12 month contracts

southlad · 29-01-2013, 09:03

In May 2011, OFCOM said that networks must offer contracts lasting no longer than 12 months in addition to their 24 month contracts.

Looking on three.co.uk they only offer 12 months deals on their sim only contracts and not on contracts with a new phone.

Weirdly, when I queried this on Three Chat, the advisor said ofcom were wrong!!

noise747 · 29-01-2013, 09:51

In addition to 24 months contracts. it don't mean they have to have a 24 month contract,.

It means that if the provider offer a 24 month contract then they must also offer a shorter one.

Must providers offer 12 months on sim only, but not 24 month.

plymouthbloke1974 · 29-01-2013, 10:46

The ruling was that contracts should last no longer than 24 months, and there must be 12 month contracts available.

It didn't actually say that it had to be a contract with a handset though, so the 12 month options tend to be sim-only

Hugh_ · 29-01-2013, 10:53

12 month contracts don't really save you any money either. If you find one with a free phone it will probably be double the cost of the 24 month EG- Free Nokia 3210@ £30 a month over 24 months or.... Free Nokia 3210 @£60 a month of 12 months.

davethorp · 29-01-2013, 14:56

O2 offer 12 month contracts with a handset to upgrading customers. Though you will be paying through the nose for your handset on these

lost boy · 29-01-2013, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by plymouthbloke1974

The ruling was that contracts should last no longer than 24 months, and there must be 12 month contracts available.

It didn't actually say that it had to be a contract with a handset though, so the 12 month options tend to be sim-only

Exactly. OFCOM simply said 12 month contracts must be offered - it never said 12 month contracts must be offered with a handset.

Some networks do offer some 12 month contracts with a handset though - but as said they'll charge £££ for them, so it's swings and roundabouts really.

wombat18 · 30-01-2013, 02:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh_

12 month contracts don't really save you any money either. If you find one with a free phone it will probably be double the cost of the 24 month EG- Free Nokia 3210@ £30 a month over 24 months or.... Free Nokia 3210 @£60 a month of 12 months.

I kinda want to get a 12 month contract next time because I find that I get bored of my phone after a year or so. A get out clause after a year would be a real bonus... but I have to weigh up whether or not it's worth the additional cost.

Steven L Hunter · 30-01-2013, 06:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by wombat18

I kinda want to get a 12 month contract next time because I find that I get bored of my phone after a year or so. A get out clause after a year would be a real bonus... but I have to weigh up whether or not it's worth the additional cost.

Vodafone do a new tariff where you can change your phone every year but you have to hand the old one back as it's just rented I think see here

noise747 · 30-01-2013, 09:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh_

12 month contracts don't really save you any money either. If you find one with a free phone it will probably be double the cost of the 24 month EG- Free Nokia 3210@ £30 a month over 24 months or.... Free Nokia 3210 @£60 a month of 12 months.

they don't save you money, but you pay for the phone in 12 months instead of 24, and no doubt pay a bit more so the network gets their moneys worth, just in case they lose you after 12 months.

The advantage of 12 months is that you can change your phone if you are the sort that likes a shiny new phone every 12 months and can change networks instead of being stuck with the same one for 2 years,.

Rich_L · 30-01-2013, 10:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by davethorp

O2 offer 12 month contracts with a handset to upgrading customers. Though you will be paying through the nose for your handset on these

They wont do it for the latest iPhone though if you wanted one of those say, even if you are an upgrading customer.

flagpole · 30-01-2013, 10:18

I looked at the 12 month contracts on vodafone.

they are so uncompetitive that they may as well not offer them at all.

grumpyoldbat · 30-01-2013, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_L

They wont do it for the latest iPhone though if you wanted one of those say, even if you are an upgrading customer.

I think that's because O2 still treat the iPhone as if they have an exclusive on it. Last time I wanted to unlock my iPhone 4S after a couple of months so I could use an international SIM when I was abroad they told me they wouldn't do it as they were keeping the phone "only for their valued customers". The stupid thing was, I'd been one of those "valued customers" for about 4 years at that point, AND I'd bought the phone and signed up for a 12 month contract, so why would it matter at that point if I wanted to unlock it, they'd already got me.

They're a strange company sometimes in the way they do business.

Rich_L · 30-01-2013, 15:45

Yes they are, but that is an understatement!!

John_Patrick · 30-01-2013, 17:23

They do tend to be more expensive but do appeal to those that like to change their handset on a regular basis.

For some, it can work out cheaper than getting a 24 month deal and then buying a SIM only phone half way through if they are 'bored' of the handset that came with the deal.

Rich_L · 30-01-2013, 19:17

How about vodafone red hot?

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/pay-m...-hot/index.htm

WHOAH, it's automatically added the link in for voda not me (the text in blue for Vodafone)

flagpole · 30-01-2013, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich_L

How about vodafone red hot?

http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/pay-m...-hot/index.htm

WHOAH, it's automatically added the link in for voda not me (the text in blue for Vodafone)

Yes that would be the illegal advertising that D's use these days.

29-01-2013, 09:03	#1
southlad Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,131	12 month contracts In May 2011, OFCOM said that networks must offer contracts lasting no longer than 12 months in addition to their 24 month contracts. Looking on three.co.uk they only offer 12 months deals on their sim only contracts and not on contracts with a new phone. Weirdly, when I queried this on Three Chat, the advisor said ofcom were wrong!!

