Mobile Phone Company - negotiation?

[hugoboss]

hi guys. i've been with a certain mobile phone network for about 5 years on a contract. I get annual phone upgrades, which i think is fab, but i can't help but feel i have a rubbish tarriff. I think it's 180 mins and 50 texts for about �35 a month. Anyway, after speaking to some friends, they all have better deals than me with same network and other networks.

SO, question is, anyone got top tips for negotiating with this colourful (hint) network company for getting a top deal and blagging some free goodies?! oh, and my contract ends at beg of Sept.

thanks

[stevie21]

Apparently to move to another network and keeping the same number there's some code that you need from your colourful current provider.
Phone them and ask them for it and make it very clear that you can get a much better deal elsewhere.

One option is to be completely blunt (but polite) about it. "Why stay with you guys? What's in it for me? Can you match or beat this offer from Vodkafone? No, OK I'm off. Bye"
Once they've made their final offer, ask for more! Ask for a better camera, more free texts. Anything to try your luck, they can only say no.

Whoever you speak to is very likely to have targets for retention and if they're seen to be retaining your business (even by giving you more for the same or less money : they'll try to give you a more expensive but more efature packed deal) then they get a brownie point.

You hold all the cards here and have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

[Oneeyedvic]

If the future is bright then read on.....

I have been with a certain operator for around 5 years. Every 10 months, I phone them up and don't ask for anything - I just say I want to cancel my contract - every year they give me a better deal.

I cuurently get a load of free minutes and texts which I don't use. Last year my average bill was �30, now its �15.

If it is the same company, they are also running a campaign saying they will treat existing custoemrs like new customers. They also have OVP value promise) which means they will match any competitor.

[TT2005]

Most netowrks wont discuss a deal until you are in your tenth or eleventh month

Upgrades are based on your history with the company, spendage and also when you last upgraded. If you tell the disconnections department you wish to leave then this will unlock their 'pot of gold' and offer you things you would never get if you asked to upgrade. Tell you you plan to do more things with the phone like send messages download games and ringtone as this will mean you will make them more money.

I would suggest you try Vodafone and check out their Stop the clock plans where you pay for 3 minutes in the evening and weekend and then the rest of the call, up to an hour is free, to landlines and ALL networks. You can do this as much as you like during the evening and weekend