Advice or tips for negotiating a good deal with a renewed contract?

[TheBigCheese]

Hi everyone

I'm getting to the end of my phone contract so I'm thinking of what's going to be next...from the missed calls I have I can see that 3 have been contacting me already.

Now, I've never upgraded/renewed a contract phone before so I would love to hear some advice on what I can expect compared to buying a new contract.

Currently I have an HTC Hero (T-Mobile G2), obviously on T-Mobile and it's a business contract phone. I have unlimited internet, unlimited messages and I think it's 600 minutes a month and pay £24.99 for it.

I like the phone but find it's rather slow with many things so I'd like something that's higher powered but doesn't cost a bomb.

I like HTC but have heard good things about Samsung, but I don't want to pay £35 a month, that's rather .

I would need:
Not more than 600 minutes a month to any network included
Unlimited texts
Don't need much data wise, just syncing for a diary and email etc., which is included on T-Mobile.

The other thing is I would like to get a new contract phone for my missus on the same account...would I be able to get a better deal if I take out a renewal and new contract at the same time?

She will need unlimited texts but doesn't need much more than that, we are looking at the new HTC for £10ish a month currently.



tl:dr
What's the best phone deal I can get for renewing a contract?
Currently HTC Hero on T-Mobile
unlimited texts & internet
600 minutes a month

Would need about the same with a speedier but not massively expensive phone.

Missus needs a smartphone as well - better deal if we both get one?


Thanks in advance!

 

[Myshra]

You can ask but generally renewals are sucker deals unless you're a class A customer (you're not). Get it via an online site with cashback for the best price. Get them separately, no benefit to two at once*

*99% of the time.

 

[Bloomfield]

Are you willing to pay money upfront, if it means getting a cheaper contract over the full length? Or would you prefer to just pay a bit more and only have monthly payments?

 

[TheBigCheese]

Thanks for the replies.

That's a bit disappointing...has anyone else had any more luck?

Err, I hadn't thought about paying upfront, does paying upfront mean a cheaper amount to pay overall or does it work out more expensive overall?

Just had another thought...are contract phones/tariffs usually better prices in the January sales?

 

[bastic]

everyone gets different deal...i was offered free lumia 800 with 900 mins, 900 txt,60 mins to europe free internet for 18 months and 18 pounds per month...ended up buying galaxy nexus and uograded contract with no phone.more minutes rest same for 10 pounds a month for a year

 

[Bloomfield]

Err, I hadn't thought about paying upfront, does paying upfront mean a cheaper amount to pay overall or does it work out more expensive overall?

It depends on the contract. Sometimes it'd workout more, obviously you'd want to avoid those, as why pay money straight away when you can keep it in the bank for a bit longer, paying bit by bit and paying less overall. Other times it'll work out cheaper over the length of the contract if you pay some money upfront towards the phone, if you have the money available to spend this is great as it saves you money long term .

 

[TheBigCheese]

Hmmm everyone gets a different deal eh? Looks like there will be some legwork involved!

Thanks for the top Bloomfield, I've been looking and comparing on the T-Mobile site and it certainly does seem cheaper if you part part up front, combined with the cashback as Myshra mentioned and there is a good saving to be made if you take the hit to begin with.

Here's something strange I've found...

HTC Sensation XE - T-Mobile 500mins, unlimited texts (with booster add-on), two year contract.

T-Mobile store - £25.54 a month, phone costs £150 + £80 cashback = £683 (rounded)

Mobiles.co.uk - £25.54 a month, phone costs FREE + £30 cashback = £583 (rounded)

With a saving of £100 not buying from T-Mobile, would I be able to walk into a T-Mobile store or phone them up and be able to get a match/better deal than that or they not flexible...or is it down to the person on the day?

 

[pingu666]

you need to give t mobile 30days notice that you wanna end contract, I think you need to port number after its ended. I didn't do that, and i m gonna be billed 10quid foor those things, get pac with a week to go.

a orange sim will work in a tmobile locdked phone btw
tmobile have ****** retension deals, so best to go as a new customer.
buymobilephones.net is another good online shop, part of cpw group

 

[413x]

Yes tmobile couldnt offer me anything good for the nexus, thought ghey did at one point, was the nexus s.

I went to o2 with redemption