Originally Posted by gadget_uk:
“There are a lot of new phones out, but the ones i've been looking at are free on a £30 p/m 24 month contract. What is involved when getting a mobile phone contract?
I know you need at least 2 documents and a valid debit or credit card
What would I have to do?
Thanks in advance.”
You do need ID if you sign up in a store, however what is required can vary depending on the store. O2 just require a credit/debit card to check your I.D., Phones 4U used to require at least one form of photographic I.D. (Passport or driving license), but they may also accept a credit/debit card on it's own now. Occasionally, something can go wrong with your bank card check, so I would take a recent (within 3 months) utility bill (electricity, gas, water, landline phone) or bank statement and a driving license or passport to avoid a return trip if there are any problems. If you sign up online, you have to just input things which are used to check your identity.
Also, make sure you have your account number and sort code with you! You can't set up a contract without these
The credit check will look at your credit history to decide whether they can take the risk with you to give you the effective credit of a mobile phone. If you have missed or late payments for things on your record, you might have problems getting a contract on certain networks (depending on their mood it seems!). If you have never had credit before (mortgage, credit cards, personal loans, contract phone, gas, electric etc) you may also have problems as they have no way of knowing what you're like at paying bills on time.
Also, make sure you are registered on the electoral role before taking out a contract - this can cause you to fail a CC you would have otherwise have passed. In addition, if you have moved around a lot in the last 3 years, make sure you provide you address history accurately. If what you give doesn't match up with what the electoral role says, you could also get declined.
Once you fail a contract, you are unlikely to then pass with that network in the near future, so be careful.