← All guides · Updated 2 November 2026
Phone contract ended: are you still paying for your phone?
Many people buy a phone on a contract that combines the handset and airtime in one monthly price. When the minimum term ends, the phone is usually paid off, but the monthly price doesn't always drop by itself. This guide explains what to check.
Why this happens
In a "bundled" contract, part of each payment pays off the phone. Once you've paid it off, you're mainly paying for airtime (calls, texts, data). Ofcom has found that many bundled customers could save money by moving to a cheaper SIM-only deal at the end of their contract. Some providers now split the phone and airtime into separate agreements, so the phone part stops on its own; others don't. Check your bill.
What Ofcom requires your provider to tell you
Ofcom's rules mean your provider must send you an end-of-contract notification between 10 and 40 days before your contract ends. It must include when your contract ends, what you pay now, what you'll pay afterwards, any notice period, and the provider's best deals. Ofcom's guidance says that for bundled handset and airtime customers, the best deals should include the cheapest SIM-only tariff based on the services you get.
How to check your own bill
- Find your contract end date. It's on your end-of-contract message, your account app or your original contract.
- Look at your bill. Is there a separate "device plan" or "handset" line? If so, check it has stopped. If it's one combined price, ask how much of it is for the phone.
- Check your data use. Your app will show how much data you use in a typical month, so you don't pay for more than you need.
Your options
- Ask your current provider for SIM-only. Most will move you to a SIM-only plan and you keep your number and phone.
- Switch to another network. You can keep your number. Text "PAC" to 65075 to get your switching code, and give it to the new provider. (If you don't want to keep your number, text "STAC" instead.)
- Ask your provider to match a price. Find a comparable SIM-only deal elsewhere and ask your provider to match or beat it.
Is your phone unlocked?
Since 17 December 2021, mobile providers in the UK haven't been allowed to sell locked phones. If yours is older, ask your provider to unlock it before you switch network.
A quick worked example
Say you pay £40 a month, and your bill shows £22 of that is a device plan. If the device plan has finished but your price hasn't changed, ask why. If a comparable SIM-only deal is £12 a month, moving would save £28 a month, or £336 a year. These numbers are only an example: use your own bill.
Watch out for
- Notice periods. Out-of-contract deals usually need 30 days' notice, but the PAC process handles this automatically when you switch network.
- Mid-contract price rises on your new deal. See mid-contract price rises.
- Phone insurance or add-ons you no longer need.
Check your own bill
Enter your monthly price, how much of it is for the phone (if you know) and your contract end date. Bill Fighter flags if you might be paying for a phone you own and writes a SIM-only request.
Open the phone contract checker
Free, no sign-up. Uploaded bills are read and deleted straight away.
Related guides
- End-of-contract notifications: what your provider must tell you
- Mid-contract price rises: can I leave my contract?
Sources
- Ofcom: companies must tell customers about their best deals
- Ofcom: switching mobile provider
- Ofcom: ban on selling locked mobile phones
Last checked 02/11/2026. Rules change, so check the linked pages before you act. This is general information, not financial or legal advice.