Buying a cell phone/"handy" as a foreigner

[Gandalf 3]

Hello all,

 

working in Germany, second month only so far. Contract for 5 years, first residence permit till 31.12.2015. Wanted to buy a cell phone(no contract) from one of the 'big' providers, a friend recommended a cheaper variant, e.g. Mediamarkt. Mediamarkt gave me 2 "messages" 1. can't do it before 6 months at all; 2. can do it online, but they need a tone of papers. On the other hand, o2 wants only my passport number but is like a 100+ Euros more expensive for a Note 3 for example. Anyone had experience with buying a phone with no contract in a situation similar to mine? I need recommendations for firms/stores where I could go cheaper without a tone of papers, proofs and similar. Of course, the point being monthly rates, eg. 24 months. Hopefully such a thing exists.

 

Thanks in advance

[El Jeffo 42,118]

Sorry, but it will be hard to find someone willing to give a two-year contract to someone who just got here and only has a residence permit for another year.

 

You'll have to go for a PAYG solution until you've been here longer and established a track record.

 

BTW: Mediamarkt does not operate a phone network - they just rent space to Vodafone, E-Plus, etc. who do.

[Gandalf 3]

Thanks Jeff.

 

Does that possibly mean that I misunderstood the guys at o2?? Basically it was: we don't do background checks and similar, no relevance for us, all we need is your passport number for a 24 Contract, only a phone, no Tarif.

[El Jeffo 42,118]

I can't say for sure. It's possible that they'll give you a contract - but as you said, it will be at less favorable terms (with a built in "risk surcharge"). o2 is also the worst network in Germany, after Telekom, Vodafone, and E-Plus.

 

You might have better luck with one of the discounters, such as Base or Congstar.

[YorkshireLad6 7,152]

You say you want a phone without a contract, but your responses from providers indicate they are refusing you a contract. Are you maybe trying to buy a phone on credit? Or are you really trying to get a service contract with phone included?

[Mapleleafdude 4,292]

ITS A CELL PHONE AND NOT A RETARDED "HANDY"!!!

 

JEEEESUS

 

just had to get that of my heart :P

[Allershausen 6,414]

It's a mobile phone. Cell phone to most people is as meaningless as handy.

[YorkshireLad6 7,152]

It's a handy mobile cellphone

[Darkknight 2,305]

1. Goto Any mobile phone shop or Electronics stor and buy any phone of your choice Off Contract.

2. Get any/all SIM Locks removed ASAP. This is possible with off contract phones.

3. Get a Pay as you go SIM from a provider of your choosing.

 

There is no requirement to be here for 6mo first, but some will most likely want to see your registration

papers and passport. This is again standard ops. so nothing to worry about.

[Cadbury 591]

I have bought plenty of unlocked phones from Amazon.de.

[Gandalf 3]

 

You say you want a phone without a contract, but your responses from providers indicate they are refusing you a contract. Are you maybe trying to buy a phone on credit? Or are you really trying to get a service contract with phone included?

 

Apparently I misspoke, mistook contract for tarif. Sorry.

I want just a phone, just a "Gerät", without a "Tarif"(I will use a prepaid Sim card) and an option to pay for it in 24 monthly rates. At o2 I have that option(not just me, same for everyone), which is 699 Euros for Note 3(24 x 27.50 and something einmalig), they want just my passport number. At MMarkt it's 570(24 x 23.70) and they want all sorts of stuff to copy and send them. Basically I want o2 option at Mmarkt price....

[El Jeffo 42,118]

It doesn't work like that. The phone companies only give you a phone if you order a package from them.

 

If you want an expensive smartphone, save up for a couple months and buy one without a simlock.

[Darkknight 2,305]

 

which is 699 Euros for Note 3(24 x 27.50 and something einmalig), they want just my passport number. At MMarkt it's 570(24 x 23.70) and they want all sorts of stuff to copy and send them

Well then fuck the people a mediamart and go get whatever device you want elsewhere. If you are buying a phone/table/etc at full cost without

a contract they have no reason to want all your papers, as if you were signing up for a new contract.

 

 

It doesn't work like that. The phone companies only give you a phone if you order a package from them.

Bullshit, walk into any mobile phone shop, carrier shop or electronics shop. Every single one of them will let you buy whatever

device you want without a contract at full price.. Next time your in a store, look at the price tag for the full price in smaller text

or ask a sales drone.

