Desire

[Tarka Dal]

Sorry to sneak in the back and then cry out for help, but I’m after your collective wisdom. Various reasons have pushed me to the decision that I want a new mobile, something smart, something snazzy and something pay monthly.

To cut along story short I’ve narrowed it down to two; a HTC Legend or a HTC Desire.

I say two, I’ve pretty much decided (with a very rare burst of speed and decisiveness) that I want a Desire.

Now things have gone a bit wibbly, networks, cashback deals, gimmicks, offers, freebies – It’s all Trojan to me.

Given that I’ve potted around with various very basic pay-as-you-go offerings for the last few years I haven’t got the first clue when it comes to any of that stuff. So I’d very much appreciate suggestions, advice or if anyone’s bagged themselves a particular good deal online well a link would be nice too.

I assume 24 months is pretty standard in terms of contract length, I’ve noticed that certain ‘unlimited internet’ data usage policies are bigger (twice the size) of others. That sort of thing.

p.s Please.

Topic

[Jo]

HTC Desire FTW – but I personally wouldn’t go for a contract any longer than 18 months.

[Tarka Dal]

And for those lacking in common sense or the ability to spot the obvious (okay just me)… how come?

[Jo]

T-Mobile seem to have the best tariffs:
Free handset – £40 per month – Unltd Internet – 1200mins – 500sms (plus T-Mobile’s excellent ‘Flexible Booster’)

£60 handset – £35 per month – Unltd Internet – 900mins – 500sms (plus Flexible Booster)

[Jo]

Mainly because mobile phones are not built to last, trust me I’m the girl who knows! Most warranties do now cover for 24 months, but that only covers for manufacturing faults (and it’s repair not replace) – you’ll need insurance if you want to cover for accidental damage.

[hummingbird]

I know nowt about phones, but can I recomend a cashback site? http://www.topcashback.co.uk/ref/leyos
I’ve bought a couple of phones via this site. Last time I used ‘e2save’ who pay £43 cashback on a new contract (or £70 if it’s an iphone). It takes a couple of months for the cash to be paid, but, hey, it’s *free money*!!!

[Jo]

Be careful with cashback deals – especially E2Save (a company under the Carphone Warehouse umbrella) they’re only worth it if you remember to post off your correct bills to claim and remember to chase it up if or (more likely) when the cheque doesn’t turn up.

Plus the onus is on you to prove that you’ve sent the bills in, so only Recorded Delivery will do.

All that said… if you *can* remember and you can be bothered with all the hassle then you can get some good deals.

[Jonathan Capps]

It’s going to come to a point in a few months, when most people I know (including me) are going to have a Desire. They’re super wikkid cool.

[hummingbird]

Jo, I didn’t need to post any bills in, it was all done automatically by the cashback site. All you do is register with them and then – importantly – access the retailer’s site via the link on the cashback site. The transaction generally tracks after a couple of days and then you wait a few weeks for the lovely money.
I’ve bought 2 phones this way, and I’ve recommended it to friends who have had no problems with the cashback being paid.
But you have to check out the feedback for each retailer – Orange, for example, offer more cashback, but people seem to have problems getting them to pay up.
I do quite a lot of my online shopping via that cashback site and I must make a few hundred quid a year.

[Jo]

Yeah, not all cashback deals are automatic though and even those that are you need to remember to chase up (probably multiple times) I’m talking specifically about mobile phone contract cashback deals as you mentioned E2Saves – I’ve been at the receiving end of MANY complaints and cashback chase-ups for them when working for Carphone Warehouse, I don’t know anything about the cashback websites.

The main jist of what I was trying to say was, be careful and make sure you remember to chase them up if you need to. This is the reason I wouldn’t take out any cashback mobile contracts – because my memory is shit and if you forget to send in or chase up as necessary then they end up not being a very good deal.

[Tarka Dal]

Well I’m re-assured by both the advice and Cappsy’s thumbs up. Thanks guys!

[Jo]

I am posting this from my new HTC Desire :o) It’s lovely!

[Jonathan Capps]

I am literally green with envy.

[Author]

Replies