Money Saving Expert (MSE), the consumer advice platform established by financial guru Martin Lewis, has shared some straightforward tips for slashing your mobile phone bills. The MSE team points out that while the cost of mobile tariffs has “plummeted” in recent years, many customers continue to pay more than necessary due to a lack of action.
They emphasised: “Mobile phone tariff costs have plummeted for new customer deals – while almost five years ago 50GB monthly data would’ve cost £13 a month, now it’s just £3 a month. Yet existing customer costs have risen rapidly due to hefty 10 percent plus mid-contract rises each April – so inaction is costly.”
To avoid overpaying, MSE recommends three easy steps.
Send a text
This starts with a simple text message to check if your contract has ended, allowing you to switch to a cheaper tariff. You can find out by texting “INFO” to 85075 for free.
MSE explained: “The first thing to do is to check if you’re one of the 14 million people who are out of contract on their mobile and therefore free to cut costs by moving to a far cheaper deal. Ofcom forces firms to tell you this via a free text.”
They added that most people will receive an immediate response, but customers with Three, Smarty, or iD Mobile may need to confirm their identity by replying with their date of birth.
But prior to making the decision to switch, it’s crucial to confirm there’s no fee involved in terminating the contract early. “Some firms write their text to try and persuade you to stay, but if there’s no termination charge, you’re free to leave,” MSE advised.
Change your SIM
Changing your SIM card is another method to potentially reduce expenses. To explore the available options, you can utilize the MSE cheap SIM comparison tool at moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/sim-only.
MSE remarked, “A SIM is just the (sometimes virtual) chip in the back of your phone that gives it its identity, so switch it to a cheaper one to save. Thinking, ‘But I like my signal, I’m worried about switching?
“There are only four networks in the UK: Vodafone, Three, O2 and EE – all others piggyback on their signal. So you can just use the filters in our Cheap SIMS tool to find out which is the cheapest deal that stays on your existing signal (though if you rely on 5G, Wi-Fi calling or 4G calling, do check it does that).”
Get this code
If you’re planning to switch providers but wish to keep your current number, you will need what is known as a PAC code. MSE elaborated, “To keep your number, text ‘PAC’ to 65075. Then you get a code to give to your new provider, which will transfer it over, usually in one working day.”
The list continues with more cost-saving tips from MSE for your mobile phone usage:
- Avoid paying for more data than necessary – most users report using 5GB or less
- Not keen on switching? Try haggling. Mobile companies are among the easiest to negotiate with.