When buying a new cell phone, cell phones with a contract are usually cheaper than buying the device and cell phone plan separately. This is evident from the price monitor of the Labor Chamber (AK), which examined 70 offers from various providers.
According to this, new customers do better in 57 percent of cases when they buy mobile tariffs. The interest group calculated that the cost savings would amount to 686 euros.
However, only offers from mobile operators A1, Magenta, Drei, Bob and MTel were compared – the popular discounters HoT, Spusu and Lidl Connect were omitted from the AK bill.
When buying a combination there are often discounts
According to the Labor Chamber, the reason for the possible savings is often that mobile phone providers offer discounts, such as the temporary remission of basic allowances or mobile phone discounts when purchasing a combination. The alternative – tariff and mobile phone from multiple providers – turns out to be cheaper in 43 percent of the cases.
SIM-only rates with lower monthly base rates are particularly important here. In addition, according to the information, there are often relatively cheap prices for separate mobile phones. In comparison, customers can save up to 281 euros.
AK recommendation: calculate several variants!
“Combined contracts from mobile providers are often cheaper, but you should not blindly rely on them,” summarized AK consumer lawyer Daniele Zimmer in a broadcast. Mobile phones with a contract do not therefore have to be the “ne plus ultra”.
It advises investigating several variants in individual cases. According to the Labor Chamber, when comparing costs, one should pay attention to the duration of the contract and any advances upon termination. A look at used mobile phones can also be worthwhile.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
