mobile phones

I am needing to get a mobile phone. Do I even bother going to the store tomorrow as I obviously do not have any credit history here and unless I am mistaken you need to have a UK bank account (got that) and credit in order to buy a contract phone right? So should I even bother or am I just wasting my time only to be rejected. Should I just wait till I have been here awhile longer and built up credit? Thanks!

never mind! Found my answer in a similar post under Money Matters. Basically no or perhaps they might accept a deposit depending on the company and can set one up that way. 

I got a pay as you go sim and phone when I first got here five years ago.  I upgraded (If you want to call it that) to contract after a year, however, it's in my husbands name. (He pays for it)

I got a pay as you go sim and phone when I first got here five years ago.  I upgraded (If you want to call it that) to contract after a year, however, it's in my husbands name. (He pays for it)

yeah I think I have to do the same as trying to go on contract with Zero credit is near impossible unless you pay a deposit, which is an option through some.

Try pay as you go, that way too, you can see how much useage you use and once you get come credit history, you can upgrade

Try pay as you go, that way too, you can see how much useage you use and once you get come credit history, you can upgrade

good idea! I wouldn't need that many minutes to start off as I don't exactly have a large group of friends yet! It's more as a security blanket for when I get lost, I can phone home for help!! LOL    Seriously I feel so naked and helpless without a mobile phone.

Yes, that's why you have the security of having a phone so you can call home for help with pay as you go, but you aren't tied into a contract just yet. Plus minutes don't expire here, like they do with pay as you go phones in the states

i got my pay monthly easily. i didnt have any credit at that time, just my bank account. cant u apply online i think? sometimes its better deals?

I have no direct experience with any of them, but there are supposedly a few outfits which guarantee to get you at least a minimum monthly account.   "Simply 3G" is one such that I'd heard about, but after a quick search it appears that this company has gone into liquidation.

I have no direct experience with any of them, but there are supposedly a few outfits which guarantee to get you at least a minimum monthly account.   "Simply 3G" is one such that I'd heard about, but after a quick search it appears that this company has gone into liquidation.

Hey Paul, you can keep those recommendations to yourself

I paid a £100 deposit to get a contract with O2- I actually did it just to build credit as I pay more on a contract than I do with PAYG. 

I was actually going to suggest O2 for pay as you go (I got a Virgin pay-as-you-go mobile when I first got here but soon upgraded to O2). I got a refurbished phone for £40 and put £20 worth of credit. They have all sorts of plans and as I text more than actually talk to anyone, I get unlimited text messages every month as long as I credit £10 a month on my phone. I am waiting a bit to build up my credit and think I'll just apply for a credit card when I get to my six months (have been here 5 months come the 17th of July).

There are a lot of deals out there. Check out Carphone Warehouse to compare or you can just go to each individual website. Orange, O2, Virgin and T-Mobile are some of the few mobile phone companies I can think of off the top of my head and they all probably have ways you can get a PAYG or contract phone. Good luck.

O2 is actually the mobile company I am thinking of. Good to know that they do at least give you the option of putting down £100 deposit to sign onto a contract if that's the way I want to go. Thanks for all the advice. I wll go there tomorrow. Didn't have time today as I was searching for a used car to buy... another headache.  Looked at Vauxhall Corsa's, VW Golf, Honda Hybrid. I want to go for a small car which is an automatic aswell. I'm sure I'll be asking you all about car recommendations soon. 

i got my pay monthly easily. i didnt have any credit at that time, just my bank account. cant u apply online i think? sometimes its better deals?

good question. I don't know. I thought since I would probably be asked to show bank statements or something that I should do it in person. Did you apply online?