MOBILE phone contracts often come with some great perks which could save you thousands of pounds a year.
On top of your regular bill for staying in touch with friends and family, you could get anything from coffees to cinema tickets.
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Some of the extras, like streaming subscriptions, could even mean you can slash costs elsewhere too.
The Sun spoke to Nick Baker, telecoms expert at Uswitch, to see what shoppers can get their hands on.
Nick said: “It’s always a good idea to shop around for your mobile plan, even if you’re happy with your current provider.
“Not only is it important to consider the type of plan that best suits your needs, but also what benefits come with each provider.
“If you’re regularly forking out for a coffee, breakfast or cinema tickets, for example, then choosing a provider with the right benefits could save you hundreds of pounds each year.
“You might be surprised by the quality and range of discounts and freebies out there, so we recommend you check your contract end date, do your research and take advantage.”
Bear in mind that the value of perks can vary depending on where you live, as prices are up and down the country.
The saving will also depend on how much you use each perk – remember it’s only a saving if you were planning on making that purchase anyway.
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Some of these perks are also only offered to new customers to make sure you brush up on whether they’ll apply to you.
Plus, if you’re thinking of switching to a new deal, as Nick says, check your current terms and conditions first to make sure you won’t be hit with a hefty exit fee.
Here’s what perks and freebies each major mobile network is offering at the moment – and the best could save you £2,304 a year.
Virgin Media O2 – £2,304
Virgin Media O2 mobile customers could save nearly £200 a month on perks and freebies.
Nick said: “With discounted food and drink top of the list, O2 offers some outstanding perks for breakfast lovers.
“O2 Priority members can choose between one free coffee any day of the week from Greggs, or a free breakfast roll, sausage roll, or vegan sausage roll on Friday / Saturday mornings.”
Film buffs can get their hands on two Vue cinema tickets for £9.
In London a regular ticket will set you back £11.99 – so £23.98 for two. That’s a £14.98 saving a week or £59.92 a month.
On Thursdays, O2 Priority offers customers two free beers at various pubs up and down the country.
That could save them anywhere up to £47.20 a month on pints.
Nick added: “With a large latte coming in at £2, savvy shoppers can save themselves £8 per month – that’s more than the cost of a 10GB (£5 per month) or 15GB (£7 per month) SIM Only deal from Uswitch.”
If you were to make use of these monthly offers you could save £2,304 a year.
To make use of these perks, customers can download the O2 Priority app.
Three – £794.40
For Three mobile the telecoms expert said: “Three customers who download the Three+ rewards app can enjoy offers from brands like Cineworld and Caffè Nero, with one any-size Barista blended drink available for free, per week.”
Nick explained that until November, customers can also enjoy one standard Picturehouse cinema ticket per week for just £3.
A standard cinema ticket could cost up to £17.90 while a large cafe Nero coffee could cost you around £2.65 – that’s a monthly saving of £66.20 or a yearly saving of £794.40.
Nick added: “Three could be a perfect option for date night, with 18% off five orders from florists Bloom & Wild also available.”
For example, a sunflower bouquet will cost a shopper £39, but with the Three discount, shoppers will spend only £31.98, that’s a £7.02 saving.
Customers can take advantage of these perks by downloading the Three+ app.
Vodafone – £240 a year
Nick said: “On Vodafone’s rewards app, VeryMe, you can enjoy discounts and freebies from the likes of Costa Coffee, Hotel Chocolat and Millie’s Cookies, as well as regular prize draws and competitions.”
For example, shoppers could save £3.35 on a free Costa Coffee each month.
Customers get the chance to take advantage of four Feel Good Friday offers a month, worth £2.50 each so that’s a tenner saved each month.
The networks also runs a free item at Aldi a month, worth £2 and customers can save up to £4.99 on back to school items.
Vodafone also runs a variety of discounts including a Wilkinson Sword His & hers Razor pack with an RRP of £20, that customers can claim for £5, saving them £15 (though this offer ends on August 13).
Shoppers can download the Vodafone Rewards app and sign up to the offers.
EE – £149.91
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EE customers who love watching sport and listening to music can get free subscriptions for up to six months.
Nick said: “Customers on a monthly contract can get a free, three-month subscription to the TNT Sports app [formerly BT Sport], including live Premier League and Champions League matches.”
He added: “Customers who are new to EE or upgrading their EE contract are also eligible for a free, six-month subscription to Apple Music.”
In total, that’s a saving of £149.91.
That’s based on Apple Music costing £9.99 a month and adding up to £59.94 over the full six months, plus three months free TNT Sport would normally set you back £89.97.
Bear in mind this is a saving for only six months, and after that you’ll be charged the monthly costs.
The offering is also only available to customers who have not previously had Apple Music, it’s worth checking the terms and conditions before signing up.
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