[Guest]

Almost true...

 

But the other day I was really really hungry... I saw KFC... Now that was handy!

 

I went inside but there were no cell phones... Not handy at all! :ph34r:

[YorkshireLad6 7,152]

I suspect he actually wants credit to buy an unlocked phone outright. No-one is going to provide such credit without making sure their debt is secure, hence the need for proof of identity, residence, earnings, etc.

 

As you are so new to Germany, you simply don't have an adequate credit record - your only chance is to ask your bank for a small loan- at the very least, they have already confirmed your identity and have the security of seeing your salary paid to them every month.

 

Alternatively get a cheap or used phone for a few months until you establish a decent credit record.

[Gandalf 3]

 

No-one is going to provide such credit without making sure their debt is secure, hence the need for proof of identity, residence, earnings, etc.

 

Which is of course perfectly logical and understandable. But seeing on the o2 example that is doesn't HAVE to be so, just looking for a cheaper option. Just chatted with base.de ppl, they'd need a passport and konto numbers only. And it's cheap as hell compared to others, WITH a cheap tarif like 20 something Euros per month. I'll have to research quite a bit now to see if there are differences in the quality of phones they sell (if such differences still exist nowadays) and the quality of the networks. Thanks for the help guyz

[Gandalf 3]

 

No-one is going to provide such credit without making sure their debt is secure, hence the need for proof of identity, residence, earnings, etc.

 

Which is of course perfectly logical and understandable. But seeing on the o2 example that is doesn't HAVE to be so, just looking for a cheaper option. Just chatted with base.de ppl, they'd need a passport and konto numbers only. And it's cheap as hell compared to others, WITH a cheap tarif like 20 something Euros per month. I'll have to research quite a bit now to see if there are differences in the quality of phones they sell (if such differences still exist nowadays) and the quality of the networks. Thanks for the help guyz

[YorkshireLad6 7,152]

With Base it's less the quality of phones, more the quality of the (E-Plus) network...

[2B_orNot2B 8,451]

hi Gandalf

 

It is understandable that you may think that o2 or base.de (or any other online supplier) appear to be willing to send you a consumer good (irrelevant at this point what said item is, btw) without more than your passport and konto numbers as that is how it is often suggested to be. However that information is only the minimum they require to fill out their blank forms which will accompany the product on it's route to you. That does NOT mean you will find the product arriving in your mailbox without further ado!

 

When a (DHL, UPS, Hermes, etc.. ) courier turns up at your door bearing said product s/he WILL need to see your passport and proof of registration (Meldebescheinigung) as well as evidence of your bank Kontonummer. Before s/he is authorised to release the product to you s/he must sign off on the delivery forms to confirm those numbers and the expiration dates of your passport and (for non-EU passports) it's visa stamp. S/he will then require you to sign in 2 places for 1) receipt of the item and 2) acceptance of the conditions of the credit agreement and/or tarif/contract (including your permission to the supplier to check your status with Schufa).

 

Part of the difference in pricing you are seeing is taken up with covering the extra costs of that doorstep confirmation service (and possibly a corporate excess credit risk policy surcharge). These are items which play no part in calculations for (even the same corporation's) sublet instore sales locations.

 

Until you have been in country long enough to have established some verifiable history (which normally takes at least 6 months) then, unless you are in a position to pay in full for (particularly easily transportable) items worth more than ~ 200 Euros, the only way (AFAIK) to avoid having to provide all such requested evidence to suppliers is to do what YL6 said in post #15.

 

PS: The income of ALL salespeople involved in such transactions depends heavily on contract closing commissions therefore they are, understandably, unlikely to explain in detail all the small print clauses which may contradict any assumptions their customers may be inclined to make. In other words they tend to encourage prospective buyers to hear and believe whatever they may want to hear. CAVEAT EMPOR!

 

2B

[El Jeffo 42,118]

 

Bullshit, walk into any mobile phone shop, carrier shop or electronics shop. Every single one of them will let you buy whatever

device you want without a contract at full price.. Next time your in a store, look at the price tag for the full price in smaller text

or ask a sales drone.

 

But not on credit if you just got here last month and you only have a resident permit until next December. Or are you going to suggest that he photoshop his visa to give himself an extension?