29-01-2013, 09:51	#2
noise747 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 22,810	In addition to 24 months contracts. it don't mean they have to have a 24 month contract,. It means that if the provider offer a 24 month contract then they must also offer a shorter one. Must providers offer 12 months on sim only, but not 24 month.

29-01-2013, 10:46	#3
plymouthbloke1974 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Destination: Hard Brexit Posts: 6,368	The ruling was that contracts should last no longer than 24 months, and there must be 12 month contracts available. It didn't actually say that it had to be a contract with a handset though, so the 12 month options tend to be sim-only

29-01-2013, 10:53	#4
Hugh_ Inactive Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 906	12 month contracts don't really save you any money either. If you find one with a free phone it will probably be double the cost of the 24 month EG- Free Nokia 3210@ £30 a month over 24 months or.... Free Nokia 3210 @£60 a month of 12 months.

29-01-2013, 14:56	#5
davethorp Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire Posts: 7,255	O2 offer 12 month contracts with a handset to upgrading customers. Though you will be paying through the nose for your handset on these

29-01-2013, 15:08	#6
lost boy Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Norfolkland Posts: 1,787	Quote: Originally Posted by plymouthbloke1974 The ruling was that contracts should last no longer than 24 months, and there must be 12 month contracts available. It didn't actually say that it had to be a contract with a handset though, so the 12 month options tend to be sim-only Exactly. OFCOM simply said 12 month contracts must be offered - it never said 12 month contracts must be offered with a handset. Some networks do offer some 12 month contracts with a handset though - but as said they'll charge £££ for them, so it's swings and roundabouts really.

30-01-2013, 02:55	#7
wombat18 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Scotland Posts: 728	Quote: Originally Posted by Hugh_ 12 month contracts don't really save you any money either. If you find one with a free phone it will probably be double the cost of the 24 month EG- Free Nokia 3210@ £30 a month over 24 months or.... Free Nokia 3210 @£60 a month of 12 months. I kinda want to get a 12 month contract next time because I find that I get bored of my phone after a year or so. A get out clause after a year would be a real bonus... but I have to weigh up whether or not it's worth the additional cost.

30-01-2013, 06:05	#8
Steven L Hunter Guest Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 10,517	Quote: Originally Posted by wombat18 I kinda want to get a 12 month contract next time because I find that I get bored of my phone after a year or so. A get out clause after a year would be a real bonus... but I have to weigh up whether or not it's worth the additional cost. Vodafone do a new tariff where you can change your phone every year but you have to hand the old one back as it's just rented I think see here

30-01-2013, 09:39	#9
noise747 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 22,810	Quote: Originally Posted by Hugh_ 12 month contracts don't really save you any money either. If you find one with a free phone it will probably be double the cost of the 24 month EG- Free Nokia 3210@ £30 a month over 24 months or.... Free Nokia 3210 @£60 a month of 12 months. they don't save you money, but you pay for the phone in 12 months instead of 24, and no doubt pay a bit more so the network gets their moneys worth, just in case they lose you after 12 months. The advantage of 12 months is that you can change your phone if you are the sort that likes a shiny new phone every 12 months and can change networks instead of being stuck with the same one for 2 years,.

30-01-2013, 10:10	#10
Rich_L Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 5,653	Quote: Originally Posted by davethorp O2 offer 12 month contracts with a handset to upgrading customers. Though you will be paying through the nose for your handset on these They wont do it for the latest iPhone though if you wanted one of those say, even if you are an upgrading customer.

30-01-2013, 10:18	#11
flagpole Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 43,524	I looked at the 12 month contracts on vodafone. they are so uncompetitive that they may as well not offer them at all.

30-01-2013, 12:06	#12
grumpyoldbat Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 3,636	Quote: Originally Posted by Rich_L They wont do it for the latest iPhone though if you wanted one of those say, even if you are an upgrading customer. I think that's because O2 still treat the iPhone as if they have an exclusive on it. Last time I wanted to unlock my iPhone 4S after a couple of months so I could use an international SIM when I was abroad they told me they wouldn't do it as they were keeping the phone "only for their valued customers". The stupid thing was, I'd been one of those "valued customers" for about 4 years at that point, AND I'd bought the phone and signed up for a 12 month contract, so why would it matter at that point if I wanted to unlock it, they'd already got me. They're a strange company sometimes in the way they do business.

30-01-2013, 15:45	#13
Rich_L Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 5,653	Yes they are, but that is an understatement!!

30-01-2013, 17:23	#14
John_Patrick Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Newcastle Posts: 904	They do tend to be more expensive but do appeal to those that like to change their handset on a regular basis. For some, it can work out cheaper than getting a 24 month deal and then buying a SIM only phone half way through if they are 'bored' of the handset that came with the deal.

30-01-2013, 19:17	#15
Rich_L Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 5,653	How about vodafone red hot? http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/pay-m...-hot/index.htm WHOAH, it's automatically added the link in for voda not me (the text in blue for Vodafone)

30-01-2013, 19:38	#16
flagpole Inactive Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 43,524	Quote: Originally Posted by Rich_L How about vodafone red hot? http://www.vodafone.co.uk/shop/pay-m...-hot/index.htm WHOAH, it's automatically added the link in for voda not me (the text in blue for Vodafone) Yes that would be the illegal advertising that D's use these days.

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12 month contracts