Don't let your old phone go to waste

Let’s face it, we’ve all got one of those impossible-to-open drawers, where our old phones get dumped when we upgrade. An electronic graveyard where obsolete mobiles battle for space with dodgy USB cables and broken digital cameras.

Well, here’s the good news: did you know you could actually make some cash by tackling that intimidating pile of slightly-less-smart-phones?

From trading them in for a shiny new model, to going SIM only; we’ve put together some handy tips – so you can get the most from your old phone.

Get cash for your old phone
Perhaps you simply can’t bear missing out on that exciting new smartphone release? We know the feeling. But don’t bury your old phone away forever just yet. If you’re itching to upgrade and your old phone has outlived its use, you can get a cash reward for sending it back to us. An Apple iPhone 6 in decent condition could net you as much as £200, for example. It doesn’t even have to be an EE phone – so if you’ve only just switched to us, you can still cash in. So pull out that box hidden under your bed. It could be worth a few quid.

Big savings with Good As New phones
If you’re thinking of splashing out on a new smartphone or tablet, it’s worth considering how much money you’d save with a Good As New device. Don’t be put off by the name – these pristine smartphones and tablets are worlds away from secondhand or refurbished gadgets.This is the stuff that’s been returned to us during the standard 14-day cooling off period – simply because customers have had a last minute change of heart. Maybe they didn’t like the colour, or they had second thoughts about abandoning their favourite brand.

Once returned, we put the devices through rigorous tests before you can buy them, and they come with a 12-month warranty just like a brand new phone. In fact, our Good As New phones are in such good nick that we’re confident you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart from never-left-the-box ones. And if that wasn’t enough, you get a generous discount on selected price plans, too.

Switch to SIM only
If commitment isn’t your thing, or your situation is about to change, you can make huge savings by switching to an EE SIM only plan. Not everyone’s circumstances suit longer-term phone plans, and that’s where we come in. With EE SIM only, you can pick and choose the SIM that’s right for you. Monthly prices start from just £10.99, and since SIM only contracts range in length from just 30 days through to a year, you’ll benefit from much more flexible terms, too.

Don’t compromise your security
Thieves aren’t just interested in getting their mitts on your posh new smartphone, you know? Stop for a second to consider the mountains of personal data that’s sitting on all those brick-like mobiles in the back of your wardrobe. All those emails, personal photos, messages and saved passwords just waiting to be discovered.

So, here’s the good news. We don’t just send you cash for your old phones; experienced staff will then put them through a secure data clearance process to make sure that no one gets their hands on your personal details, giving you complete peace of mind.

Send us your phone – and save the planet
Even mobiles that are beyond economic repair have value. Break down 9000-odd old handsets you’ll find something like 308 pounds of copper, seven pounds of silver and half-a-pound of gold. The tiny quantities of gold, silver, copper and platinum might end up as a pair of earrings or a necklace. The nickel in the battery can be combined with stainless steel for pots, pans and cutlery. The plastic casing could one day become a traffic cone. Surely that’s more useful than taking up valuable storage space in your home, right?

So, are you ready to unleash the power of your old phone? Find out how much money you could get for your old device with EE’s Trade In scheme, or transform your old smartphone or tablet and save yourself some cash with an EE SIM only deal...