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<\/p>\nMILLIONS of households could be wasting nearly hundreds of pounds a year on rip-off mobile phone deals.<\/p>\n
Customers who stick with the same mobile provider after their contract has expired are splashing \u00a3335 a year over the odds.<\/p>\n
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But there's a simple way to check if you're paying more than you need to.<\/p>\n
We spoke to Ru Bhikha,\u00a0mobile\u00a0expert Uswitch, who explained how easy it is to check if your contract is up with a five-digit code.<\/p>\n
Ru said: "Switching mobile providers is a great way to ensure you\u2019re getting the best deal available, as many providers offer the best incentives to new customers.<\/p>\n
"Finding out if you are able to switch and how much this might cost is super simple, just text "INFO" to 85075.<\/p>\n
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"It won't cost you anything to send the text message."<\/p>\n
Customers who do this will then get a text back telling them if they are in or out of contract.<\/p>\n
If you're in contract you'll be told how much you'll need to pay in exit fees to switch.<\/p>\n
But if you're out of contract, you'll be able to switch for free without charge.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Ru said: "Text-to-switch was introduced to help consumers easily take advantage of the best deals available, and is so quick you could send the text while you are in-store and get a response before you\u2019re finished browsing.\u00a0<\/p>\n "Once you have this information you can make a decision on whether a new deal is right for you."<\/p>\n If you are out of contract, Ru recommends switching straight away.<\/p>\n He said: "I'd recommend switching to a SIM-only contract if you own your phone outright.<\/p>\n "These typically offer better value for money, and you can save up to \u00a3335 per year by switching to a SIM-only deal."<\/p>\n And if you want to keep your number there's another five-digit code you can put to good use.<\/p>\n All you have to do is text "PAC" to 65075 for free and you will receive a PAC code.<\/p>\n Once you receive this, give it to your new provider and they will do the rest.<\/p>\n Sites like\u00a0MoneySuperMarket\u00a0and\u00a0Uswitch\u00a0all help you customise your search based on price, allowances and provider.<\/p>\n This should make it easier to decide whether to renew your contract or move to another provider.<\/p>\n However, if you don't want to switch and are happy with the service you're getting under your current provider –\u00a0haggle for a better deal.<\/p>\n You can still make significant savings by renewing your contract rather than rolling on to the tariff you're given after your deal.<\/p>\n If you need to speak to a company on the phone, be sure to catch them at the right time.<\/p>\n Make some time to negotiate with your provider in the morning.<\/p>\n This way, you have a better chance of being the first customer through on the phone, and the rep won't have worked tirelessly through previous calls which may have affected their stress levels.<\/p>\n It pays to be polite when getting through to someone on the phone, as representatives are less inclined to help rude or aggressive customers.<\/p>\n Knowing what other offers are on the market can help you to make a case for yourself to your provider.<\/p>\n If your provider won't haggle, you can always threaten to leave.<\/p>\n Companies don't want to lose customers and may come up with a last-minute offer to keep you.<\/p>\n It's also worth investigating\u00a0social tariffs. These deals have been created for people who are receiving certain\u00a0benefits.<\/p>\n Both Smarty and Voxi offer social mobile tariffs costing between \u00a310 and \u00a312 a month for those on certain benefits including\u00a0Universal Credit.<\/p>\n<\/picture>END OF AN ERA <\/span><\/p>\nWilko reveals exact date remaining 111 stores will close for good in October<\/h3>\n
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