www.iva.co.uk

I am coming to the end of my 18 mth mobile phone contract. I currently pay £35 per month. I have been in an IVA for 11 months now and this is included in my allowances. My phone is coming to the end of its life now and playing up quite a bit and I would like to get a new one,is it ok to apply for a new phone contract at the same tariff per month?
I know im not allowed to apply for credit whilst in an iva so was just wondering if this is classed as credit ? Im pretty sure you pay the monthly tariff in advance.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I am with Debt Free Direct
Nic

Hi nic.

You are ok to have a mobile contract in an IVA. If you are sticking with the same operator you should be ok. If you plan on changing you might have a few problems as credit checks will be done.

I want to upgrade my package and also get one of those wireless thingies[?] for my laptop, these are both contract, will I fail the credit check on the wireless thing? Will Orange decide not to updrade me?

I've been with Vodafone a few years now and they upgraded my phone when I was still BR, so I presume they didn't credit check me!

It's called a dongle Viki!

If you stay with Orange then you should be ok. I know when I upgraded with O2 earlier this year (before IVA, but in a DMP), I had no problems at all. I think they just checked my account, and that has always been up to date, and my phone arrived a few days later.
I think Orange will probably do the same.

Thanks Skippy and Jan. Dongle???!!! Seriously???!!![:D]
I'll try and sort that tomorrow and report back to the forum. Hope it all goes through ok. X

I think that's what it's called anyway!

Hi
I am with o2 and we upgrades fine earlier this year. No probs what so ever.
Carol
x

Does anyone know whether there are any mobile phone service providers out there who will offer contracts to IVA/Bankrupt individuals?

I don't know. They will credit check and I know it does mention it on the terms and conditions.

The only thing you can do is give them all a try.

Ah my pet subject mobile phones. Please remember a couple of things. If you are coming towards the end of your contract it is far better to wait till your commitment is over. Do not just upgrade your phone as you wont get the best deal. Tell the network you wish to leave (even if you dont want to) and they will offer you deals just to keep you on. Prime example of this was a month or so ago Mrs Whicwaynows contact was up. She was paying £25.00pm and by waiting till the contract was over and telling them she wished to cancel she got it down to £10.00pm for the same deal.
The other thing which is slightly more worrying is one of the networks has recently changed its T&Cs in allowing downgrade of your price plan. Say you were paying £35.00pm on a 18 month contact but in month 11 you could lower your price plan. They have now changed this and you are only able to downgrade in your last month of the contract this has come in to force for all their customers.
Not sure if I can say who it is but if its ok then I will name and shame.

Would it be Orange by any chance? I know they used to let you reduce your plan.

No, Orange (at the moment) let you downgrade your price plans 1 step at a time when you reach month 9(of 18). However they also do a best plan advice after 6 months and if you are not are the correct price plan they change you up or down if you want to. However they must feel that you are not on the best price plan for you needs.
As from 1st of October 2008 T-Mobile changed its T&Cs and despite telling you when you signed up that you could change half way though the contact to a lower plan this has now been changed to the last month of the contact only. I have spoken to T-Mobile who have confirmed this is now the case.

And what would be the point in that? If you're in the last month, you're hardly likely to want to change payments then are you?

Think I'll stick with O2.

I've been happy with Vodafone. They let me stay with them when I was BR (they offered to reduce my tariff to help me) and they gave me a good deal when I upgraded. I pay £25 a month and to get the phone I wanted as a new customer it would have cost me £40+, but I got it free.