Mobile contract: commit only for clear value in return
With fixed-term contracts, base price, connection fee, device payment and the price after the minimum term all belong in the same calculation. How to work them out honestly.
A fixed-term contract can be attractive because of its price, the included services or device financing. What matters is what you pay over the entire minimum term and what service applies afterwards.
Write down the total price
Add up all monthly prices, connection fees, the device payment and delivery. Only deduct bonuses whose conditions you are sure to meet. This makes bundles comparable with buying a device separately.
Flexibility has a value
Check the notice period, renewal rules and the price after the minimum term ends. If your needs or where you live are likely to change, a flexible tariff may make more sense.
- Contract term and price in the following months
- Show device costs separately
- Throttling once the allowance is used
- Check eSIM, MultiSIM and roaming
Frequently asked questions
How long am I tied to a mobile contract?
A minimum term of 24 months is common, and consumer contracts may not be longer. Providers must also offer you a contract with a term of no more than twelve months (§ 56(1) TKG). Many also offer the same tariffs on a monthly rolling basis, usually for a surcharge or a higher connection fee. Once the minimum term has ended, the contract continues indefinitely and can be cancelled at any time with one month's notice (§ 56(3) TKG).
What happens when the minimum term ends?
If you don't cancel, the contract continues indefinitely and can then be cancelled with one month's notice. The price often changes at this point because time-limited discounts expire. So check in good time whether the new price still suits your needs.
Is a contract with a phone cheaper than buying the phone separately?
Only a full calculation can answer that. Add up the connection fee, all monthly prices and the device payment over the minimum term, and compare the total with the device's purchase price plus a suitable SIM-only tariff. Only include bonuses if you are sure to meet their conditions.
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