My wife got a Salt contract for a mobile phone that runs out in December The business model of Salt and many other telecoms is clear: they offer their abos for an outrageous price but they sell the plans with 50-60% discount for 90% of the the time.
Wife's contract runs out in three months, and Salt started offering extensions for another two years. Unfortunately, while the plan's price on their website is around 30 CHF with the current discount, the only comparable offer that is available to her costs twice that much.
(1) Did anyone have a luck with calling Salt to get the discount? It worked for me in UPC - I wasn't happy with the offer, I asked about cancellation conditions, they asked why I'm leaving and immediately offered price match with their competition and the current discounts for new customers.
(2) If this doesn't work, then we'll have to switch to a different provider but it's not clear to me how does it work in Switzerland. Is my understanding correct, that after the contract expiration we have 30 days to transfer the phone number and activate it again in a different network? Can Salt request money for releasing the phone number to a different provider? Unfortunately, it would be too much trouble to start with a new number.
So far we've had no problems with coverage (Zurich). Can you tell me how long it usually takes to transfer the number, i.e., how long are you without service between disconnecting the number in Salt and activating it in the new network?
This is strange - my family all have phone contracts with Salt, and we are frequently sent great new deals when it's getting close to the end of the contract, as good as or better than the ones for new customers.
On one occasion I went into the local Salt store (as I'd accidentally deleted the deal SMS and didn't have the link) and the staff there set me up with an even better deal.
I'd suggest heading into your local Salt store and just asking the staff what deal they can do for you - they have a range of options they can offer, far more than you'll find on the website.
They are currently running an offer of 29.95 per month - unlimited in switzerland + 4 GB / 100 mins in Eur / USA. I am sure if you call them, they will extend your contract on this offer.
Just tell them you want out and cancel the contract, they will very soon be in contact with you, tell them what you are ready to pay, they accept, the contract remains valid and you get the discount tariff
Just say, Swisscom are offering me cheap tariff, what do you want to do
Swisscom have the best nationwide coverage, so there are some people in Switzerland who have no choice but to go with them - so at least part of the market is "captive", and they can make money on that.
One of their staff actually said that to me when I asked why they don't match Salt's prices for mobile or fibre internet connections ... apparently Salt's services are only available in limited areas, and Swisscom pretty much gets the rest.
Also worth checking with your employer if they have bring your own device schemes and corp discounts with big providers.. Big banks have swisscom/sunrise deals all unlimited swiss for 15-18chf a month.. and slightly more for all unlimited europe/world/etc
As soon as the contract is up for renewal ring the contract termination line and tell them you would like to stay will salt but the new contract is too expensive. I can guarantee you will get a better offer. I always did that with salt and it worked. I have also done it successfully with sunrise. They want to.keep you as a customer
I was in this situation with Salt and had no luck getting a deal on extension, so I switched to Yallo (who do offer deals to existing customers). You can organise the switch now, but ask for it to be effective on the day the contract expires (cancel with Salt now, and ask new company to start new contract and number switch on cancelation date).