Can I Sell a Contract Phone in 2024?

Do you want to sell a contract phone before the contract is over? Maybe you got a contract for a phone you do not like. Or you might be tight on money, and selling your phone could help you make ends meet.

In most cases, you can sell your contract phone without a problem. Check your contract to ensure you fulfil the conditions to be able to sell your phone.

What to Consider Before Selling Your Contract Phone

If you want to sell a contract phone, there are a few things you should check:

• Is the phone actually yours?
• Is there a minimum term you need to keep the phone?
• Is your phone unlocked?
• Can you make the remaining payments on the contract?

You can find most of the answers in your contract.

1. Check that the Phone Is Actually Yours

Most providers say the mobile phone is yours as soon as it arrives. If you own the phone, you can do with it as you please, including selling it.

However, with some providers, your phone contract is a lease. You do not own the phone until you have paid for the costs. One example of this is O2. If you have an O2 phone, you may not be able to sell it until you have paid as much as the phone is worth.

2. Check the Minimum Term to Keep the Phone

With some providers, there is an initial period during which you cannot sell the phone. You can check in your contract whether there is a minimum term. One example of this is EE. EE does not allow you to sell your phone for the first six months of your contract.

3. Check that Your Phone Is Unlocked

Check whether the phone is locked to a network. A locked phone can only be used with its original network. This is unless someone disables the network-locking software.

You can sell a locked phone. However, it is more difficult. Check whether the person or company you want to sell the phone to is happy to accept a locked phone.

4. Ensure You Can Make the Remaining Payments

If you sell your phone, the contract does not end. You still have to make payments until the end of the contract period. You may be able to put the SIM card into a different phone and carry on as usual.

If you do not want to continue the contract, contact your phone provider and cancel. If there is a fixed contract term, you need to pay exit fees or pay for the remainder of the contract.

You can use Airtime Rewards to lower your phone bill if you keep your contract. Read more in my Airtime Rewards review.

Where to Sell Your Contract Phone

If you are ready to sell your handset, you may wonder how to turn it into cash. There are several places to sell a contract phone.

1. eBay

eBay is generally the best site to sell an old phone. Listing your phone and figuring out the shipping cost is a bit of a hassle. But in return, you will likely make the most money.

2. Online Re-selling Sites

If eBay is too much of a bother, try re-selling sites. You tell them which phone you want to sell, and they send a courier to pick up your phone. This is a hassle-free process. On the downside, payments tend to be low.

3. Online Marketplaces

Online marketplaces are great for selling clothes for cash. However, for phones, they do not work as well. You likely have to deal with a lot of timewasters. You also likely earn less compared to selling on eBay.

4. Friends and Family

You can ask friends and family if anyone needs a new phone. Old phones may be a security risk, and offering them a new mobile phone might help them. You can check beforehand how often you should get a new phone. This will help you advise your friend. You will probably get a fair offer and do not need to ship it to them.

Can I Sell a Contract Phone? Summary

You can sell a contract phone. Sometimes, you have a minimum period or make enough payments to cover the cost before you can sell. Before listing your phone for sale, check the following:

• Is the phone actually yours?
• Is there a minimum term you need to keep the phone?
• Is your phone unlocked?
• Can you make the remaining payments on the contract?

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