Phone

How to save money by switching to SIM-only

Get in touch with your existing provider when your current contract ends:

• You should make sure you get in contact with your existing provider in good time, so you’re not charged the same monthly fee when your contract officially ends
• If you’re thinking about switching to another network, make sure your contract is finished
• You can double-check whether there are any early cancellation charges by texting ‘INFO’ to 85075 (a free Ofcom number)

Unlock your phone:

• There’s no one answer for unlocking your phone. To find out more, visit your network provider’s website, use their live chat service, pop into their store or give them a call
• Explain you want to unlock your phone and they will take care of the rest

Compare SIM-only deals using GoCompare:

• GoCompare is a comparison website designed to show you the latest deals that suit your needs. They compare SIM-only tariffs.

Check out Vodafone’s Together scheme

The Trussell Trust, which is the UK’s biggest foodbank network, has teamed up with Vodafone to provide phones and SIMs to people in need. You can find out more at your local Trussell Trust foodbank.

Are you entitled to any loyalty rewards?

Airtime Rewards cashback app

The Airtime Rewards cashback app is a very easy way to get money off your mobile bill with O2, EE, Vodafone and others. It requires users to link their phone to their bank account. It then automatically tracks your spending at over 100 retailers and gives you between 1% – 10% cashback.

Some extra tips when it comes to cutting your phone costs

• Share accounts with friends and/or family. This could include joint packages on Spotify, Amazon Prime, Netflix etc
• When planning to upgrade, you can sell your old phone and put it towards your next contract
• Set a cap with your provider to prevent you from going over your data, minutes, or text limit
• Use external, public Wi-Fi where available to help you cut down on your data usage
• Contact your provider for discounts if your phone package and broadband are with the same provider
• Check your provider’s mobile app for the latest deals and discounts
• If you receive Universal Credit, you could be eligible for BT Home Essentials – an exclusive low-cost broadband and phone plan
• If you need to make a call to a well-known company, and there’s a cost involved to do so, check the Say No To 0870 website first to see whether there’s a free number you can use for them as an alternative

If you’ve been using your phone whilst working from home

If you need to work from home regularly, for either all or some of the week, you may be able to claim tax relief for the additional costs you accrue.