Which?’s top five mobile phone resolutions

Struggling to think of any new year’s resolutions? Here’s our top five mobile phone-related resolutions that can help you save money on your contract.

Top five mobile phone resolutions

1. I will remember to check my bill every month

As our recent survey revealed, more than half of mobile users do not regulary check their mobile phone bill, which kind of explains why 20% of UK adults end-up overpaying on their monthly bill. So make sure you always check your bill to keep an eye on what out-of-tariff costs you might be incurring. If you regularly exceed your usage limits you may be able to save money by switching to a tariff that better suits your usage patterns.

2. I will check my operator’s roaming charges before I go abroad

Mobile phone operators don’t always make it easy to find out what you’ll be charged if you send texts, make calls, or use mobile broadband while abroad. But it’s important to check the costs, otherwise you could come home to a massive bill. For more information see our guide to roaming with your mobile phone.

3. I’ll remember to turn off my smartphone’s mobile broadband connection before going abroad

It’s important to check your operator’s roaming charges before you use your phone abroad but, if you ask us, when it comes to mobile data usage outside of the EU it really isn’t worth using at all. For example Orange charges a staggering £8 per MB for data roaming outside of the EU. Many smartphone apps will download data automatically, so it’s probably best to turn-off your phone’s data connection before you get off the plane.

4. I will read the small print before getting a cashback mobile phone deal

Some cashback deals can offer great value for money, but there’s a few that require you to jump through so many hoops in order to claim your cash that you can quite easily end-up missing out on any discount. So if you’re going to buy a cashback deal pay close attention to what you need to do to get the discount, and make sure you remember the dates when you have to send in your monthly bill, or make a claim. Read our guide to cashback deals for more information.

5. I will check how much I can save on my phone bill by switching or getting a retention deal

If you’re reaching the end of your mobile phone contract next year then you should be able to find a cheaper or better deal. The best strategy is to search the latest contract deals (which you can do right here), then call your provider and ask if they can match the deal you want. You’ll be surprised at how flexible providers can be with their ‘customer retention’ deals once you ask. But if they can’t offer you a deal you’re happy with, don’t settle, make the switch.