Mobile Phones - The Networks are out to get you!

 We all have them, and many of us can't remember life without one, but it isn't long before the mobile phone bill becomes 'just another Direct Debit' rather than a monthly bill which should be reviewed that you can do something about! On average, a monthly contract will probably be costing you around £30 - £50 per month... just have a think about that in perspective; that’s £360 - £600 per year!

First and foremost, it's important to remember that you are more than likely tied in for some time yet, so I'm afraid there are no kneejerk cancellations after considering the figures - it will cost you a pretty penny to dump the contract. A little known trick however, is that your mobile phone network provider is obliged to tell you if you are better suited to a cheaper tariff, no matter how long your contract (though as always - check the small print on your contract for hidden charges). For example, you could well be paying £35 per month and only using 100 minutes and 100 texts - paying well over the odds, though you may not realise what your usage is. Luckily a quick call to your mobile customer service number should put you in the picture, as they record all of your usage. If you then ask for a better suited tariff, they should oblige, and hey presto - saving made!

Contract about to expire?

You are now a valuable commodity - congratulations! The network providers are going to be falling over themselves to get you signed up! From here, you have two options; firstly, carefully consider whether you actually need a new contract, or would Pay As You Go (PAYG) better suit you. Basically, what do you use your phone for? If you decide PAYG is for you, then consider whether you like your old handset, or whether you desperately want a new one. If your old one will suffice, all network providers will be happy to provide you with a free PAYG SIM card, some will even offer SIMs pre-loaded with credit! A Good tip here would be to obtain an 'Orange' PAYG SIM, which will allow you to utilise 2-4-1 cinema tickets every Wednesday! (Another £7 saved!). If you do want a new handset, there's no better place to buy than the supermarket.

If PAYG is not for you, then the worst decision you could make right now would be just to continue on your old contract - you could be missing out. You should at least give the provider a call and ask what they could offer you if you stayed with them. You may well be surprised at the discounts they will offer.

Best Deals

My top advice though would be to shop around third party websites such as dial-a-phone and Carphone Warehouse, as these guys get so much from the networks for signing you up, they will offer you almost anything to get your phone from them! Deals giving away the latest games consoles or IPods are commonplace - just for getting the phone on the tariff you were going to get anyway! If you don't want a free gift, then have a browse of Ebay to see what's selling at the highest price, and then find a deal giving this item away. If you are happy with your handset, and your network provider is happy for you to sell your new handset, then there is also an argument for Ebaying this too! For example, a deal available now with an 18 month contract at £35 per month would give you a Sony Playstation 3 and the latest Nokia Handset - on Ebay these will easily fetch you £350, being line rental for 10 months!

Do I need Phone Insurance?

This is really down to your personal circumstance, the short answer is that you should have some sort of cover, though be wary of where it comes from. Check your home insurance, as this may well provide sufficient cover. It should be said that many of the deals as mentioned above will require you to take out a policy which is free for 3 months, but can be cancelled afterwards if you wish.