Breaking out of contracts?

Noxis

Noxis

Noxis

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Joined
26 Jul 2003
Posts
6,348
Location
Surrey
Ok so I am not happy with my handset (XDA Exec) its a good PDA, but as a phone its just plain buggy. Randomly I cant hear people on the other end, randomly it just decides it not longer will get a signal and requires a reset.

Its been irritating me from day one from the phone handset point of view.

I got it at the beginning of last december on a 12 month contract so I got just over 6 months left. Its £35 a month.

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Today in the Metro is a very nice deal that appeals to me, I would prefer to be on T-Mobile simply because its the only network I can get a signal on in my flat (I think its a wavelength/frequency thing through concrete and brick). Deal in the metro is a free handset from a range (I really like the PEBL) plus £180 monthly allowance for mins/text (which would give me more than I have now) and a free XBox360, all for £35 a month (what I am already paying).
 
Considering the problems I am having with the XDA Exec and signal problems I am wondering if I can get out of the contract for free.

Edit: Just spoke to O2 (was gonna try to wait until lunch but sneaked off down stairs :p) not good :( If I wanna break contract I have to pay the remaining amounts which is gonna be about £245 :o Even tho I am not happy with the handset, all they would do is attempt to fix it :rolleyes:
 
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First ring up and lower the tariff on your phone to O2 25 - this is £16pm

Wait a day or so then ring back again and ask to settle your contract in full, you will be required to pay 6x£16 and that will be that.

If you don't lower your tariff first then you're required to pay 6x£35.. you can't however, lower your tariff, and ask to disconnect in the same phonecall.
 
garyh said:
First ring up and lower the tariff on your phone to O2 25 - this is £16pm

Wait a day or so then ring back again and ask to settle your contract in full, you will be required to pay 6x£16 and that will be that.

If you don't lower your tariff first then you're required to pay 6x£35.. you can't however, lower your tariff, and ask to disconnect in the same phonecall.
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Ooh good point. Is that the cheapest contract? Will go check their site...
 
You might want to check your T&C's - there is a good chance you cannot actually lower your tarrif.
Funnily enough many of the telco's were getting a little peeved off with people taking out high price tariffs to get phones for cheap and then immediately dropping tarrif so the telco lost even more.
 
Voda and O2 usually allow dropping your tariff from Month 6 onwards, assuming it's a 12 month contract. Orange also allows you to drop the tariff after month 6, I believe.

T-Mobile is the one that doesn't allow you to downgrade your tariff for the entire 12 months. I'm not too sure about 18 month contracts (maybe you can, after month 12).
 
Noxis said:
Considering the problems I am having with the XDA Exec and signal problems I am wondering if I can get out of the contract for free.
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As you've already discovered, this would be unlikely, as with most networks, the handset makes up no part of your network airtime agreement (which is what the monthly fee is for). Hence a faulty or missing handset is not a reason that the contract can be cancelled free of charge.
 
Dolph said:
As you've already discovered, this would be unlikely, as with most networks, the handset makes up no part of your network airtime agreement (which is what the monthly fee is for). Hence a faulty or missing handset is not a reason that the contract can be cancelled free of charge.
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I was actually hoping for a refund on the £150 i paid for the XDA Exec and a replacement handset... but they wont do that either. They just say they will send it off to be repaired... which I know will do jack.

I think what I am going to do is reduce it to £16 a month (phoned them and confirmed I can from May onwards) then take out a T-Mobile deal from one of the usual 3rd party suspects that gives me the first 6 months free.

I'd never use a XBox 360 anyway so i'd actually be saving money and getting more texts/mins as well as reception in my flat :)
 
Would it be possible to flog the o2 phone on a well known auction site and use the funds to repay the contract if you're going to get the pebl with T-Mobile.

o2 phones don't tend to be locked so often sell better than the locked equivalents from other networks.
 
amx said:
Would it be possible to flog the o2 phone on a well known auction site and use the funds to repay the contract if you're going to get the pebl with T-Mobile.

o2 phones don't tend to be locked so often sell better than the locked equivalents from other networks.
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The XDA Exec makes a very nice pda - just sucks as a phone due to bugs (losing signal, strange dialling but no sound etc..). So was planning on keeping it as a PDA.

I have gone for T-Mobile with the PEBL and 6 months free (paid back via rebates). The plan being I will reduce my O2 to £16 a month in May and I get 6 months free on T-Mobile. So actually saving myself quite a bit of dosh in the process.
 
Morba said:
no offence but the pebl is horrid, why have you gone from a xda to something so basic?
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I am not interested in features - simply a phone that works as a phone. And to be perfectly honest the clock on the front I am going to find really useful (dont wear a watch).
 
Morba said:
so you never actually used the XDA for what it was, just bought it anyway?
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No exactly the opposite, I use most of the other features of the XDA but its phone ability completly sucks. I am keeping the XDA as well which is why I am not fussed if the PEBL does nothing apart from be a phone.
 
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