topic Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG in Contracts & Billing

Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

EAB25 — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:16:58 GMT

I'm with EE and consider it the best network, so I was trying to convince a friend to join. But the prices on a contract are extortionate!

The cheapest EE SIM only deal on a contract I can see available to a new customer is £18 a month for 50gb, which is crazy given you can get 50gb on O2 right now for £8.99, including EU roaming.

Weirdly you can get an EE 'PAYG' on a monthly subscription with 8GB data for £10 a month.

I can't see any reason to sign him up to a contract with EE when it's nearly twice the price of the PAYG tariff and he's locked in for two years. Aside from a speed limit of 25Mbps, which is plenty for almost all tasks, why would ANYONE sign up to a contract which is going to go up in price every year?

Am I missing something?

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Northerner — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:52:54 GMT

Hi @EAB25

There is no answer to your question.

As a consumer you want the best value for goods or service you buy and therefore you shop around. To other people is brand over price.

You see the same comparisons in other shopping and service industries and this is nothing new.

Thanks

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

EAB25 — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:58:41 GMT

I understand completely the concept of comparison, but I don't understand why it's cheaper to go on a PAYG deal than sign up for 2 years

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

baileyuk — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:17:51 GMT

yer this whole new thing of device payment thing is stupid and needs to end, it doubles the price of phone contracts i was in talks with ee today saying how i can get a s25 with 200gb data on o2 or three for £38 a month, and the min i can get it on ee is £60 a month...completely insane prices and they try justify it with saying how they have the biggest 5g network...which seems to have issues more often then not!

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

baileyuk — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 15:20:35 GMT

oh and lets not forget the excuses of not giving compensation for loss of service as you are still connected to the internet with wi fi calling, which is a feature on most smart phones and the internet connection being used is nothing to do with ee or bt on a completely different service.

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Peter_W — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 16:10:55 GMT

Hi @baileyuk, welcome back to the Community.

With genuine network outages, there's absolutely the option to make sure you're not left out of pocket, but it is something our technical team would need to look into first before we can say for sure what can be offered.

For WiFi Calling, whilst the internet connection itself may coming from elsewhere, you do still require your EE contract for your SIM and number to work, and without these your phone would not be able to make and receive calls.

It's not always possible to provide coverage in all areas though, and this service helps extend access to our network to as many locations as possible.

Peter

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Phil_8049 — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:44:39 GMT

Morning,

I have just renewed my EE contract from the old BT. Its like a child being born, one minute you are in the safety net of BT and then bang welcome to the big world of EE.

Signed into a 2 year contract at £10 p/m and then seeing the price increasing before my eyes over 2 years. Pretty frightening really, although I have a 14 day cooling off period, one is basically knackered, as I would have to trawl through the mire of other mobile contact providers to get a better deal, which probably won't happen!

Oh well.......

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

EAB25 — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 09:56:13 GMT

EE is the best network, but someone has to pay for Kevin bacon.

How much data do you need? You might be better off with 1p mobile, who use the EE network. They have all the benefits such as WiFi calling, EU roaming and no speed cap and will currently give you 50gb for £10 a monthly rolling contract.

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Phil_8049 — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 10:00:47 GMT

Nah! Im good thank you.

Just moaning at the price hikes 🙂

Kevin Bacon, obviously all the Footloose royalties have run out.🤔

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Geddobbins1 — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:37:51 GMT

The guys who sell you your contract are trying to make a living. They don't tell you about every deal that's available . For example you can get free roaming charges abroad and unlimited data if you form a joint account with a partner . As you would pay monthly usually 2 years it would only cost you £17.50 a month . They try to sell you contracts for 3 years . Be careful with the sales reps and listen to the deal they try to sell you . Otherwise shop around .

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Geddobbins1 — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 13:44:07 GMT

Why is EE advertising itself as one of the best networks available . I am talking about network coverage not broadband which is great . I'm saying that the network is very poor . The reception in Manchester City centre area especially amongst high rise buildings is not always available . I spoke to an EE rep about this . He said it was downnto vandalism . People damaging masts . I find this hard to believe and EE won't admit the real reasons behind poor reception.

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

EAB25 — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 14:05:39 GMT

I was talking about network coverage too, and I've always found EE to be the best and three to be the worst, with O2 and Vodafone about equal in the middle. But you should choose a network that works where you live and travel to.

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Matt_124 — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 17:01:23 GMT

@Geddobbins1

1. You don't automatically "get free roaming charges abroad and unlimited data if you form a joint account with a partner" - you would need both lines to be on relevant plans that include these features, the same as anyone else. The only direct benefit you get from two lines on the same account is Multi-Line Discount on the second line.

2. "Contracts for 3 years" are optional on Flex Pay - you get the choice to split your Device Payments over 24 or 36 Months on a Device Credit Agreement and this balance can be paid off any time after the first 30 days. Your Airtime agreement is a 24-month minimum term, unless you have EE One in which case it is a 1-month rolling agreement for this.

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Manc-Man — Fri, 01 May 2026 20:22:04 GMT

Just increased my sim only to £19, a ridiculous amount when competitors are half that cost. Decided to call it a day and move on , can’t afford to keep giving decision makers bigger bonuses, just saying…..

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Chris_B — Sat, 02 May 2026 10:15:39 GMT

@Manc-Man That’s the yearly price increase and all major networks do it, it was in the contract T&Cs that you agreed too.
You just do happen to if taken out a cheaper tariff with a different network. Did you at least call EE customer support to see what they could offer ? Because it doesn’t sounds like you didn’t.

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Manc-Man — Sat, 02 May 2026 14:39:35 GMT

Yep! First thing I did Chris, had one conversation with an agent who offered me a reduction of £1 per month (?). Then about 1 hr later received a call offering a reduction to £12pm rising to £15 later in the year. Still struggling to see what’s behind their reasoning to why so high? I think if they work with the potential customers they could sweep up. Their competitors seem to have their heads screwed on even if EE’s decision makers don’t

Re: Joining EE but contracts are ridiculously expensive, even compared to EE PAYG

Manc-Man — Sat, 02 May 2026 14:57:07 GMT

And just as an afterthought ‘why’ does a ‘loyal’ customer have to search for the best deals shouldn’t it be incumbent for the company to offer these options in the first place? Have they never heard of “set a sprat to catch a herring “ when I was in business (many years ago now) my returning customers were gold dust and well worth looking after. Again, just saying……..