Mobile phone contract

Hello,

I wasn't sure where to put this, so I thought here might be alright. I've found a job (actually I found two, I got the lovely experience of turning down an employer ) with a retail company, and their way of giving a staff discount is to give you a store account card after a few months. I would obviously like to get the discount, as its valid in a number of stores at which I shop (who wouldn't want a discount? ), but am a bit worried about the credit, or lack thereof.

Our money situation is finally beginning to improve btw, for those that know me Hence why I am willing to consider a contracted mobile (that and I do need a new one), but I need to know if it's easy to get this as a first step in establishing credit...I'd much rather get that and then be approved the store card where I work rather than end up being turned down where I am employed due to not having had credit here before..that would be rather embarassing.

I've also applied for a citibank current account but they haven't bothered to send me any paperwork as they had said, so I'm not sure what's going on with that...for now my wages will go in my husband's account (on which I am not named because we'd have to close it and reopen and it's a pain).

So what have people experienced wrt getting a mobile contract? Easy, difficult, not on your life?

I have always had contract mobiles and I have just walked into a store and signed a contract. No problems....

I have a contract with O2, I love having a contract as I like to have a brand new phone every year.

it really depends on how long you've lived here and what things you have in your name. When I first tried to get a phone after being here for about a year, I was told I had to pay a deposit, if I remember right it was a lil more then £100 , however, after getting a bunch of utility bills in my name I tried again roughly about 6 months later and got one without a problem

When I initially tried to get a contract I was told I had to be here 2 years.  When  that 2 years was up I went and got a contract.  But I think some companies are more flexible. I work with a couple of younger girls who still live at home with their parents and they have no credit history either. But what worked for them was to get on a T-Mobile plan. They had to pay a deposit which they got back after a period of time and though they weren't entirely happy with T-Mobile they were happy to see their contract out and one was able to switch to another company.  I don't think it wouldn't hurt to ask a few providers.  I personally think Orange was the hardest. I am on 3 network and have loved everything about them.  Sounds like O2, T-Mobile, and 3 might be worth just walking in and asking.  

I had been in the country less than three months, no job, had just been put on dh's current account, and I was able to get a phone with virgin.  The contract was only for a year.  I hope that helps.   

i didnt have anything in my name i was on my dhs insurance that is all, but he has great credit, anyways went to phones 4u got turned down went right next to the shop carphonewarehouse beside them and got approved all within 20 mintues of going to both, bc the guy lied onmy application i think, he said i had my current account for like 3 years when it was only a few months, and i told him that... anyways i have it now... my question is does it help to build credit? i have tmobile 18 months

My DH and I got a mobile contract the 1st day we were here. No UK history. Just a rental contract (which they said we could bring in later that week because we didn't have it in hand) and a bank account (both of which we had done earlier in the day). I didn't have to pay a deposit for the account in general. I only paid a deposit for being able to use it internationally but I'll get that back at the 6 month mark. This was with vodafone. I'm not as enamored with them as I was with Tmobile in the states but they'll do until my contract is over in August.

I've got a contract with Virgin - I opted for 18 months (They have 12 & 18 month contracts to choose from.) so I could get the phone I wanted for free.     It was really painless all they asked for was a credit or debit card so they could sign me up for direct deposit.   

Two days after arriving in the UK I went to the Orange store in Nottingham with my mom with the hopes of getting a contracted phone.  She was going to back it with a US bank account.  Understandably, I had to have a UK bank account to get a contracted mobile phone with Orange.  To my surprise, however, they didn't want much in the lines of information about the account.  Just an active account.  The guy at Orange told me it only had to be active for a day or two before they accepted me for a contracted mobile account.

I got a contract from Vodafone with a £100 deposit.  O2 wanted something like £300 and some other ones (I think Virgin and Orange) turned me down outright.  Just depends on the company and how you apply - I stuck to internet applications, so that's probably why I got turned down for some (they all want 3 years' address history ).  Best advice is that if 1 doesn't work, try another until someone will give you a phone!

I got a contract with 3 after they cold-called me, my lack of credit rating or job didn't even come up.

thanks everyone I went to O2 who are doing the phone I want where they wanted a £100 deposit for 3 months, I'll try carphone warehouse and if they say the same will just put up the cash, since I will get it back I don't mind overly much.

mspotts, as far as I know mobile contracts do help build up credit, and you can also be negatively affected if you don't pay the bill.

The experience I had was just as everyone had said, went in and all they asked for was a credit or debit card and my address history, and if I was working.

I imagine if I tried hard enough Id find someone who'd give me the phone without a deposit, and possibly Virgin as I have a mobile with them now, just not a monthly one...surely they'd like to keep their customers. Only thing is it's O2 that has the phone, and its exclusive (no, not an iphone ).

When I went phone hunting in Derby they didn't seem so strict.  I'm beginning to wonder if the things that these employees said was too good to be true.

At Carphone Warehouse, they seemed fine with the fact that I'd have a newly opened bank account.  Same with Orange.  I guess it depends on the company and the location of the store (and maybe even the competence of the staff...).

thanks everyone I went to O2 who are doing the phone I want where they wanted a £100 deposit for 3 months, I'll try carphone warehouse and if they say the same will just put up the cash, since I will get it back I don't mind overly much.

technically you wont get the cash back. Its given back to you as a credit off your bill.

technically you wont get the cash back. Its given back to you as a credit off your bill.

Not necessarily; I put a deposit down when I first arrived as I wanted a contract and was given it back after 6 mos. (automatically into my bank account). 

Double check that that is indeed the case!