Leaving fee

[Jafa28]

Hello.

I have been thinking about leaving EE due to it being cheaper with other providers. I currently have a contract with EE until the end of this year so my leaving fee is still quite large.

I have the Option to upgrade early now with no costs. To avoid the leaving fee, could I upgrade early to a new phone and contract and then cancel/return the new handset within 14 days to avoid paying a fee?

[XRaySpeX]

No way! When you cancel & return an upgrade you revert to your pre-upgrade position. EE are not fools!

[Jafa28]

So in order to upgrade early I would need to send my current phone back to EE and I would receive my new phone and contract. If I was to return and cancel my new phone/contract within 14 days, does that not settle the outstanding amount as they now have my current phone too?

[XRaySpeX]

Why would you need to send your current phone back to EE? Are you on some sort of Upgrade Anytime contract? With normal contracts you keep your existing phone when you upgrade.

[Jafa28]

My apologies I did not clarify. I am on a SMART plan and can upgrade up to a year early if I give the current phone back without a fee. 

[Chris_B]

@Jafa28  If you upgraded early and then cancelled that upgrade you’ll be reverted back to your old tariff as your under contract for that old tariff until the minimum term,  an upgrade doesn’t mean you don’t get out of that old contract if you decide not to keep that new tariff/device your still bound to the terms of that old contract until the minimum term. 

[Jafa28]

Thank you for confirming. If I am on a 24 month plan, is the minimum term 24 months? If different, where can I find this?

[James_B]

Hi @Jafa28,

Yes, the minimum term would be 24 months.

James