www.iva.co.uk

Mobile Phones On Contract.

I currently have a mobile telephone that has seen better days, it is on a SIM free PAYG 30 day contract at £20 per month.

While in an IVA am I allowed to take out a new pay monthly contract? I have seen some good deals that would actually cost me less than I am paying now on PAYG and would give me a new phone for free.

My concern is that taking out a longer contract ie, 12, 18 or 24 months would be viewed by creditors as taking further credit, which of course I am not allowed to do.

That is providing of course any mobile company will allow me a contract, especially if they carry out credit checks and see that I am in an IVA.

Hi,

You are unlikely to be able to take out a new contract while in an IVA. Not that you're not allowed to do so, but the mobile companies are unlikely to take you on.

You can but try, but it might be better to buy a cheap PAYG but a newer model.

I think as Jan says it will be difficult to get a contract, however there are some good sim only deals about at the minute, might be worth looking at PAYG sim only and upgrading your handset only.

Thanks for the replies.

I am on a SIM only contract now which is a 30 day rolling contract.
Maybe I will just have to buy a new phone and continue on the SIM only. Just thought maybe I could save having to buy a new phone and pay less per month than I am doing now.
Never mind, I will survive!!

You would probably be better off, but the mobile companies don't look at it like that. If you're already in a contract, you're ok.

You could give them a try though. The other thing would be getting a family member to take out a contract for you and you pay them the monthly bill.

I would give them a try if you're in a sim only contract with them as they have a record of your payments?

Hi, I took out a contract whilst in my IVA but I had to pay £100 deposit which was refunded via monthly credit . so you may find it easier and better to buy a new cheap Mob and go payg with the free text etc depending how much you top up per month

That's a good suggestion to ask a family member to take out the contract for you.

If you are already on a 30 day rolling contract you can upgrade via the same contract on to an 12/18 month contract. This is wat I have done previously, and will entitle you to the free phone. Just make sure you get value for money.

P.S. Martin Lewis always suggests that you ring the company and ask to be put through to disconnections, apparently they have more authority to give you a better deal rather than leave their network.

Thanks briggadeen.

Maybe that would be an option.

J.

Give all of the options a try and see how you get on. Let us know as this info would be useful for other posters in the same position.

All sound advice and as Jan says do let us know how you get on x

Hi
Yes very good advice. I know from experience that the cancellation dept will try almost anything to keep you on board
Regards

We upgraded our contract while in Bankruptcy (didn't cost us any more per month), as we went from O2 sim only 30 day contract and the upgrade went on our payment history (13 months all paid up).

I found when I tried to change contracts to 02 they turned me down because of my IVA.

So when my IVA is over, I am going to stay loyal to vodafone who have taken care of me throughout my IVA.