Consumers should look to find the phone and plan that suits their needs.
There are two ways of buying a mobile phone:
- buy phone only, also known as outright
- sign up for a phone plan where you pay off the phone over a period of time.
Read all terms and conditions before buying or signing a contract.
Do not sign the contract or agree to buy the phone if:
- the sale does not suit your needs, or
- you are worried by any terms or conditions.
When buying a mobile phone you need to think about:
- why you need a phone
- how you will use it
- what conditions or plans are attached
- how much they will cost.
You should keep a copy of any receipts, contracts and any other paperwork relating to the sale or plan. You can refer to it later if you need.
Other items to consider when buying a mobile phone are:
- you often have to pay more to cancel a contract before it ends
- some service providers have extra charges for items such as;
- voicemail
- call-forwarding
- premium SMS
- internet browsing
- purchasing apps
- international roaming
- check with the service provider that you will get coverage in the areas you use your mobile phone
- there may be extra costs for going over your phone call or data allowance limit.
When things go wrong
Consumers should contact:
- the retailer or business where they bought the phone, or the service provider, to try and resolve the issue. You can lodge a complaint with CBOS
- if the problem cannot be fixed with the service provider or business, consumers can contact the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman