Benefits of upgrading

[Welshy]

What exactly are the benefits of upgrading at the end of a contract? (specifically Orange)

My contract's running out soon, so have been looking at possible phone upgrades, but it'll cost me more to upgrade than to just start a new contract

Looked on their site, cant find much in the way of answers, anyone with experience got anything to contribute?

 

[garyh]

Benifit of keeping your existing number, with the same network.

That's about it - obviously if you're a little cheeky you can sometimes waggle a better deal off them if you threaten to leave for another network

 

[Dange]

if you're a little cheeky you can sometimes waggle a better deal off them if you threaten to leave for another network

If you're worth keeping as a customer (ie you spend a lot and make them money) they will offer you a better deal as an upgrade than if you start a new contract. At least thats the theory anyway. Threatening to quit usually gets you through to the retentions department who will offer you a better deal depending on you value as a customer to them.

 

[Welshy]

so I'd be paying £100 odd quid just to keep my current number? doesn't sound worth it to me...

 

[semi-pro waster]

so I'd be paying £100 odd quid just to keep my current number? doesn't sound worth it to me...

Depends how much your number is worth to you, for some people it is literally priceless or at the very least the amount of hassle to let everyone know that you have changed your number will cost more than the upgrade fee.

Happily you can keep your number regardless and switch networks. If you have been a customer for 12 months then phone up and ask for your PAC(Porting Authorisation Code) number, with the PAC you can transfer your existing number to any other network. It is a little bit of hassle and you will probably be without your phone line for half a day max but I've done it a few times now and it saves me a lot of money on new phones. You may have a temporary number while the transfer is being initiated so you have two numbers running concurrantly but it isn't much of a hassle at all.

 

[pany]

so I'd be paying £100 odd quid just to keep my current number? doesn't sound worth it to me...

don't pay anything for the new handset. If your monthly spend isn't enough to get you the handset you want for free, then join another network.

As semi-pro waster say's keeping your number isnt an issue any more with the pac code.

 

[Efaws]

so I'd be paying £100 odd quid just to keep my current number? doesn't sound worth it to me...

Not at all when you can get a PAC (I think) and send your number to your new sim card with another operator... if your with orange tho.. and want to stay with orange with no hassle its easy.

They wont want to lose you as a customer tho... so you can wangle a better deal and normally get whatever phone you want for free, just say to them its 100 quid upgrade.... but its free on t mobile, i want it free or im moving, they might call your bluff but most of the time theyll waive it to keep you as a customer, if t mobile can offer something for free that they charge 100 quid for, their obviously making a ridiculous amount on it