Mobile phone deals

greasedscotsman

Trying to sort out a new phone and contract, I've been told many times that you get the best deal if you call your mobile phone company and threaten to leave. Just done this and they bascially offered me the same tariffs as they have on their website. Am I missing a trick somewhere or is this whole threaten to leave thing a myth?

redvee

It does work most of the time but can also depend on how long you've been with them. Be aware that most ATPs are offering longer contracts to cover the more expensive costs of the newer handsets they are offering, one thing to ask with contracts over 12 months is wether the handset is covered under warranty for the full length of the contract. Mine isn't and it looks like I've got 5 months with a borked handset though Consumer Direct did say that it would be reasonable to expect a product or service to last a reasonable length of time, ie the full length of the contract.

Anonymous

I just got MrsNapD a contract that came with a Sony Bravia 32" LCD telly for nowt. She isn't bothered about a fancy handset and NapKid1 and 2 think I am god as it's gone in their playroom.

guilliano

Just got an iPhone 4 to be delivered next week, costing £29 on a £30 a month tariff (£5 cut in rental) by saying I wanted to cancel my 3 contract. If you are a loyal customer on a decent deal (for the network) you will get a good deal by saying you want to leave. If you make them very little you will get very little.

Personally I don't think you can beat the offers on 3, and coverage and customer service are vastly underrated

greasedscotsman

redvee wrote:

It does work most of the time but can also depend on how long you've been with them.

Hmm, about 15 years! But I don't think that really counts for much.

NapoleonD wrote:

I just got MrsNapD a contract that came with a Sony Bravia 32" LCD telly for nowt. She isn't bothered about a fancy handset and NapKid1 and 2 think I am god as it's gone in their playroom.

Think that's my problem, I'm after a daddy-o cool handset and I don't think they're going to offer a deal on a phone that's in demand.

Like the kids names by the way

northernneil

NapoleonD wrote:

I just got MrsNapD a contract that came with a Sony Bravia 32" LCD telly for nowt. She isn't bothered about a fancy handset and NapKid1 and 2 think I am god as it's gone in their playroom.

surely they thought you were god beforehand !

APIII

If you go on one of the cashback sites (I use quidco), you'll find a lot of deals on there if you want to move to another mobile company. £80 cashback for a pay monthly contract seems to be an average deal on there.

Radioactiveman

As above using quidco or topcashback you can get a fair wedge of cashback, you have to wait a few months for it but it is generally worth it.

Although it isn't possible to get a decent amount of cashback on an iphone, £20-£40 tariff dependant.

Good luck hunting for bargains, I got a "free" samsung NC10 netbook with my last phone deal,although my laptop died a couple of days before so it was a convenient deal for me, however work out the overall cost of the contract versus the price of the "free" gift. Sorry if I am teaching you to suck eggs.

Ands

greasedscotsman wrote:

Trying to sort out a new phone and contract, I've been told many times that you get the best deal if you call your mobile phone company and threaten to leave. Just done this and they bascially offered me the same tariffs as they have on their website. Am I missing a trick somewhere or is this whole threaten to leave thing a myth?

Have you told them that a competitor is offering you a certain deal, and can they better it? Worked for me last time - I got £10 knocked off my monthly tarif. Probably helps if you can show them that you are actually looking elsewhere.