WIREDGOV

With millions of phone deals available today, it can be very confusing working out which offers you the best value for money.

For example, having a monthly allowance of thousands of free minutes and texts may seem like a good idea at the time, but if you don’t use them you’re effectively wasting money.

Similarly, regularly going over your monthly allowance could also hit you hard in the pocket.

Mobile deals

A guide published by Ofcom, Consumer Focus and the Communications Consumer Panel is designed to help consumers get the most from their mobile deal and save money.

It provides helpful tips on what you should ask before signing up for a deal -  such as whether there are any additional costs, the length of contract, details on upgrades and network coverage.

The guide also explains the differences between pay-as-you-go and contract deals, as well as looking at issues such as using your phone abroad and keeping your number when switching provider.

It also explains how the Ofcom-accredited price comparison service BillMonitor can help consumers track down the best deals.

Consumer guide

BillMonitor offers online bill tracking where consumers supply their online billing account details and the website automatically analyses their online bills for a tailored recommendation.

There is also a one-off tariff search, where a consumer can enter minutes and texts used, as well as overseas calls, picture messaging and data usage.

Click to download mobile phone guide PDF 337kb