BT/EE, Vodafone and Tesco Mobile are among the names highlighted by Ofcom as smartphones still locked. For example, if your contract ends and you decide to continue using the smartphone but opt for a SIM agreement only with another provider, you can easily do so. Your legal right to terminate the contract free of charge depends on whether you have registered by phone, in person or online. “By changing regularly, you can take advantage of the latest offers and maybe establish a faster connection. And if you don`t want to change, you should always negotiate with the provider at the end of the contract period to see if a better deal is available. The regulation also requires mobile operators to transmit customers` mobile phone numbers to a new provider within one working day. Suppliers must now pay customers “reasonable compensation” if they do not do so or if there is an abuse of process. Ofcom allows providers to design their own remuneration systems, but will review them after 12 months to ensure they are adequate. Do you know if you are in the contract or not? This is important to know, as suppliers often offer customers a discounted price for the duration of their initial contract. You sign up when you purchase your service, which usually means you`re stuck for 12, 18, or 24 months. Three has not currently committed to applying discounts to customers outside the contract. Many mobile customers pay for both their handset and its use (or “airtime”) bundled into a single contract.

[1] Ofcom today presented a series of measures to increase fairness for mobile customers, including greater transparency, fairer contractual terms and a series of price reductions by operators. In 2018, Citizens Advice estimated that four million people in the UK were overcharged for mobile phones they had already paid for, totalling £490 million in fees. 2017 was a similar case where customers often paid up to £450 a year after paying the cost of their phones. Sometimes it`s not enough to complain directly to your mobile phone company to resolve your issue – you need to escalate your complaint through official channels. Our guides will help you with this and with the Ombudsman`s referral of complaints. New research also shows that standard rates could put many customers in a worse position. Ofcom analysed the market in unprecedented detail and analysed the prices paid by the two million mobile customers for the bundles that were removed from the contract. We found that more than a quarter would actually pay more if they switched to an equivalent “SIM only” agreement. If you don`t have a contract, you`re probably paying too much and it`s time to talk to your supplier. You might be able to match or even beat the offers you`ve seen elsewhere.

According to our research, more than 20 million customers are out of their initial contract, and many of them pay much more for their services than they need. And since many people are not aware of this or forget when their contract has expired, they pay the highest price long after they have been able to look for a cheaper offer. Virgin Mobile will upgrade its customers to 30-day SIM offers only with equivalent dates and minutes outside of the contract. Termination of Contract (ECN) notifications and out-of-contract notifications (or annual notifications at the best price) have been introduced by Ofcom industry regulators, something Uswitch has made a strong commitment to over the years. Want to upgrade to a better mobile phone deal? Here are all our best mobile phone deals. For more information on consumer law, visit the European Consumer Centre website at ec.europa.eu/consumers/ecc/index_en.htm You can terminate your contract without paying a fee if the problem cannot be resolved, and then switch to a new broadband provider. The law changes to implement a ban for mobile phone companies that sell mobile phones that are “locked” to a network. Until now, it was up to the customer to know if he was in the contract or not. You can cancel the contract free of charge if you registered by phone or online less than 14 days ago.

This is called the “period of reflection.” If you have already used the service (para. B example, you`ve been on the phone by phone), you`ll likely be charged for what you used. Our new rules mean that telephony, broadband and pay-TV companies must contact you between 10 and 40 days before the end of the contract. These notifications – sent via SMS, email or letter – should include the following: If you have a question about your mobile phone bill but are having trouble resolving it, you can do the following. Read our guides to help you deal with billing issues, who to complain to, and what to do if you`re affected by unexpected charges. The law on mobile contracts will change for everyone from 2021 – and you need to be aware of the changes. If your mobile phone has a defect, it can be replaced or repaired under the Consumer Protection Act…