Mark Bridge writes:
I don’t like marketing spin. You know, the kind of thing where the small print contradicts the headlines or where an embarrassing u-turn becomes a benefit. Given my chosen profession, I find it tends to stand out.
And so I turn my attention to T-Mobile’s new You Fix tariff. Sounds rather like T-Mobile’s 2005 U-Fix tariff, but that may be coincidence. You pay a fixed monthly fee and - if you use all of your inclusive calls - you can add an additional allowance during the month by paying a bit more. Rather like buying a top-up on a prepay phone.
Apparently it “combines the benefits of pay monthly with the flexibility and spend control of pay as you go”. The flexibility of pay as you go? I don’t think so. The flexibility of not paying every month? Afraid not, there’s a 12-month minimum term. The flexibility of just paying £5 for a little credit if you’re short of cash. Afraid not, it’ll cost you at least £15.50 a month.
Now, I’m not saying You Fix isn’t any good. Far from it. The appeal of a set monthly allowance for a fixed monthly amount may well be attractive to many people (much like U-Fix and its predecessor, Mix-it).
But please don’t tell me that You Fix allows “the same level of spend control” as a pay as you go tariff. Please don’t talk about the “best of both worlds”.
No unexpected bills, yes. However, it’s still a monthly contract with a minimum term and minimum payments. That’s nothing like prepay.