Help with new phone contract vs upgrade.
Discussion
Afternoon all,
I stuck in doors hiding from the storm so thought I'd look into my wife and my phone contracts. We are both a couple of weeks out of the original contract so eligible for an upgrade (they say that like its a good thing!).
I'm a bit confused about whether to go for an upgrade or a new contract, and on top of that I wouldn't mind a free PS4.
I'm not massively bothered about what phone I have, I don't want anything too big as it would live in my pocket all day so I'm attract to a Sony Xperia L3. Carphone Warehouse are offering what I want via 2 different methods. For £23 a month plus £29.99 upfront I get a new 4GB data contract plus a PS4 bundle (the same contract price is available direct from EE just without the PS4, so the PS4 does appear to be a nice sweetner), or as an upgrade the same 4GB contract is £26 a month and no upfront and comes with the PS4. So the upgrade will be £42 more over the 24 month contract. Even just on principle its a bit painful, but on the other hand does the hassle of switching numbers about outweigh the saved money. From a bit of googling I think I would need to do a 'backdoor upgrade', and swap my number to a PAYG sim on another network, then swap it back to the new contract. Would that be what I need to do, and am I likely to have problems and end up with no phone for a couple of days?
I've usually just walked in to Carphone warehouse in our local shopping centre for upgrades, or direct from EE so never done any swapping about myself and the bonus of getting a PS4 for some much missed Gran Turismo is attracting me to the online 'upgrade'.
Sorry for my ramblings, but any advice would be great, but for the sake of the price of a couple of pizzas am I better off just going for the upgare.
Cheers
I stuck in doors hiding from the storm so thought I'd look into my wife and my phone contracts. We are both a couple of weeks out of the original contract so eligible for an upgrade (they say that like its a good thing!).
I'm a bit confused about whether to go for an upgrade or a new contract, and on top of that I wouldn't mind a free PS4.
I'm not massively bothered about what phone I have, I don't want anything too big as it would live in my pocket all day so I'm attract to a Sony Xperia L3. Carphone Warehouse are offering what I want via 2 different methods. For £23 a month plus £29.99 upfront I get a new 4GB data contract plus a PS4 bundle (the same contract price is available direct from EE just without the PS4, so the PS4 does appear to be a nice sweetner), or as an upgrade the same 4GB contract is £26 a month and no upfront and comes with the PS4. So the upgrade will be £42 more over the 24 month contract. Even just on principle its a bit painful, but on the other hand does the hassle of switching numbers about outweigh the saved money. From a bit of googling I think I would need to do a 'backdoor upgrade', and swap my number to a PAYG sim on another network, then swap it back to the new contract. Would that be what I need to do, and am I likely to have problems and end up with no phone for a couple of days?
I've usually just walked in to Carphone warehouse in our local shopping centre for upgrades, or direct from EE so never done any swapping about myself and the bonus of getting a PS4 for some much missed Gran Turismo is attracting me to the online 'upgrade'.
Sorry for my ramblings, but any advice would be great, but for the sake of the price of a couple of pizzas am I better off just going for the upgare.
Cheers
Based on the above the PS4 deal they will be charging you £582 over 24 months for a phone that can be bought for £155, if the PS4 is truly free then £17.80 a month for 4GB is not that great
I use Smarty 4GB monthly plan which is £9 a month but you can sell back unused data and is nearer £6 a month for me due to WiFi at work and home. If you bought the handset outright and went with smarty that would be £371 over the same period, or as little as £275 if you sell back most the data. There are better sim only deals if you want more data for that money if selling back data is not something you will do
The deal you have been offered is not exactly bad but the PS4 is not what i would call free, plus unless you 'upgrade' bang on time then you will just roll onto a sim only deal that could still be £23 a month even though the handset has been paid for
Swapping numbers is easy, just request the PAC code which they have to give you and pass it on to your new provider. it will take a day or 2 but the switch over does not cause any disruptions.
