Uni gap year in USA while still in contract

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Ive still 18 months left on my contract, but I've been selected for a gap year placement in USA commencing 30th June.

To cancel my contract it's going to cost £450, 

Has anyone ever had a similar experience, or can anyone advise me on a way around this.

Many thanks.

[PhoneDoc]

Congratulations on your placement! Was the phone taken out as an O2 Refresh contract, or through a reseller like Carphone Warehouse?

[jonsie]

Unfortunately there is no way round this problem I'm afraid. You can download TU and use it over wifi for calling and texting back to the UK which will use your allowances. If you have a Refresh contract you can just pay off the handset and then cancel the airtime. Another way would be to sell the phone and pay off the contract with the proceeds or ask a family member to take over the usage of your contract, though you would still be liable for the payments being made on time each month.

[Anonymous]

Hi, 

It was an early upgrade as I've been with 02 for a number of years although it was through carphome warehouse on this occasion.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, I'll explore these options.

[Bambino]

No way out then, except to pay off the contract or pass it to a family member, but that entails trust, as it's your contract and you are ultimately responsible for it. Using TuGo over WiFi for calls and texts would only be good for calls back to the UK. Calls within the US using your O2 sim would be extremely expensive.

[PhoneDoc]

As it's through Carphone Warehouse, that upgrade fee is including both the outstanding cost of your tariff and the handset, which would have to be paid off one way or another. A few options would be:

• Pay off the plan entirely, in which case the phone is yours, and you can use it in America if its unlocked.
• Remain in contract and continue paying your monthly bill. You will be able to get the phone unlocked if needed and can use an American SIM card in it for the duration of your time in the states. You can also use the TuGo app to call and text back home with your UK number for free over WiFi.
• Sell the phone, and put the money raised towards paying off the contract, buying a cheaper PAYG phone here to use in America, or buying a PAYG or contract phone when you get to America.

Hope this helps!