Sim only to contract

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pdyson21
pdyson21 Posts: 22 Forumite
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My contract is coming to an end with EE and I am looking to switch to a sim-only deal for a short period of time. If after that 12-18 month sim-only deal comes to an end, how easy is it to switch back to a contract and get a new phone still on EE? So really, which is cheaper in the long run, sim-only so cheaper per month and buy a new phone as and when required or stay on contract and get free upgrades but pay more per month?
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  • mobilejunkie
    mobilejunkie Posts: 8,460 Forumite
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    Free "upgrade"

    :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
    :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
  • eDicky
    eDicky Posts: 6,575 Forumite
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    Look for the cheapest SIM-only monthly or one-year deal on any network that gives you enough data etc, then quote that as what you intend moving to when you call EE for your PAC to move your number and cancel, a month before the minimum term of your contract ends. EE will then undoubtedly offer you a deal to match the price and data allowance with unlimited calls and texts, on a one year contract. Forget the so-called 'upgrade', just buy your new handset separately whenever.
    Evolution, not revolution
  • Frozen_up_north
    Frozen_up_north Posts: 2,420 Forumite
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    As eDicky says (and is mentioned many times on here), forget the phone + SIM contracts and go SIM only. Not only do you have a wider choice of tariffs, the contracts are shorter (30 days, or 12 months), and the overall cost is usually much less. It's a win for the consumer.

    The network will try every trick in the book to sell you an "upgrade", but ask for a PAC, walk away and save a lot of money.

    Ps make sure your EE phone isn't locked to their network before you ditch them.
  • pmduk
    pmduk Posts: 10,655 Forumite
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    There is no such thing as a free upgrade. You pay through the nose for upgrades with all networks.
  • mobilejunkie
    mobilejunkie Posts: 8,460 Forumite
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    Apart from the small matter that it's EITHER request the pac and exercise it within 30 days OR give 30 days notice to terminate the contract - not both as implied.
  • Neil49
    Neil49 Posts: 3,081 Forumite
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    If you want time to consider your options you could switch to Plusnet (who use the EE network) and just have a rolling 30 day contract running on your existing handset.
  • Herongull
    Herongull Posts: 1,356 Forumite
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    As well as being cheaper (with more choices) buying the phone outright and going sim only gives you far more flexibility. If you get a phone on contract you are tied to both for two years unless you want to "upgrade" again within the minimum contract which will be on their terms.

    You probably don't need a phone every two years or you might need one sooner if you lose your phone.

    Your airtime requirements might change before the two years is up. Sim only contracts are rarely more than 1 year and as Neil says the Plusnet ones (which are often very good value) are only 1 month rolling contracts.

    It makes no sense to get a phone on contract these days - only for the phone companies, especially when they can phone their customers every two years and tell them they are "due for an upgrade".
  • Nebulous2
    Nebulous2 Posts: 5,116 Forumite
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    Sim only and buy phones is cheaper unless you get something like a very good cashback deal. EE wont make you wait a year on sim only. You'll be allowed to upgrade long before that if you ask.
  • Herongull
    Herongull Posts: 1,356 Forumite
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    But if you upgrade mid-contract you have no leverage or negotiating power - it is on their terms - so the upgrade is always a poor deal. They normally add on 24 months at the time of the upgrade. So it is always to be avoided.
  • Nebulous2
    Nebulous2 Posts: 5,116 Forumite
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    Herongull wrote: »
    But if you upgrade mid-contract you have no leverage or negotiating power - it is on their terms - so the upgrade is always a poor deal. They normally add on 24 months at the time of the upgrade. So it is always to be avoided.


    I'm not sure what you're referring to - my previous post?

    Not on sim-only. You can upgrade to a contract phone on the same terms as someone whose contract has run its full period. You need a new 24 months contract, as usual, but they don't add it to the outstanding period. There are different waiting periods before you can do this depending on how long you have been a customer. For me its 3 months, for others its 6 months.

    Any upgrade is generally worse than you can get on a new customer deal, so you could argue that upgrades are always to be avoided in any case, but the OP was asking how easy it was to switch back to a contract from a sim only deal.
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