Financial alka-seltzer in time for Christmas

Has your girlfriend asked for some hair straighteners this Christmas? Or does your brother want an Xbox 360?

uSwitch.com reveals how to get free gifts this Christmas, simply by taking out a new mobile phone contract through the internet.

Those looking to take out a new mobile phone contract in the run up to Christmas can pick up some great gifts for family and friends at the same time – for free.

By hunting around on the internet, not only can the savvy Christmas shopper come away with a new handset on the same competitive deal as they would find on the high street, but also consumers can secure a highly desirable Christmas present thrown in for free as part of the package. Most online mobile retailers are now offering cashback deals of up to £500 or free gifts worth up to £200 for pay monthly contracts over £25.

Chris Frost, Mobiles Expert at leading independent comparison and switching service uSwitch.com says, “Mobile phone retailers want to attract new customers and are using a variety of promotions to do this. Both the high street and online retailers offer handsets and tariffs at similar costs, but due to lower overheads, online retailers can also offer a wide range of free gifts and cashback offers to accompany their mobile phone contracts.

“Online shoppers can pick up products like Xbox 360’s, iPods, and SatNav. These freebies are some of the most wanted Christmas presents on people’s wish lists, so why not take full advantage and fill up Christmas stockings with the latest must-have gadgets?”

Frost continues, “Somebody looking to pay just £25 a month could go to a high street retailer and get the Nokia 3120 on the Orange network with 175 inclusive minutes and 75 texts. If they were to go online, they could find the exact same phone and tariff, at the exact same price, and get a free iPod Nano worth £129.

“Those willing to pay £10 a month more, could get the Motorola RAZR V3x on the 3 network with 600 inclusive minutes, 400 free texts online and walk away with £202.50 cashback and an iPod, an offer that is certainly not available on the high street”.

For those looking for the best deals on their mobile phones, uSwitch.com has recently launched a mobile phone comparison service where consumers can search for the best mobile deal for their budget, look for the cheapest deals on the latest handsets and search for a phone based on ‘Gift Offers’.