What to consider when buying a mobile phone?

Ask yourself these questions:

• If you make long calls consider a tariff, which gets cheaper the longer, you talk.
• If you only use your phone at certain times then choose a tariff that reflects this.
• Think about whom you will be calling. If all your friends and family are on a particular network, it may prove cheaper to pick the same network provider.
• Make sure you check the network providers service in the area where you live. You may have to make most of your calls near home and some providers might have a poor signal it your area.
• When choosing a mobile phone - Pick something that has a fairly good battery life. The best looking mobile phone in the world isn't any good if the battery has a life of 10 minutes!

Mobile Phone Networks

There are 4 main networks operating in the UK.

• O2 (which was BT Cellnet)
• Vodaphone
• Orange
• T-Mobile (which was One 2 One).

These networks purely provide the service - NOT the mobile handsets.

You will buy your phone from a retail service such as ours and have a contract or prepay arrangement with a network or service provider. The service provider provides the ongoing service which you may or may not receive a monthly bill for or you will have to purchase top ups cards to continue use of the service network.

Tariff Choice
In general terms, the higher the monthly tariff you pay then cheaper the call charges. Before purchasing and fixing your tariff, check with the service provider to ensure you have some flexibility in moving / changing your tariff it becomes unsuitable.

Contract or Prepay Mobile Phones

Contract Mobile Phones
This type of contract is where you get a bill each month, but the call charges are usually lower than prepay call charges. A contract also means you will have to sign up for a minimum contract period. This can vary from 12 months to a network "year". In the past the networks have created a period of time defined as a year but this does not normally equate to a 12-month period. Sometimes a network year could be up to 18 months in length. Check the small print. The advantages of contract mobile phones are:

• The costs of the actual handset will be subsidised by the network. This could allow you to obtain a top of the range mobile phone for next to nothing.
• Cheaper call charges

Prepay Mobile Phones
With a Prepay handset there's no bills, credit check, contract to sign or service. You just buy top up vouchers for your phone. The advantages of Prepay mobile phones are:

• For new users you will be able to establish whether you will be using your mobile phone a lot with out the need to tie yourself into a 12-month contract
• For student or under 18s, prepay options allow under 18's to own their own mobile phone as there is no need for a credit check.
• You only spend what you purchase via top up cards. You can't run up a huge mobile phone bill inadvertently.
• Can be used for as an emergency back up.

Money Back Guarantee
Remember when you purchase your mobile phone, be it on a contract or prepay, or via a shop or on the Internet, you still have 14-day back cooling off period.

During this period you can return your phone and cancel your contract with no further obligations.

If you receive a handset, which you are not happy with, you must contact the supplier immediately to arrange for it to be returned. If you do not do this within the first 14 days, you could be liable for a FULL 12 MONTH CONTRACT.

Number Portability
If you are an existing user, you can switch to a different mobile phone network BUT still keep your existing mobile phone number. This is certainly of use if you use the phone for business. You may need to get a separate handset so check the tariff s and small print.

Things to watch out for

Hidden Costs

• Some contracts will require you to pay every month for itemised billing or insurance even if you don't want it.
• Check the tariff costs for calling other mobile phone networks. This is where some networks will charge a higher call rate.
• Calls to 0845 numbers are not necessarily included in any "free-time" packages. Neither are calls to other mobile phone networks and will be charged for. Any doubts or concerns check the tariff information provided on the information pages next to the mobile phone you are looking at.

Special Requirements

• If you have any difficulties choosing the right mobile phone can make all the difference.
• If you have poor eyesight then choose a mobile phone with a large readable display screen
• If you have a lack of finger dexterity then choose a phone with a larger keypad.
• If you wear a hearing aid you may find a GSM mobile phone will interfere with your aid and cause it to buzz incessantly.
• If you are hard of hearing, choose a mobile phone with a loud ring tone or that vibrates.

Pick a card any card
The SIM card that current sits in your phone can be removed and placed in any aother compatible phone. Moving it from one handset to another is a way of "upgrading" your handset.

Useful Addresses

O2 Customer Care
Stafford Taylor Building
City Office Park
Meadow Lane
Leeds
LS11 5BD

Tel 08702 214000
Website www.o2.co.uk

T-Mobile
Elstree Tower
Elstree Way
Borehamwood
Herts
WD6 1DT

Tel 0958 121121 or dial 150 from your mobile

Web www.t-mobile.co.uk

Orange
Po Box 10
Patchway
Bristol
BS12 4BQ

Tel 07973 100 150
Web: www.orange.co.uk

Vodaphone
Customer care Department
The Courtyard
2 - 4 London Road
Newbury
Berks
RG14 1JX

Tel 01635 32251

Web www.vodaphone.co.uk

OFTEL
Customer Representation Service
50 Ludgate Hill
London
EC4M 7JJ

Tel 020 7634 8700
Complaints 020 7634 8888 or 0845 7145000
Email advice@oftel.gov.uk
Web www.oftel.gov.uk

SACOT
Scottish Advisory Committee on Telecommunications
2 Greenside Lane
Edinburgh
EH1 3AH

Tel 0131 244 5576

NIACT
Northern Ireland Advisory Committee on Telecommunications
7th Floor
Chamber of Commerce House
22 Great Victoria Street
Belfast
BT2 7QA

Tel 028 9024 4133

OTELO
Wilderspool Park
Warrington
WA4 6HL
Tel 01925 430049
Email enquiries@otelo.org.uk
Web www.otelo.org.uk