Out of contract on your mobile? You’re probably overpaying
When a phone contract ends, many people keep paying the bundled price for a handset they’ve already paid off. Text INFO to 85075 to check — then switch to SIM-only or haggle.
On this page
Mobile is the quietest overpayment in most households, because nothing visible changes at the contract end date: the phone keeps working, the bill keeps arriving, and the direct debit keeps paying a handset instalment on a phone that is now yours.
The five-minute fix
- 1Text INFO to 85075Free, works on all UK networks. You get your contract end date and any early-exit fee — do it for every phone in the household.
- 2Compare SIM-onlyOnce the handset is paid off, a SIM-only deal with the same data allowance is usually the honest price of the service.
- 3Haggle or switchCall your network with the best quote — retentions teams have real discounts. Or text PAC to 65075 and take your number to the new network; the switch completes within one working day.
Why this keeps happening
Ofcom now requires end-of-contract notifications and annual best-tariff reminders — but they arrive as one text among dozens, and a household with two adults and a teenager can have three contract end dates nobody wrote down. Networks price that forgetfulness in.
In short
Text INFO to 85075 today. If you’re out of contract on a bundled tariff, you’re paying for a phone you own — switch to SIM-only or make your network earn the difference.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out when my contract ends?
Text INFO to 85075 — it’s free and works on every UK network. You’ll get your contract end date and whether an early-exit fee applies. Networks must also send you an end-of-contract notification, but it’s easy to miss.
What are the switching texts?
Text PAC to 65075 to get a code that moves your number to a new network. Text STAC to 75075 if you don’t want to keep the number. The code is valid for 30 days, the new network handles the move, and it must complete within one working day.
Is SIM-only really that much cheaper?
Usually, yes — once a handset is paid off, a like-for-like allowance on SIM-only is typically a fraction of a bundled tariff. If your phone still works, that’s the whole saving.
What about mid-contract price rises?
Most contracts include annual price increases, which is legal if it was in the terms. But at the end of the minimum term all leverage moves to you — that’s the date worth tracking.
Sources & last checked
- Switching mobile phone provider — Ofcom
- End-of-contract notifications — Ofcom
Last checked against official sources: 16 August 2026.