Poll: Contract lengths? Poll Request...

[TheOtherOption]

Currently with T-Mobile on a £20 rolling sim only deal that gets me 600mins 200 texts (but unlimited with flex booster) and the unlimited internet too.

Am very tempted to just pick up a sim free DHD and use this sim with it!

 

[Spartacus]

Ok, so let's take the following scenario which I believe to be accurate regarding the deals around for the DesireHD at the moment.

Scenario One:

• Outright buy the phone £440 roughly
• SIM only £15 p/m rolling contract for ~500mins, unlimited texts and data
• You have this combo for a year, so £15 x 12 + £440 = £620
• You sell the phone and get £200 back after 12 months

Scenario Two:

• You sign up to a £35 p/m contract for 24 months, free phone
• You have this combo for a year, so £35 x 24 (due to 12m buy out) = £840
• You sell the phone and get £200 back after 12 months
• You might have to buy a radio unlock code
• You might have branded software, leading to intrusive carrier applications
• Updates ARE slower to roll out than generic firmware
• Sometimes carrier specific firmware will disable certain features that they deem to be a potential way to abuse the network

Thats exactly why its better to buy the handset and go sim only these days.

Screw the networks and their 24 month contracts

 

[atpbx]

I personally think you have to be mentally disturbed to undertake a 24 month contract of your own volition.

 

[Gipo]

24 Month contract - 10 squids a month, unlimited vodafone to vodafone calls, 100 mins, 500 texts.

Don't call that much - but the voda calls save a bomb (to the wife). Got a free Samsung Monte, which is kind of ok, shame about the lack of Samsung support for it though! Not downloadable stuff of any use.

 

[Russinating]

[*]You have this combo for a year, so £35 x 24 (due to 12m buy out) = £840

Why would you cancel the contract at the full £35? You could easily drop it down to >£10 and then cancel (the staff even tell you to do this), thus making it FAR cheaper to get a contract.

I personally think you have to be mentally disturbed to undertake a 24 month contract of your own volition.

I personally think you have to be mentally disturbed to pay MORE to buy the phone outright than pay less and spread that lesser cost over a year rather than one lump sum.

Oh well, suckers will part with their money .

 

[tommytinkle]

I personally think you have to be mentally disturbed to undertake a 24 month contract of your own volition.

24 months is hideous, 12 used to be bad! 12->18->24 bit of a hideous lockdown!

 

[Russinating]

Ok, last time I say it: you're not locked down for 24 months if you don't want to be. Not saying it again .

 

[Breeny]

12 month simplicity contract, £20pm for 900 mins, unlimited texts. + BlackBerry Unlimited bolt on.

I plan on just rolling it over every year and buying phones outright from now on.

 

[krooton]

HD2 right? Pay it off early!

Need to wait for the Desire Z to be released and on what networks.

I would ideally like to stay on T-Mobile, so if could push for an early upgrade with free handset would consider it.

 

[tommytinkle]

I on a 18 months contract with an iPhone 4, i absolutely hate 24 month contracts, I think next time round I just buy the phone outright and just get those rolling monthly sims as I don't use many minutes or texts I just use the net.

It also seems these days that you get less and less for your money with the more expensive phones on a supposid standard £30 a month contract!

 

[Timber]

I personally hate the fact that the networks have changed standard contracts from 12mths to 18/24mths with very little or no cost benefits to the consumer. I've had a mobile on contract for years and was always getting great deals on 12mth extentions.

Last phone upgrade was a Blackberry on 18mth deal, and now moved to HTC Desire in July to a 18mth, 600mins, 3,000 txts (sold as unlimited) and 1GB Internet for £30 per month with the phone for free. Also managed to get £30 credit for the first month, becuase the phone was delayed in getting to me. So in total £510 on this contract, which seems a pretty fair deal.

Next time though I will possibly buy the phone outright and move to a rolling or 12mth sim only contract, but the truth is it will probably cost me more (unless buying an iPhone), but I'll have more freedom, no firmware hassle and reduction in monthly spend.