If you want to upgrade then i strongly recommend https://www.affordablemobiles.co.uk/ i have used them before and CW fully admitted to me that they are unable to get close to their deals due to being an online only seller with only 1 shop
I use Smarty 4GB monthly plan which is £9 a month but you can sell back unused data and is nearer £6 a month for me due to WiFi at work and home. If you bought the handset outright and went with smarty that would be £371 over the same period, or as little as £275 if you sell back most the data. There are better sim only deals if you want more data for that money if selling back data is not something you will do
The deal you have been offered is not exactly bad but the PS4 is not what i would call free, plus unless you 'upgrade' bang on time then you will just roll onto a sim only deal that could still be £23 a month even though the handset has been paid for
Swapping numbers is easy, just request the PAC code which they have to give you and pass it on to your new provider. it will take a day or 2 but the switch over does not cause any disruptions.
If you want to upgrade then i strongly recommend https://www.affordablemobiles.co.uk/ i have used them before and CW fully admitted to me that they are unable to get close to their deals due to being an online only seller with only 1 shop
Thanks for all the replies.
As far as my phone goes, then I am happy with it, its a XZ1 compact, so the right size for my pocket and a decent spec. Only issue is every few weeks it will have a couple of days that it keeps losing mobile signal, but I wonder if a factory reset will save it to get rid of all the crap on there. My wifes phone on the other hand is dead after an unfortunate toilet related incident. So she needs a new phone, but as I said, weve always just gone with phones on contracts, so never looked into getting phones and contracts seperately. So I guess she could pick a phone and get a SIM only contract as well. Are they the same as a normal contract that you get tied in for 24 months or are they more flexible, so if we needed a phone in the future we could change back to a 'normal' contract.
When you start looking into it, its amazing how much money is 'wasted' on phone contracts. The 4GB contract direct from EE was £23 a month, and a new EE contract through CW is £23 a month with £30 up front including a 'free' PS4. I know the PS4 is being payed for within the proceeds of the contract, so a direct contract with EE for the same price is a lovely little earner.
I assume I would need to get my XZ1 unlocked to go with someone like Smarty, and for my wife we would just need a non locked phone.
As far as my phone goes, then I am happy with it, its a XZ1 compact, so the right size for my pocket and a decent spec. Only issue is every few weeks it will have a couple of days that it keeps losing mobile signal, but I wonder if a factory reset will save it to get rid of all the crap on there. My wifes phone on the other hand is dead after an unfortunate toilet related incident. So she needs a new phone, but as I said, weve always just gone with phones on contracts, so never looked into getting phones and contracts seperately. So I guess she could pick a phone and get a SIM only contract as well. Are they the same as a normal contract that you get tied in for 24 months or are they more flexible, so if we needed a phone in the future we could change back to a 'normal' contract.
When you start looking into it, its amazing how much money is 'wasted' on phone contracts. The 4GB contract direct from EE was £23 a month, and a new EE contract through CW is £23 a month with £30 up front including a 'free' PS4. I know the PS4 is being payed for within the proceeds of the contract, so a direct contract with EE for the same price is a lovely little earner.
I assume I would need to get my XZ1 unlocked to go with someone like Smarty, and for my wife we would just need a non locked phone.
Honestly yes it's pretty much as simple as that.
If you/your wife want to keep your number(s) you'd need to get a PAC code to port them across but if you look at Smarty, Three, or probably many of the other SIM only offers you'll find you can get all sorts from true PAYG through to a 30 day rolling contract.
I suspect once you look into them you'll find you've little reason to need a traditional contract.
If you/your wife want to keep your number(s) you'd need to get a PAC code to port them across but if you look at Smarty, Three, or probably many of the other SIM only offers you'll find you can get all sorts from true PAYG through to a 30 day rolling contract.
I suspect once you look into them you'll find you've little reason to need a traditional contract.
AJB88 said:
b
hstewie said:
hstewie said: I don't get it.
The phone can be had for about £150 and you can get a £10/month SIM with 4GB data.
Why would you pay £23/month?
