How in the living fuck can I buy a phone for my kid?

[SphincterSaysWhat]

I would like to buy an iPhone 14 (or whatever) for my child (Vodafone). I don't mind paying something up front and then a contract.

This is something usually left to DH but he's being a prick and so are Vodafone, apparently. So now it's my turn. Not only am I all other department, now I'm tech - which is a shame, as I'm a total luddite.

DH looked into affordablephones.co.uk and some other website but their reviews are terrible.

Can I not just call someone and pay for, and order, a fucking phone?

How is this so hard? What does everyone else do?

I got my dds phones from Tesco. I ordered them online, but they got Motorola phones. Mine are teens so I wouldn’t buy an iPhone for them. The phones are in my name.

one of our old phones plus a pay as you go. Then upgraded to a contract when they needed more data. Contract/sim is in my name as they are children.

Go into shop, buy phone, order sim card.

SMARTY or GiffGaff. My kids are on contract and I can't wait for them to be over so that I can get more data for less £££ for them

I get phones from Back Market, refurbished. Then just get a SIM only plan. And why on earth are you buying an iPhone 14 for a child

We just bought the phones outright and they have sim only contracts from Vodafone.

I just got my teen an iphone 14 from
02 online. Very simple, choose the smallest memory version and then choose the best package dependent on your budget. I got the phone with unlimited data and calls for £50 a month. It will need to be in your name.

What about the process are you finding hard? It’s usually pretty straightforward.

Idmobile are the cheapest I’ve found for decent sim only packages.

reasonable if you want a phone on contract too.

Bought second hand off musicmagpie (not a 14 though, no way I’d spend that much on something that gets tossed about) and got SIM card from high street shop.

Have a look at Computer Exchange CeX (UK) Buy & Sell Games, Phones, DVDs, Blu-ray, Electronics, Computing, Vision & CDs (webuy.com) who do reconditioned phones and get an unlocked phone and Sim.

Though Iphone 14s are still going to be incredibly expensive.

Yes I've never had any kind of issue, what exactly is the but you're having a problem with?

Surely you just phone the network provider (or do it online) give all the details and pay.

It’s generally an easy process… go on to reputable website / into a shop / call reputable company and ask for what you want.

Carphone Warehouse (which is still online) will offer you the phone for £30 a month with £99 upfront charge.

You might be able to shop around for a better deal, but it depends on whether ease or price is more important to you.

Recentlhy bought DD a phone from Back Market - came the next day - 1 year guarantee - you put the make and model you want, and they will give you all the price options - couldn't be easier (unless you can't afford that particular phone)

I second Back Market. Look at Lebara ( so cheap) Snarty or GiffGaff. And insure the phone.

I ordered a used phone off GiffGaff (was like new when it arrived), paid for it up front then got a £10 per month SIM.

Set it up as a child account to my iPhone. You might have to read how to do this but the ordering one is very simple.

Job done.

If you just want to buy a handset and already have a network, you can get them from Argos or John Lewis. Then just whack the SIM in, job done.

We got 3 of our phones from John Lewis, then we have a SIM only deal with BT which is very cheap.

You have to be 18 to have a contract so you'll need to get it in your name.
Just go into a Vodafone shop and a human will process the order.

You can order refurbished phones on GiffGaff and get goody bags for their data.

How old is your DC? Been there and done that with latest phone, they now get reconditioned/older model new in box from eBay and we pay for a SIM card. If they want anything better they save for it. But in answer to your question I bought a new iPhone 14 direct from Apple and was delivered in a couple of days, I already had a contract sim to go in it.

No child or teenager needs an iPhone 14!

Absolutely this. Will there be a post in 6 moths time saying that the child only communicates in grunts, is glued to the phone and won't lift a finger to do anything else? These horrid devices are so addictive.

Mine has my old iPhone with a smarty SIM card it’s £10 a month.

When next child is old enough they will have dh old phone and again a smarty SIM card.

when they are old enough to earn money they can get better phones 🤷‍♀️

Amazed no one has mentioned it yet but as it's a 14 you're unlikely to get a good deal on a second hand one, and you can just buy an iphone from the Apple website. They're the manufacturer. Then you just need to sort out a SIM (I recommend GiffGaff).

I bought myself a refurbished iPhone 11 on Amazon and got a new smarty sim.