Have not been around much lately, but I thought I would add an update about my latest bargain, a *free* mobile phone deal!
I always shop around online to find the best price for anything I buy, Im big on Ebay and price comparison sites which are by best source of bargains 
So, I ended up searching for a new mobile phone on a bunch of different comparison sites and ended up finding one that was listing what are known as free line rental phone deals.
I had not come accross this type of promotion before, but found some useful info on this page where they explain how free line rental deals work in more detail.
They are pretty up front on this site warning about the pitfalls of free line rental deals, as well as the positives.
They way it works goes something like this:
- Order your phone
- After 6 months submit request for a partical refund of your costs
- After 9 months submit another request for more money
- After 12 months, do the same!
At each stage the company I bought the phone from will send me a cheque refunding the money I spent on line rental, and thus, the deal becomes a “free line rental” deal.
Its a bit of a cheat really, I mean, I still have to pay my line rental up front to my network and the cheques are not 100% guaranteed.
I have to contact the company at specific times, 6, 9 and 12 months. If I miss the deadline I lose the money.
I also have to submit proof of the fact I paid my bills in the form of a hard copy of the phone bill itself, so, if I lose a bill I lose the money.
Its a complicated process really, but one that I feel will be worth it in the end!
I mean, the prospect of running a mobile phone completely free for 12 months, then owning the handset at the end of it is an appealing one, is it not?
Im not sure I’d recommend this kind of deal as such, I would hate for any of my friends or family to sign up and then lose their money, but for me, I think I will pull it off.
I made a note of exactly what I need to do and have it all written down and filed away. As my bills arrive I add them to the same file. Its not rocket science, in fact, I think its pretty easy, you just have to read the small print and understand what is required… like many other things in life!
So, whilst falling short of recommending these deals, I would suggest you check the site out if you are a keen minded bargain hunter:
http://www.free-line-rental-mobile.co.uk/
Have fun!