A lot of people fall for this though. especially when new iPhones come out.The phone can be had for about £150 and you can get a £10/month SIM with 4GB data.
Why would you pay £23/month?
I've got into/my kids into working working out the phone/contract cost vs phone+contract cost for the latest iPhone upgrades. Usually a couple of hundred notes cheaper to buy and contract separately always worth double checking though
First rule of "upgrades". There is no such thing. They just want you to take out another contract.
You're not some high-powered businessman getting bumped up to first class, or a valued hotel guest being treated to a suite.
Every man and his dog has a phone, every man and his dog does not get upgrades or anything of the sort.
You're not some high-powered businessman getting bumped up to first class, or a valued hotel guest being treated to a suite.
Every man and his dog has a phone, every man and his dog does not get upgrades or anything of the sort.
speedyguy said:
I've got into/my kids into working working out the phone/contract cost vs phone+contract cost for the latest iPhone upgrades. Usually a couple of hundred notes cheaper to buy and contract separately always worth double checking though
gazzarose said:
Thanks for all the replies.
As far as my phone goes, then I am happy with it, its a XZ1 compact, so the right size for my pocket and a decent spec. Only issue is every few weeks it will have a couple of days that it keeps losing mobile signal, but I wonder if a factory reset will save it to get rid of all the crap on there. My wifes phone on the other hand is dead after an unfortunate toilet related incident. So she needs a new phone, but as I said, weve always just gone with phones on contracts, so never looked into getting phones and contracts seperately. So I guess she could pick a phone and get a SIM only contract as well. Are they the same as a normal contract that you get tied in for 24 months or are they more flexible, so if we needed a phone in the future we could change back to a 'normal' contract.
When you start looking into it, its amazing how much money is 'wasted' on phone contracts. The 4GB contract direct from EE was £23 a month, and a new EE contract through CW is £23 a month with £30 up front including a 'free' PS4. I know the PS4 is being payed for within the proceeds of the contract, so a direct contract with EE for the same price is a lovely little earner.
I assume I would need to get my XZ1 unlocked to go with someone like Smarty, and for my wife we would just need a non locked phone.
Back yours up and do a factory reset, there's a trick on Android as well in develop options to speed up the menus that could be turned on to make it snappier. As far as my phone goes, then I am happy with it, its a XZ1 compact, so the right size for my pocket and a decent spec. Only issue is every few weeks it will have a couple of days that it keeps losing mobile signal, but I wonder if a factory reset will save it to get rid of all the crap on there. My wifes phone on the other hand is dead after an unfortunate toilet related incident. So she needs a new phone, but as I said, weve always just gone with phones on contracts, so never looked into getting phones and contracts seperately. So I guess she could pick a phone and get a SIM only contract as well. Are they the same as a normal contract that you get tied in for 24 months or are they more flexible, so if we needed a phone in the future we could change back to a 'normal' contract.
When you start looking into it, its amazing how much money is 'wasted' on phone contracts. The 4GB contract direct from EE was £23 a month, and a new EE contract through CW is £23 a month with £30 up front including a 'free' PS4. I know the PS4 is being payed for within the proceeds of the contract, so a direct contract with EE for the same price is a lovely little earner.
I assume I would need to get my XZ1 unlocked to go with someone like Smarty, and for my wife we would just need a non locked phone.
Disable/Uninstall all the apps you dont need.
I'm starting to like the idea of the SIM only thing now I've been looking into it. I think I can forget about the PS4 thing for now, it was a nice sweetener if I was having to have a contract anyway, but between us we'll be saving so much money, if and when I buy a PS4 it will be essentially free.
I've looked in to Smarty, and for £10 a month I can get a 30GB plan, which will be great for when we're away and my 3yr old wants Peppa Pig or Thomas video. They also do a group plan, so my wife could have the £8 a month 3GB plan with the option of selling back any unused data for 10% off as well.
I've also got an old phone here that was only 'upgraded' for the sake of it a few years ago, so all in all I can be saving alot of cash. Discounting any phone breakages and having to buy a new one, we'll be saving nearly £32 a month or £760 over the course of a 24 month contract.
