Cut Your Mobile Bills (Contract Only) - 27th Oct 2007 12:54pm
When you are due for your next upgrade, dont be prepared to pay the same as you are now for the minutes/texts you are getting, if you are on a standard tariff, expect to pay less, a lot less!! Even if you are already on a special offer, you may as well try, as god loves a trier lol!
I have just upgraded and as I have been on a standard tariff for the past two years (400mins + 100 texts @ £35.00 per month + o2 Long Weekends until recently), I decided the time was right to get my own back on o2 and stop them ripping me off (this isnt a dig at o2, all mobile networks rip their customers off).
Here is how to do it:
Step 1 - Upgrade as early as you can
I took the contract out on 22nd December 2005... yet I upgraded to my third handset on Wednesday 24th October 2007?? Okay thats 22 months, each contract runs for 12 months, so how do I do that? Many people dont realise that on a 12 month contract, as soon as you are into the last 30 days, you can upgrade, and the upgrade will take effect within a couple of days, so why pay for 12 months when you can pay for only 11 (provided you dont intend to leave the network). For those poor people stuck on an 18 month contract its even better, you can upgrade after 15 months! Im not sure about 24 month contract, but it could be 18 months???
Step 2 - Do your homework!
When I say do your homework, I mean literally about 10 - 30 minutes having a look around the web, searching for the best deals you can that would suit you. Also, try and enhance the "standard" deals of your networks competitor's, say they are special offers in you local store or whatever, but make them realistic. Periodical chequeback offers are not the best to use, so avoid if possible. A little blagging though goes a long way!
Step 3 - Contact your network
As soon as its upgrade day, armed with your weapons of cheaper deals, contact your network's upgrade team on their dedicated telephone number - dont go into a store as they wont be able to help you! Tell them you are thinking of leaving because you have seen offer X in the local shop or offer Y online, and the tariff you are on is not good enough...
Step 4 - Push for more, you are the boss!
Mobile networks are weak - you, the consumer, are king! When you give them a push, 99% of the time, they will respond in a positive manner - but only if they think they are about to lose you! Make it clear that you are wishing to move to another network for the better deal and see what they say... you will eventually be put through to their "disconnections team" - dont worry, they are actually the "customer retention" team, and will do everything they can to keep you as a customer!
Step 5 - Tell them what you want
Dont make your requirements stupidly unrealistic - you are not going to get the latest and greatest phone with 500 mins and 1000 text for £10 per month - but so long as your requirements are realistic, they will try their best. Dont accept their first offer - it may sound impressive, but thats the offer they are hoping you will take, 99% of the time, they will offer better... phone them back once or twice if needs be, depending on who you get, the better offer you will be given. Take the names of the people making the offers as they are easier to trace then. Stick to your guns with regards to contract legnths, if you want 12 months, you shouldnt be pushed into longer... networks want everyone on 18 month contracts, saying they are better value etc, but some people (like me) prefer 12 months, dont let them force you into it! Sometimes (very rare) they will just turn around and say we will cancel your contract... say you will think about it and phone back in a day or so, dont be intimidated by them.
So they have made you an offer you cant refuse? Good, take it, but be wise
Once they have made you an offer you are happy with, before you accept, get them to clarify it (contract legnth, inclusive minutes, texts, any special extra's etc) and ask questions NOW, because once its accepted, you wont be able to ammend the agreements. Remember, once everything is clarified to your liking, all telephone conversations are recorded by the network, as they have no getting out of it. Accept the offer, and make a written note of the key elemens of the offer. If they make any exceptional offer (like a cashback offer to you which gives you essentially free line rental for the entire period) make sure you get it in writing before you accept.
And then hopefully, you will have what you want, with a nice saving!
I have just upgraded and as I have been on a standard tariff for the past two years (400mins + 100 texts @ £35.00 per month + o2 Long Weekends until recently), I decided the time was right to get my own back on o2 and stop them ripping me off (this isnt a dig at o2, all mobile networks rip their customers off).
Here is how to do it:
Step 1 - Upgrade as early as you can
I took the contract out on 22nd December 2005... yet I upgraded to my third handset on Wednesday 24th October 2007?? Okay thats 22 months, each contract runs for 12 months, so how do I do that? Many people dont realise that on a 12 month contract, as soon as you are into the last 30 days, you can upgrade, and the upgrade will take effect within a couple of days, so why pay for 12 months when you can pay for only 11 (provided you dont intend to leave the network). For those poor people stuck on an 18 month contract its even better, you can upgrade after 15 months! Im not sure about 24 month contract, but it could be 18 months???
Step 2 - Do your homework!
When I say do your homework, I mean literally about 10 - 30 minutes having a look around the web, searching for the best deals you can that would suit you. Also, try and enhance the "standard" deals of your networks competitor's, say they are special offers in you local store or whatever, but make them realistic. Periodical chequeback offers are not the best to use, so avoid if possible. A little blagging though goes a long way!
Step 3 - Contact your network
As soon as its upgrade day, armed with your weapons of cheaper deals, contact your network's upgrade team on their dedicated telephone number - dont go into a store as they wont be able to help you! Tell them you are thinking of leaving because you have seen offer X in the local shop or offer Y online, and the tariff you are on is not good enough...
Step 4 - Push for more, you are the boss!
Mobile networks are weak - you, the consumer, are king! When you give them a push, 99% of the time, they will respond in a positive manner - but only if they think they are about to lose you! Make it clear that you are wishing to move to another network for the better deal and see what they say... you will eventually be put through to their "disconnections team" - dont worry, they are actually the "customer retention" team, and will do everything they can to keep you as a customer!
Step 5 - Tell them what you want
Dont make your requirements stupidly unrealistic - you are not going to get the latest and greatest phone with 500 mins and 1000 text for £10 per month - but so long as your requirements are realistic, they will try their best. Dont accept their first offer - it may sound impressive, but thats the offer they are hoping you will take, 99% of the time, they will offer better... phone them back once or twice if needs be, depending on who you get, the better offer you will be given. Take the names of the people making the offers as they are easier to trace then. Stick to your guns with regards to contract legnths, if you want 12 months, you shouldnt be pushed into longer... networks want everyone on 18 month contracts, saying they are better value etc, but some people (like me) prefer 12 months, dont let them force you into it! Sometimes (very rare) they will just turn around and say we will cancel your contract... say you will think about it and phone back in a day or so, dont be intimidated by them.
So they have made you an offer you cant refuse? Good, take it, but be wise
Once they have made you an offer you are happy with, before you accept, get them to clarify it (contract legnth, inclusive minutes, texts, any special extra's etc) and ask questions NOW, because once its accepted, you wont be able to ammend the agreements. Remember, once everything is clarified to your liking, all telephone conversations are recorded by the network, as they have no getting out of it. Accept the offer, and make a written note of the key elemens of the offer. If they make any exceptional offer (like a cashback offer to you which gives you essentially free line rental for the entire period) make sure you get it in writing before you accept.
And then hopefully, you will have what you want, with a nice saving!