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Ofcom ban 3 year contracts |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: In the future....
Posts: 11,259
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Ofcom ban 3 year contracts
Bound to disappoint the network operators but Ofcom has decided to ban 3 year contracts. They must also offer 12 month contracts under EU law.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011...year-contracts |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,918
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I didnt realise 12 months contracts are no longer an option. I believe they have always been offered. They havent been as widely advertised, but have always been available.
I am not sure allowing networks to offer 3 year contracts is a good thing. Its a good thing that they must still offer 12 month contracts. If someone wants to sign a 3 year contract, then let them. The main thing was that we didnt lose 12, 18 month contract terms. |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Scotland
Posts: 15,714
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Quote:
I didnt realise 12 months contracts are no longer an option. I believe they have always been offered. They havent been as widely advertised, but have always been available.
I am not sure allowing networks to offer 3 year contracts is a good thing. Its a good thing that they must still offer 12 month contracts. If someone wants to sign a 3 year contract, then let them. The main thing was that we didnt lose 12, 18 month contract terms. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Aug 2009
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Quote:
Last 2 phones I have got on O2 were only available on 18 and 24 month, no 12 month option.
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#5 |
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Guest
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,651
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I think free handsets will eventually disappear at least at the mid-high range price bracket.
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#6 |
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Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Wapping, London
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awesomeness. 2 years is too long IMHO, but 3 would be ridiculous.
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#7 |
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,918
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Quote:
I think free handsets will eventually disappear at least at the mid-high range price bracket.
Quote:
awesomeness. 2 years is too long IMHO, but 3 would be ridiculous.
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#8 |
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: It's Grim
Posts: 24,412
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Any contract for a service is anti-competitive, fair enough for a credit agreement but the service itself should always be rolling.
But for some reason new tech business have managed to get away with this kind of thing. |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Southwick Brighton West Sussex
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Quote:
awesomeness. 2 years is too long IMHO, but 3 would be ridiculous.
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#10 |
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: moon
Posts: 12,983
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I think the ban is a bad idea. I'm not saying 3 year contracts are a good thing but the decision and choice should be left up to the buyer. They know full well what they are getting into and it wasn't a big deal anyway, how many 36 month contracts were being offered?
Trust OfCom to go big on tiny issues and avoid the problems that matter. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 37,641
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Quote:
If you rang up, and asked for a 12 month contract, they would give you a price. This is the case with vodafone..they will advertise 18/24 month deals. You would have to ring them up and ask for a 12 month deal.
I'd gladly opt for a 12 month contract over an 18 month one. |
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#12 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Fife
Posts: 6,078
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So why are 6 month contracts not available? If the operator offers a good service I'd have no problem going into a 6 month contract, then staying with them.
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 13,064
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3 years is like 5 generations of iphone
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#14 |
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 1,141
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Orange only do 12month contracts on a SIM only basis.
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 14,648
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Quote:
Any contract for a service is anti-competitive, fair enough for a credit agreement but the service itself should always be rolling.
But for some reason new tech business have managed to get away with this kind of thing. Same for internet access - plenty of ISPs offer one month contracts, but again, you'll have to pay any installation/cancellation fees. I am on such a plan. I don't understand your point. Do you think the networks should be obligated to give you a free phone without being allowed to force you to stay with them for enough time to recoup the cost of the handset? |
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 22,810
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Quote:
Bound to disappoint the network operators but Ofcom has decided to ban 3 year contracts. They must also offer 12 month contracts under EU law.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011...year-contracts |
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#17 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
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Quote:
I think free handsets will eventually disappear at least at the mid-high range price bracket.
It is too easy now for people to update their phone every 12 months or 24 months, no wonder there are so many phones being chucked away. some people update because they can, not because they need to. |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Herefordshire
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Quote:
So why are 6 month contracts not available? If the operator offers a good service I'd have no problem going into a 6 month contract, then staying with them.
i went for a 12 month sin only deal with Vodafone, now I gone for a 2 year contract ( why I have no idea), once this contract is up I will go back to a sim only contract if my wildfire is still working |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Harrogate, North Yorkshire
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Quote:
Except it isn't...
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#20 |
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Barnsley
Posts: 272
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Quote:
3 years is like 5 generations of iphone
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Barnsley
Posts: 272
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Quote:
True more like 6
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#22 |
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 13,064
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Quote:
True more like 6
And it's hardly the only company to have an annual product cycle (look at Samsung and the rest...). |
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#23 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Charlton, SE7
Posts: 359
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I don't know of anybody on a three-year contract. I work for Tmobile, and the shortest contract we offer on a handset deal is 18 months for new customers. You have to remember that a network has to recoup the cost of the handset in the contract: and the average real value of the handset has rocketed in recent years (students on iphone contracts, for instance). Forcing networks to offer 12 month contracts is all very well, but all they'll do is price the contract accordingly. Why don't people understand that there's no such thing as a "Free mobile 'phone"?
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#24 |
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Leyland
Posts: 1,971
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I've never seen a 3 year contract in the uk although they seem to be the norm over in the US where you usually also have to pay for the phone too. Three only offer 24 month contracts on their website for phone and iPad deals. I've seen 12month contracts on the Orange website but they are pretty hidden as the first thing their online store shows is 24 month contracts, it just takes some digging around to find them.
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,918
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Quote:
They shouldn't omit that then. Most people wouldn't think 'oh they do offer 12 months contracts but I'll have to phone and ask' - you'd naturally assume that what they were advertising is all they were offering. So a little disingenuous if what you say is true.
I'd gladly opt for a 12 month contract over an 18 month one. The only issue with a 12 month contract, is that your monthly line rental/price for the handset will be very high. Which is probably why they arent advertised. |
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