ScoobyDoo555

Why are most contracts now on an 18-month basis?

Dan

porlkertus

I think it makes it easier for them to offer you a decent phone for for free / little money.

ScoobyDoo555

what if you still only want a 12 month contract - 18 months is a long time to be tied to a contract (IMHO)


Dan

Billgtt

Ask for one then. There's still plenty of 12 month contracts out there.

2000TLondon

The longer the contract they tie you to, the more money they make.

Profit only starts after a few months generally, most of it comes from line rental and then the rest obviously from calls. The most profitable part of the business being handset insurance and add on warranties!

ScoobyDoo555

I hadn't asked for one because as it's Bank Holiday, the sales depts are closed (called O2 and Vodafone)

Didn't know you could still get 12 month contracts......

Will know more tomorrow

Dan

Adrian F

What is more interesting is the warranty on the handset they supply is only 6 months!

Therefore it is perfectly possible to have a broken handset and yet still be in a contract paying a monthly facility fee for which you can’t use! All direct debit as well so you pay whilst they refuse to help.

If you try to go back to the manufacturer you can have a long wait for a repair and you have the cost of sending them the phone and no use whilst it is sitting at there repair centre waiting for them to repair it. I found all this out with Orange when my SE P800 died and they wanted me to send it to Sony/Ericsson who quoted me more than 5 weeks unless it was just a software flash.

I did point out that if they made the phones to be fit for purpose then they could offer a warranty as long as the minimum contract term, the reply from customer services at Orange was “that my phone was unreliable after 6 months therefore not warrantied because people abuse them for example making calls outside in the rain”

The other point being the longer the warranty the less likely that you will buy the insurance on which I believe they make a good profit.

Crazy Chick

Every time I get a new phone I refuse to do direct debit - just ask for a bill to be sent - it costs an extra few £ but you've got some leeway when it comes to paying your bill. Also, don't take out insurance through the phone company - you can get your phone covered on an insurance from the bank that covers personal belongings, including mobiles, whilst on your person while you are out and about.

MattN

why do you want a contract at all?

All Torque

Exactly, Virgin now do airtime bundles, I top my phone up with £24 for 200mins if I have loads of time left over next month I can simply lower my talk plan, the lowest being £7.50 for 40mins. They do have differant packages if you text a lot (i dont). I`m happy with it not tied into a contract and someones always selling a nice phone cheaply as well when I fancy a phone change.

ScoobyDoo555

O2 were deffo closed - could have sworn I tried Vodafone

MattN - I'm on a really good tarriff at the moment - (500mins Offpeak/50Mins XNetwork/100 Text for £19.99)

Wifey's on O2 so I wnat to stay cheap for her to contact me too.

Also, ideally, I want a Nokia N70 - not available really cheap without a contract (don't really want to shell out alot of money for a phone just after Xmas!!)
Deffo not signing up for an 18 month one though.

Any other thoughts?

Dan

Spoon

As you are online now wouldn't it be easier to just go to vodafone.co.uk and have a look there?

ScoobyDoo555

yeh - but every phone/contract I've ever had, had been a negotiation.

The websites give you excellent indicators, but not a definitive price.

Case in point - upgraded my wife's phone (same contract as me) initally told that "today, it is £50. Tomorrow, it could be something totally different, for example £15. I said "thankyou, I'll be back in touch"

Called up about 30 mins later, went through the same process, but this time got quoted £90! I then mentioned that I'd now been quoted 3 different prices. Which one was it?

I got her phone for £15.

It does pay to talk to these people

Dan

Spoon

It was really meant to point out that there are 12 month contracts available rather than asking here.

I agree, it's good to talk however.

ScoobyDoo555

Oh yeh

My mis-read!!

Will have a look for contracts

Dan

MattN

so if you're on a good contract, why change? They are minimum contracts are they not so you could just keep it running.

ScoobyDoo555

I don't want to change! I'd just noticed that whilst surfing for new phones/contracts, most seemed to be 18 month deals

However, if there were *better* deals, then as mine's due up soon, I'd be mad not to change

Dan

VinPetrol

is there a site which compares the best deals for vodafone contracts ?