Help needed re mobile phones - going from pay as you go to contract and don't have a clue

[MrsPuddleduck]

Just registered as a childminder so it makes sense for me to have a contract now but I don't know where to start.

I am on Orange at the moment and would like to keep my number - does that mean I have to stay with Orange?

Also, do you have to pay line rental? and what is the cashback thing all about??

Totally not answering your question but my childminder is on pay as you go and very happy with it. Just trying to save you the hassle! I'll go away now and let some sensible people answer.

You don't have to stay with Orange, they will give you a PAC code so that you can take your number with you to another provider.

You will have to pay line rental yes, tbh the cashback thing is a bit of a faff as you have to remember to send them your bills every few months in order to receive a cheque back.

If you go to somewhere like Carphone Warehouse, they will go through everything with you and find you the best deal.

I've had a contract phone for about 8 years now and always go through Carphone Warehouse, their customer service is fab IMO.

HTH

Thanks TequilaM - I didn't realise I could change from Orange so it may work out cheaper.

I would definitely not be organised enough to send off bills every month so wont bother with cashback

MrsPd, if you dont necessarily need a new mobile, there are some great 'sim only' deals around at the minute.

here for example

All the networks do these and it just means that you will get a new simcard but not a new phone. One of the plans on that link is for 600 mins and unlimited texts for £20 a month. You would probably be hard pushed to find that on a 12/18 month contract for that price!

The contracts are rolling and only for 30 days which means you can cancel if you werent happy.

It all depends on whether you want a new phone I suppose

2nd going through car phone warehouse, i have been with them for 6 years now!

Pop into carphone warehouse or go online and look at the best possible phone you can get.
As a childminder you may want a good camera with option to increase memory size with mini sd cards so you can take pics of kids for EYFS! When i was a childminder i also registered the phine as a buisness phone and put the basic line rental through the books as buisness expense. Think how mych per month you want to pay and stick to that budget, if you go in the shop they will show you all the phones you can get for that line rental!

Desperately need a new phone - I always have my Dad's old phone when he upgrades and at the moment I have an ancient motorola one.

I have found my local carphone warehouse and will pop in later.

I think I need to get as many minutes as I can afford and the camera point is a good one. Thanks!