Trying To Pay Off My S23 So I Can Buy A New Phone From EE

[OldSchoolTech]

dear contributors

ok.. i did have a lovely samsung 23+ from EE, but alas it was "lost or stolen" on way back from work 😕

this is not EE's fault of course... stuff happens: but i do need a new phone for work (my old HTC One M8 is good, but it will die now if i use a battery-intensive app like camera)...

ok.. so i phoned EE today, after completing their verification process on 150. i got thru to an op (i wont mention her name, i just listened to what she advised, because i couldn't make much sense of the online purchase options, to be honest).

from what i can tell:

i have to find £555 to pay off my stolen Samsung S23+ because i have "11 months to go" on contract

i cannot pay this £555 debt off in installments (there appears to be no option to do that) but I am not sure why?

i cannot use my existing SIM (EE kindly sent me a new one after S23 was stolen) to lower my bill, because EE only do "sim deals" with new phones: (but i am not sure why, since i could put my existing new SIM into a new phone, right)?

to be honest, all these things i can't do to get a new phone is a bit frustrating, since i've been with EE for so long... i dont actually need the latest S23, or S24 "flagship phones" , i was looking at the S23 galaxy AI 128GB... but there doesnt seem to be a "middle way" to purchase it...

maybe someone else had the same issues? advice welcomed.

kind regards, OldSchoolTech.

[Katie_B]

Good evening @OldSchoolTech. 

Welcome to the EE Community. 

I am sorry to hear your phone was lost/stolen on your way back from work. 

Have you requested a replacement SIM? you will be able to continue to use your services with your SIM in another device. 

Any early upgrade fee would need to be paid upfront rather than in instalments. 

Katie

[bristolian]

You'd be free to upgrade your phone with EE direct, but the upgrade fee would reflect the early-break-of-minimum-term and be payable in one go as mentioned. Any upfront fee for your chosen new phone would be in addition, but likely fall under the FlexPay regime.

You could source your chosen new phone independently via whatever means, and use your existing SIM in that phone. In the worst case you can get a replacement SIM if the new phone takes a different size SIM.

[Chris_B]

@OldSchoolTech  There’s no option to pay off in instalments as you’re already doing that with the current contract,  if you want a new device that’s classified as an upgrade so will require the old contract to be paid off in one go.    You want to get out of the current contract and that means paying off that contract.      Your cheapest option is to purchase a device outright and put your current sim in it.   If you look at your EE account you’ll see you can purchase sim free devices these have no contracts and you are purchasing the device in one go.    On the EE app click shop  and scroll to SIM FREE PHONES.   or you can get a device elsewhere like Amazon, Argos, Curry’s to name a few places. 

[OldSchoolTech]

ok guys, appreciate feedback:

in the end, i got "lucky", as my employer lavished me with £200 of vouchers (that can be used at various retailers): due to completing 10 years service with my company [dont worry, i dont work for EE, although i'd like to thank all here for making me feel welcome] more power to you x

£200 was enough to purchase the "mid range" A15 samsung (that i should have got from EE if i'd known what i was doing.. hmm..we live, we learn). as mentioned by @Chris_B , i popped my existing EE Sim into the A15 and then battled my way thru google's setup routine...ooo.. now enjoying all that 5G fruity goodness and android 14's smooth as silk os...

regarding paying off my superdooper S23+ ... well i can only suggest it would be nice if EE considered setting up an account scheme for early payback (just an idea)... as i cant see any private company not enjoying all that extra cash. generally, EE has always provided me with great phones and service... so no complaints !

have a great summer,

kind regards, OldSchoolTech

[Ali_A]

That's great to hear @OldSchoolTech We're glad you've found the suggestions helpful and have been able to source a replacement device to get back up and running again 😊

Ali