A Checklist Before You Sign a Phone Contract

A phone contract is a commitment that can run for years, yet many are signed in minutes based on the headline price. A few questions before signing prevent months of paying for the wrong plan.

Know the real cost

Look past the monthly figure to the total over the full contract, including any upfront device cost. A cheap monthly rate tied to a long contract and an expensive handset can cost more than buying the phone outright on a smaller plan.

Check the data, call and roaming allowances against what you actually use. Paying for a large bundle you never touch is as wasteful as constantly exceeding a small one.

Read the exit terms

Before signing, understand the contract length, the early-termination fee and what happens at the end of the term. Knowing how to leave a plan is as important as knowing how to join it, and it is far easier to check now than later.