There can be no shinier item to buy or receive as a Xmas present this Xmas than a brand new, or ‘good-as-new’, mobile phone. They can be expensive, very expensive, but they look so nice.

The problem is, do you know enough to get a good deal or even understand the deal you have eventually signed up for; or do you get one of the kids to do all that for you?

Mobile phone contracts are complicated and many of us, above a certain age, look at the contracts like others would look at a set of IKEA instructions.

Many do not understand:

• When a phone uses data or wifi to access the Internet, and the associated charges.
• How to set up their phone to only do updates over wifi as this uses less data.
• How to avoid automatic charges in games.
• How much data, calls and SMS they are actually using.
• Do not understand ‘unlimited calls’ actually means calls to 01,02, and 03 numbers not 0871, 0845 etc which could be 70p per minute.
• At the end of a contract they own the phone and a “free upgrade” is not free but a new contract.

Depending on your preferences and needs  a ‘good’ deal for a smart phone can mean a purchase price of £50 and a monthly usage contract for unlimited calls, unlimited SMS and 15GB of data of £5.50. But most purchasers will not get this sort of deal.

If you want to know more about your consumer rights when buying mobile phones, complaining about charges, cancelling contracts and much more visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/ and search under the subsection entitled ‘phone, internet and tv’.

Alternatively, advice and guidance is available from Which? at https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/mobile-phones and from ‘moneyhelper’ (formerly the ‘Money Advice Trust’) at https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/budgeting/save-money-on-your-mobile-phone .

For advice on the best deals one trusted source of information can be found at https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/ . This site will give you tips on what to look for to put alongside knowledge of your consumer rights.

Mobile phone options and contracts are complicated and confusion is an excellent tool for those trying to sell you something you might not need. If you can, and before you spend significant sums on the latest technology, build your knowledge on what it is you are paying for and whether you really need what you are being told you need.

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