Millions of mobile users risk losing money by staying out of contract
- Mobile phone thefts in the UK have risen by 50% between December 2023 and 2024.
- Approximately 14 million mobile users are currently out of contract and may be overpaying.
- Consumers need to regularly check their contract status to avoid unnecessary charges.
In the UK, concerns have been raised regarding the financial implications for mobile phone users who are out of contract. Recent statistics indicate a significant rise in thefts from individuals, increasing by 50% between December 2023 and 2024, with approximately 483,000 incidents reported. Meanwhile, many users are potentially overpaying for their mobile services due to lack of awareness about their contract status. Reports suggest that about 14 million people are out of contract, leading them to miss out on better deals. This situation is exacerbated by the failure of some service providers to lower monthly bills once the cost of the device has been fully paid off. Experts like Martin Lewis emphasize the importance of consumers checking their contract status regularly to avoid excessive charges. Furthermore, he warns that major telecommunications companies should not be allowed to maintain high charges after contracts have ended. This calls for greater consumer awareness and monitoring of mobile contracts to ensure individuals are not unfairly charged, especially in light of the rising rates of theft, which further complicates mobile usage and ownership security.