is due.

z4kir

I don't think the X660 is actually a 3G phone, so don't think it will work!

You might want to consider one of three's 6 months contracts, technically 18 months but allow you to cancel after 6 months!
You can get the 6120c free, 6 months on M&M 300 @ £15 = £90

Quidco is £34 and you can get £30 RAF on your current contract and the 6 month contract, which means fingers crossed it will leave you up £4, oh and you can also get a £20 accessories voucher to boot too

Quentin

Don't use it if its not a 3g phone!

Although it will work (via 2g), 3 will find out you are not using a 3g handset and will block the SIM if you keep using it after they warn you.

brownbabygirl

z4kir wrote: »

I don't think the X660 is actually a 3G phone, so don't think it will work!

You might want to consider one of three's 6 months contracts, technically 18 months but allow you to cancel after 6 months!
You can get the 6120c free, 6 months on M&M 300 @ £15 = £90

Quidco is £34 and you can get £30 RAF on your current contract and the 6 month contract, which means fingers crossed it will leave you up £4, oh and you can also get a £20 accessories voucher to boot too

Thanks but I really wanted to keep my number. I called 3 again and accepted to take part in the survey and I was extra sweet (following tips from 3 retentions thread lol). They offered to send me a new phone K660i sonyEric which I can use until end of my contract and then tranfer to the 1100 mix and match for £20 pm - RESULT!!!:T

I wonder if I can request a PAC in 2 months time and still get a new phone like a normal upgrade?:rotfl:.

Quentin

Thought you were a nice lady!

Now we find you ready to see if you can rip 'em off after they helped you out!

Poppy9

So when you transfer to the £20 contract how long is the contract for?

Also when will you be entitled to a new phone? If your current phone has lasted barely 12 months you need to consider if you will be in the same position in 12 months time.

brownbabygirl

Quentin wrote: »

Thought you were a nice lady!

Now we find you ready to see if you can rip 'em off after they helped you out!

:j:j:jOh but I am.....
I never agreed to stay with them or not to get an upgrade. Strictly speaking the guy at the call center put me on hold and came back and told me this was an EXCEPTIONAL offer he was making. I am so happy. I get the phone on Tuesday!

brownbabygirl

Poppy9 wrote: »

So when you transfer to the £20 contract how long is the contract for?

Also when will you be entitled to a new phone? If your current phone has lasted barely 12 months you need to consider if you will be in the same position in 12 months time.

I think another 18 months. I am OK with that because I am so far happy with 3.
My current phone smashed on the floor so many times so i know exactly why it died on me eventually!