Any Phone Contract Experts in here?

Origin · 28 Jun 2011 at 13:20

Basically, I am approaching the end of my current contracts (have two phones) and I am getting the usual calls to upgrade from whoever has been sold my number..

Anyway, the problem I have is that there is a strong possibility that i will be leaving the country for good within the next 12-18 months.

Does anyone know what sort of stance operators generally take (specifically Vodafone) in someone taking out a contract and then ringing back part way through saying they are no longer able to have the phone for this reason.

I am aware that this could be dodgy in the sense that in theory I could just go "stuff you" and leave the country, but that can obviously lead to problems later if I ever had to return. I'd rather not do this.

Am I better off just going for as short a contract as possible in case I do have to pay off the remainder(s) or just go to rolling 30 days and buy a sim free phone from somewhere?

Cuchulain · 28 Jun 2011 at 13:23

Just keep a handset and slap either a PAYG sim in or short contract.

krooton · 28 Jun 2011 at 13:27

Simplest answer, if you want a new phone and stuff, is to just pay of the remainder of your contract in a lump sum if you need to leave before it's up.

shine · 28 Jun 2011 at 15:06

You could get a 30 day SIM only deal rather than get locked into a contract.

sharingan_sasuk · 28 Jun 2011 at 21:21

Buy the handset SIM free and then get a rolling contract. You can get a 1 month rolling contract if you want the flexibility, or save £5 a month and get a 12 month contract.

wkingsnorth · 28 Jun 2011 at 21:23

Sometimes you can have your contract 'paused'

Jimbeam3678 · 28 Jun 2011 at 23:02

Expat forums are full these questions, general answer is the mobile companies will hold to the full tune of the contract, even if you go down the route of i'm leaving for good you'll get nothing but i'm willing to pay X or Y

If I was you i'd buy a phone outright will work out cheaper no doubt with regards to what country you end up in Australia and most parts of Asia

Origin · 29 Jun 2011 at 07:31

Thanks for the answers guys, I will speak to them about a 12 month contract and see if they will do a deal on that, if not I will hold until the actual end of this one and go rolling contract and pick up a handset from somewhere.

Myshra · 29 Jun 2011 at 08:50

wkingsnorth said:
Sometimes you can have your contract 'paused'

This is the usual way I hear of sorting 24 month contracts although I seem to remember you have to be a minimum of 12 months in usually.