Choosing a mobile phone contract requires a bit more careful consideration than you might have thought. There are so many deals out there to choose from, it might well seem like a bit of a challenge sifting through them in order to find the one that's right for you. However, there are a few things you should remember when you're looking for a contract in order to help you get the best deal - and avoid being ripped off. In the current climate of widespread financial uncertainty, it makes sense to save money wherever you can, but it can be easy to stumble into a long-term phone contract you later find you can't afford. Here are a few things you should bear in mind when searching for cheap mobile contracts.
Of course, you could choose a pay-as-you-go deal, which means you aren't tied down to a contract and can simply pay for calls and texts as you use them. However, this is only advisable if you're sure you aren't going to use your phone all that regularly. If you do make plenty of calls and send a lot of texts, you may soon find that you're spending more than you would on pay-as-you-go credit than you would if you simply signed up for a contract. There are countless mobile users who've got into difficulty in this manner, so you should remember that pay-as-you-go can turn out to be a false economy.
According to the Citizens Advice Bureau, one of the first things you should think about is the level of coverage offered by each provider in your local area. After all, it hardly seems worth spending the money if you're going to have trouble getting a signal. If you live in or around a major city then the chances are all of the major providers will be able to offer you at least a decent standard of service, but rural coverage is often patchy and this is something you should think about if you live in the countryside or spend a lot of time there. Providers tend to offer postcode checks via their website, but it may also be worth looking online to find out more about what other users have to say.
Consumer campaigning charity Which? also offers advice on how to go about getting the best contract deal. Perhaps the most important aspect to think about is just how often you use your phone, and what for. If you have previous bills at hand, you should take a look at them to get a better idea. You can then look for contracts which offer free minutes and texts which are closest to your usual phone use. If you make a lot of calls to landlines, or tend to talk during off-peak times, then you should be able to find tariffs that offer cheaper rates.
Haggling can also help you find the best contract, so it pays to be resourceful. If you've found a deal elsewhere, get in touch with your existing provider and let them know you intend to switch. Providers are keen to hang on to as many customers as they can - they don't want to lose your money, after all - so it could well be that they come back to you with an offer. Of course, if you feel this offer isn't up to your standards, then don't let your provider simply browbeat or sweet-talk you into staying with them. Finding cheap phone contracts can take a bit of time, but your purchasing power is the most effective weapon you have as a consumer, so you shouldn't have any qualms about using it.
Of course, if you feel this offer isn't up to your standards, then don't let your provider simply browbeat or sweet-talk you into staying with them. Finding cheap phone contracts can take a bit of time, but your purchasing power is the most effective weapon you have as a consumer, so you shouldn't have any qualms about using it.
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