Are mobile deals with free gifts a scam?

martinturner

martinturner

martinturner

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I am sure the answer is clear, but would like to know what the catch actually is.

Right, my mobile contract is due to come to and end in about 4-6 weeks time. Now I want a new phone, although am not that fussed about which one.

My monthly phone bill has been £30 a month for the last 12-18 months. I never go over my free allowance of minutes or texts (200 mins and 50 texts).

Now an online computer retailer do a load of phone deals where you either get a so-called 'free' lcd, ps3 or wii. I am 100% sceptical as nothing is free, but these deals all have more minutes than what I have already and cost the same money as what I am paying already.

Where is the catch? My thoughts on the catch are

1. Longer contract (although they state 12 months?)
2. When you go over your minutes, they bust with super high phone charges (although I hardly use mine now)
3. Data charges shaft you if you use interweb

Suggestions ... need assistance here! Perhaps I should just be on a cheaper contract? But then that would still save me at best £10 a month, which tbh, if I got a gift and sold it, I would actually make more?

There is a scam, please find it for me ... and any suggestions with regards to my upgrade would be welcomed. I would like to keep my number. :-)
 
My sister did it and she got a free wii.... They cant "shaft" you for call prices as that is set by the company e.g. voda, o2, orange. Just make sure it is the contract length you want even if they say it is 12 call up voda o2 orange etc and check with them at the beginnin gof the contract as it is easier for them to change it then (or so they say)
 
£30 for 200 mins and 50 texts? your getting ripped off.

My orange contract from last year was £30 - 500 mins and unlimited texts, right now I get close to that and its £15 a month
 
I did it to get a wii when they were sold out last Christmas.

You end up paying for it but I knew this when I signed up - just under £10 extra a month for 18 month contract = £180 = cost of wii (just spread over 18 months).

As they were sold out everywhere I was happy to do this as I would've just bought one had they been in stock.
 
They usually have very strict or complex conditions that you must meet in order to claim the gift or cash-back.

Just get a deal that has the required amount of minutes and texts for the cheapest amount per month!
 
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martinturner said:
I am sure the answer is clear, but would like to know what the catch actually is.
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For free gifts there is only one catch, if the company goes under then you don't get it and the phone contract still stands, however with the bigger players (onestop.. etc) this shouldn't be an issue.

For your low usage it may be more advantageous to get the "12 months free" as sometimes you get a free phone/contract at the end by redeeming (send off) certain bills. The only catch is if you forget but it you set reminders on your phone and special/recorded delivery this isnt an issue and then buy a ps3/lcd separately/blah. (or one place even does automated cash back however this is a lot lower but a better deal than direct.)

Have you tried your providers retentions?

LordSplodge said:
They usually have very strict or complex conditions that you must meet in order to claim the gift or cash-back.

Just get a deal that has the required amount of minutes and texts for the cheapest amount oer month!
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Nah, gifts are normally very simple between 45 and 90 days you receive your item to your billing address no forms etc (normally) unlike the cash back)
 
Get a sim-only deal where you only have to give a months notice to get out of it. 200 minutes, 400 texts for £15 a month

Compare this to £30 a month over the now usual 18 month contract. You pay £540 over the 18 months compared to £270 you would pay on a sim only deal.

All depends what you want really - an Xbox now with a long contract or a monthly saving with no contract
 
ste_bla said:
Nah, gifts are normally very simple between 45 and 90 days you receive your item to your billing address no forms etc (normally) unlike the cash back)
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This is true.

When I did this (above) got the gift less than a week after signing up.
 
Majago said:
This is true.

When I did this (above) got the gift less than a week after signing up.
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Wow a week hmm if i knew a place was doing it that quickly I would have got a 360 one last year but didnt want to wait 45days :( (thats what onestopshop) did at the time :(
 
mr_x_plosion said:
£30 for 200 mins and 50 texts? your getting ripped off.

My orange contract from last year was £30 - 500 mins and unlimited texts, right now I get close to that and its £15 a month
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Yes it's a bit expensive - my Orange contract is £15/month for unlimited texts and 300 minutes a month. Not bad at all :)

My stepbrother got an O2 (I think) account that "gave" him a Wii - although I think it's a 24 month contract on about £25/30 a month!
 
Thanks for all the comments.

I don't actually need a free gift, was more a case that I did not want to rule those deals out in case there was some good ones. Or if most people get free gifts with phone deals now. They seem to be placed everywhere and when some reputable online pc suppliers are doing them I kind of thought, I have not upgraded in such a long time that maybe I am just out of touch.

Cheers again :)
 
ste_bla said:
Wow a week hmm if i knew a place was doing it that quickly I would have got a 360 one last year but didnt want to wait 45days :( (thats what onestopshop) did at the time :(
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Yeah, it was really quick! Signed up at the start of December hoping to have it before Christmas and it arrived on the 8th - remember the date as I had a wedding that day so couldn't start playing straight away!

Got it through mobiles.co.uk who I believe are another in the carphone warehouse group.
 
martinturner said:
My monthly phone bill has been £30 a month for the last 12-18 months. I never go over my free allowance of minutes or texts (200 mins and 50 texts).
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That must be the worst contract I have ever seen. Absolutley shocking!

T-mobile do 1400 mins and unlimited texts for £30 a month.
 
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My orange contract is £25/month for 650minutes, 2 magic numbers (unlimited free calls to these and an additional magic number every 6months), unlimited texts and a brand new phone of choice.

Everytime the contract ends you have them by the nuts it would seem as they slash their price and improve your gains for the re-signing :)
 
2 years ago I got a free bluetooth headset (very useful) and a 7 a side table football game that didnt have goalies. I've played it 3 times.

PK!
 
you'll only get to choose phones that arent worth much and thus they make money by giving you a crappy phone :)
 
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