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Thread: Contract Length

  1. #1
    Senior Member Stringent's Avatar
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    Contract Length

    WHY are we now in this country going over to just 18 month and 24 month contracts? Why are those being penalised just to keep a 12 month contract. Phones generally don't last 18 months before looking tattered. I just think its a farce. 3 were a bit sensible and offered a 6 month contract. What is going on!?
    Last edited by Stringent; 11-09-2008 at 09:02 AM.

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    Re: Contact Length

    It may be the case that those taking 18 month contracts are being "rewarded" for the longer commitment, rather than the other way round. Agreed, it's unfortunate you have to go to 18 or 24 months to get a decent deal.

  3. #3
    radix lecti dave87's Avatar
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    Re: Contact Length

    I don't know why you suggest phones don't last 18 months - All my SE phones have lasted that long, if not longer.

    k700 - had a year, sold to a mate, still going afaik.
    k750 - 3 years and still going
    k800 - 2 years and still going
    Nokia 8600 Luna - not so much confidence in this one, been with Nokia for a month of the 6 I've had it....

  4. #4
    Senior Member Stringent's Avatar
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    Re: Contact Length

    Well they work, but if you are like me they get tatty, even in a case. Plus a year in technology terms can be a long time. The longer the contract the more you pay really IMO, as you get the phone at a lower price its 'built into the contract' so logically if you are on it long you pay more.

    However I am seriously going to test my negotiation skills when they ring me to let me know the N96 is in. If they can't match or come close to some of the 3 deals, I will just ask them for my PACs code.

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    Re: Contact Length

    i think they just try to lock you in longer since most of them then you buy up your contracts at the 11th month. but the bottom line is they are trying to keep their customers, especially those who can pay. but i do agree most phones get a bit old in 6 months or so. i usually change mine within 6 months and continue my contracts on those 12months free deals.

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    Re: Contract Length

    my nokia n-gage still working- 5 years now

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    Re: Contract Length

    I worked in independent mobile sales until about 18 months ago, and they had started to implement the longer contracts back then, and we found it was really hard to offer phones for free on 12 month contracts as they had dramatically slashed commission rates if you weren't taking up the 18 or 24 month option. No idea what commissions are like now. But we did end up with at least 50% of customers coming back in 12 months with a completely shagged phone wanting an upgrade we couldn't provide. Though I've not had that problem, luckily. Every phone I've ever owned still works, apart from the original SPV which ended up meeting a wall at high velocity due to a bike crash. Never could quite work out what my customers did to the poor things, apart from the fact I sold to quite a few farmers and builders.

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    Re: Contract Length

    The networks are looking for longer commitment (more money) and people are generally accepting it so its slowly crept in that 18 months is just standard. Basically the networks tried it and got away with it. 2 year contracts will be the standard in the not so distant future I fear.

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    Re: Contract Length

    Does it not work out cheaper to buy your own phone and take a sim only deal, rather than tie yourself down to a 2 year contract?

  10. #10
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    Re: Contract Length

    Depends on the phone (im TheKork, found my old login) you can get £300 handsets for free on £35 x 18 months = £630. So your paying £18.33p a month for your minutes and texts. Tmobile do 800mins unltd txts for £35. On sim only the same deal is roughly £20-25. It can be close but whos got £300 to put down upfront for a mobile phone.
    3D Mark 2k1 - 20661

    If you get a customer, or an employee, who thinks he's Charles Bronson, take the butt of your gun and smash their nose in.

  11. #11
    sugar n spikes floppybootstomp's Avatar
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    Re: Contract Length

    Absolutely agree with you.

    It's a conspiracy, every two months all the major mobile phone suppliers meet and agree on plans to extract the most money from mobile phone users that they can.

    Which, if you're an Orange shareholder, is fair enough, really, mobile phone users are cash cows after all.


    All those weenies texting 'omg' and stuff. Huge market.

    Where were we, I've lost the plot, hehe
    Last edited by floppybootstomp; 13-10-2008 at 01:39 AM. Reason: drunk

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    Re: Contract Length

    Quote Originally Posted by floppybootstomp View Post
    Absolutely agree with you.

    It's a conspiracy, every two months all the major mobile phone suppliers meet and agree on plans to extract the most money from mobile phone users that they can.

    Which, if you're an Orange shareholder, is fair enough, really, mobile phone users are cash cows after all.


    All those weenies texting 'omg' and stuff. Huge market.

    Where were we, I've lost the plot, hehe
    The OFT would/should be on their case if that were true, do you have anything to back this up?
    Cash cows yes, I do think that the networks think that most people are stupid and will pay what ever they ask.

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    sugar n spikes floppybootstomp's Avatar
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    Re: Contract Length

    Quote Originally Posted by Zero 101 View Post
    The OFT would/should be on their case if that were true, do you have anything to back this up?

    Of course I don't

    What do you think I am - sensible?

    But it's probably true

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    Re: Contract Length

    Quote Originally Posted by floppybootstomp View Post
    Of course I don't

    What do you think I am - sensible?

    But it's probably true
    That would be expecting a little too much

    No probs M8, rant over now then is it?

    Just cancelled 2 out of 3 contracts with 3, see other post, gave sim only £5pm ok and two 18 mth £18 only us deals- not ok- as they are available on web and for 6 mths to new customers but 18 to existing.
    Try getting them to see that this is both unfair and penalising existing loyal customers, they just don't seem to either understand or listen.
    After several calls to UK and India finally got Pac's, now lets see what they do or have I been to clever for my own good?
    Last edited by Zero 101; 15-10-2008 at 10:19 AM.

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    sugar n spikes floppybootstomp's Avatar
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    Re: Contract Length

    Quote Originally Posted by Zero 101 View Post
    No probs M8, rant over now then is it?
    Maybe, maybe...

    I'm with Virgin atm, Sim Card only, 300 minutes & 300 texts for £20.00 a month, 1 month contract.

    I kept my phone from the previous 12 month contract as I liked it so much.

    Ideal.

    My rant probably stems from several nasty experiences with the Carphone Warehouse, despicable people in my opinion, but that's another story.

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