For most people, the days of pay-as-you-go are long in the past.
The standalone price of modern handsets especially the latest must-have smartphones like the iPhone 4 and the HTC Desire means that more and more of us are turning to hefty monthly contracts to ensure we have the latest mobile with the latest features.
Although this means that people can get discounted or even free handsets and a bundle of minutes and texts, a recent survey shows that when people consider their actual tariff usage they realise that they could be wasting a lot of money.
Top10.com surveyed two thousand people and revealed that in Britain we waste £800 million on mobile phone contracts each year due to a significant number of people who are on the wrong contract for the amount that they actually use their phone.
- 55% of people surveyed for example, said they didn't use the full number of minutes on their contract.
- 42% of people said they were confused by mobile phone tariffs
- 46% of people are worried that they are being overcharged
It seems like contracts are becoming more like loans to stretch the payment of expensive handsets over several months but in effect we end up paying for the phone multiple times and throw away the minutes and texts that we pay for. It's an expensive time to be a smartphone user with the cost of insurance, apps and accessories to also consider.
So what can be done? Tech blog, Zath explains that the obvious would be to check your contract and ensure that you're using what you pay for. However, before you even commit to a contract, which leaves you stuck for 18 to 24 months, make sure you do your research, by checking your previous phone bills to see how much you actually use and what is the best option for you. Also, visit blogs like ourselves who will provide you with unbiased advice on some of the better deals on the market.
Does something need to be done to protect consumers? Or do we get what we pay for? Leave us a comment below…