Thanks all for your advice, to hell with the free PS4, bring on the savings, I'm sure I'll find something to spend it on. When you really start quantifying things, that now the roof of my new garage payed for!
I've looked in to Smarty, and for £10 a month I can get a 30GB plan, which will be great for when we're away and my 3yr old wants Peppa Pig or Thomas video. They also do a group plan, so my wife could have the £8 a month 3GB plan with the option of selling back any unused data for 10% off as well.
I've also got an old phone here that was only 'upgraded' for the sake of it a few years ago, so all in all I can be saving alot of cash. Discounting any phone breakages and having to buy a new one, we'll be saving nearly £32 a month or £760 over the course of a 24 month contract.
Thanks all for your advice, to hell with the free PS4, bring on the savings, I'm sure I'll find something to spend it on. When you really start quantifying things, that now the roof of my new garage payed for!
gazzarose said:
I'm starting to like the idea of the SIM only thing now I've been looking into it. I think I can forget about the PS4 thing for now, it was a nice sweetener if I was having to have a contract anyway, but between us we'll be saving so much money, if and when I buy a PS4 it will be essentially free.
I've looked in to Smarty, and for £10 a month I can get a 30GB plan, which will be great for when we're away and my 3yr old wants Peppa Pig or Thomas video. They also do a group plan, so my wife could have the £8 a month 3GB plan with the option of selling back any unused data for 10% off as well.
I've also got an old phone here that was only 'upgraded' for the sake of it a few years ago, so all in all I can be saving alot of cash. Discounting any phone breakages and having to buy a new one, we'll be saving nearly £32 a month or £760 over the course of a 24 month contract.
Thanks all for your advice, to hell with the free PS4, bring on the savings, I'm sure I'll find something to spend it on. When you really start quantifying things, that now the roof of my new garage payed for!
+1 I've looked in to Smarty, and for £10 a month I can get a 30GB plan, which will be great for when we're away and my 3yr old wants Peppa Pig or Thomas video. They also do a group plan, so my wife could have the £8 a month 3GB plan with the option of selling back any unused data for 10% off as well.
I've also got an old phone here that was only 'upgraded' for the sake of it a few years ago, so all in all I can be saving alot of cash. Discounting any phone breakages and having to buy a new one, we'll be saving nearly £32 a month or £760 over the course of a 24 month contract.
Thanks all for your advice, to hell with the free PS4, bring on the savings, I'm sure I'll find something to spend it on. When you really start quantifying things, that now the roof of my new garage payed for!
I think you're looking at it sensibly.
The beauty of the sort of plans you're looking at are that if your situation changes you can easily change up or down with pretty much no penalty or notice.
gazzarose said:
So whats the plan? Order a Smarty sim now, then when that comes, ring EE to cancel and ask them for the code thing to keep my number? Then enter the code when I activate the Smarty SIM?
Any tips for unlocking my existing phone? Just google phone unlocking and may my few quid?
Once out of contract whoever the phone is locked too will unlock it for freeAny tips for unlocking my existing phone? Just google phone unlocking and may my few quid?
Here you go...
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/unlock-mo...
I've gone for the 30GB, which coming from a 4GB a month plan I'll have to up my Youtube watching to make the most of it.
Our landline internet in work is rubbish, so I'm going to mention the Smarty unlimited plan tomorrow. Could probably set up and old phone to tether to and we'll be away!
Our landline internet in work is rubbish, so I'm going to mention the Smarty unlimited plan tomorrow. Could probably set up and old phone to tether to and we'll be away!
AJB88 said:
Smarty has been good for me (I'm on the unlimited sim) I was with Three for years then switched to EE, EE was good but 4G stopped working at work, switched the Smarty and its been fine since.
Can you use smarty in "go roam" sort of countries included like the USA etc ? I find for £10 a month 8GB of data unlimited, calls and texts and roaming etc on Three quite good so don't really look around much.
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