Hi

I have a mobile phone i have had for years and really could do with upgrading. I dont use it much for phoneing mainly texts. Its a pay as you go.
I have been looking at some contract ones and there is some good deals so really tempted, but as i dont know anything about them i am weary. I dont want to change my number. Can i get a new phone and keep my number? i am with orange at the moment.

One i was looking at said 200 mins call time and unlimited texts for £14 per month. Does that mean free calls for 200 mins and free texts. I will then be billed for any calls over the 200 mins?

see total virgin lol

I know nothing about phones but i recently had a new one and was told that i couldn't use my old sim card as it was too old to go in new phones . So i would take your old phone and ask them to have a look at it .

If you decide to buy a new phone then you can transfer your number quite easily from one airtime provider to another but you may not be able to just transfer the SIM card - some may be locked to a provider and others too old.

Contract deals give you the best prices for new phones but they often fleece you over time (they have to get their money back and the actual telephone is a loss leader)

Phones can be unlocked for a small charge £5 - £10 at a lot of high st places

Pay as you go are often easier (and cheaper) for low users than a contract.  Look for special offers like Tesco where you can buy credit for £15 and they will increase it to £45 for you.  You can pick up their SIM cards for free if you don't mind changing your tel number

Always plenty of used phones on eBay - don't pay too much and buy from someone that looks like a normal family person.  Stay clear of high volume, same product sellers for mobiles.

> One i was looking at said 200 mins call time and unlimited texts for £14 per month. Does that mean free calls for 200 mins and free texts. I will then be billed for any calls over the 200 mins?
>

yes, the 200 mins and the texts are included in the price.

I am with 3 and i wouldn't reccommend them despite them being cheap.

My partners with Orange and they are really good (plus BOGOF cinema on wednesday). i'd suggest going into a store and having a chat about what you actually need. so we might be able to help how much do you use the phone a month? do you have any requirements from your phone? (camera, MP3 etc?)

I wouldn't get a contract phone unless you use a phone a lot. I had to pay £25 a month for a contract, but only used about £5 a months worth of calls and texts but was tied into the contract for a year. Look long at hard at your usage first. I topped up in January and have just used the last of the £5's worth that I bought then ;-)

thanks i will look into it more but in the mean time will keep a record of how uch i am spending a month on texts and how many calls i make. Will be interesting

thanx

I went onto contract when I relised I was spending over £30 a month on credit.

I know pay £31.50 a month on contract and get alot more :)

However it really does depend on usage to which contract you opt for.  I'm on the T-mobile flex 35 which gives me £200 allowance a month to us on calls/texts how I like so I'm not restricted to how long I spend on the phone too much!

Really worth it for me and went with t-mobile as they had been great for my BF who once became very low on money and they knocked his contract right down to something like £5 a month till he could start paying full rate again. :)