Device plans FAQs

The info below should hopefully cover any questions you might have about our device plan agreements. If there’s anything you’re still unsure of, please get in touch.

Looking for information about your airtime plan?  Please see our bills and contracts support page. 

About

We launched device plans to give you the option and flexibility of spreading the cost of your new device over 12, 24, or 36 months. Just pick the option that suits your needs and circumstances best. You can also add certain accessories to your device plan.

The device plan amount is used to purchase your new device and any accessories. You then pay the device plan balance back to us over 12, 24, or 36 months. Our device plans are a form of credit and are interest-free with no fees or charges.

No - you don’t have to take a device plan if you don’t want to. You can pay for your device in full when you purchase or upgrade.

Before you upgrade

Yes, you can. If you'd like to upgrade and already have a device plan with us, you can still do this. If you want to, and you meet our eligibility criteria, you can take out another device plan agreement with us to pay for your new device.

Your existing device plan will continue, and you’ll need to make your required monthly payments for that device plan, as well as your new one.

You’ll have separate Direct Debits for each device plan you have with us.

And you can repay any device plan you have with us in full at any time.

Payments on your airtime plan and any device plan will need to be up to date before you apply for an upgrade. Any new device plan applications will be subject to passing our affordability and credit checks.

Although we consider a range of factors when carrying out those checks, including your payment history, you may still be approved if you have missed payments in the past.  So, it’s important to make your payments in full and on time.

If you’re experiencing financial difficulty and are having trouble paying your bill on time, we’ve got some options that might help.

Get help with financial issues

Managing your account and making payments 

The device plan agreement is known as a fixed credit agreement. At the start of your device plan agreement, we’ll tell you what your monthly repayments will be over the term of our agreement.

You won’t get a monthly bill but you will get an annual statement for each device plan agreement you have with us, setting out all the payments you’ve made over that year. 

Your device plan agreement and airtime plans are separate agreements. This means you'll be charged separately, and will pay by separate Direct Debits. 

Your monthly airtime bill 

This covers your monthly airtime charges, usage, and any Add-ons for the subscriptions on your account – such as Three Insurance. This will be paid by Direct Debit every month if you’ve set one up and will show on your bank statement as “H3G”.

Your device plan agreement   

Your device plan agreement has its own Direct Debit, collected monthly. It’ll show on your bank statement as a separate payment to your airtime one.

If you have more than 1 device plan agreement, they will have separate Direct Debits.

Your device plan is a credit agreement with Three, so will show on your credit file. Making your monthly device plan payments on time will also show on your credit file and may help protect your credit score.

On the Three app 

  1. Open the Three app
  2. Select Manage your plan
  3. Scroll to Device Plan agreement and click View device plan details

In My3

  1. Log in to your account with your email address and password
  2. Scroll to Device Plan agreement and click View device plan details

You can check your device plan agreement on both the Three app and My3. Here, you can find your: 

  • Agreement number 
  • Agreement start and end dates 
  • Payment details 
  • Payment due date 

You can also make overpayments to your device plan.

If you’d like to change your contact details or Direct Debit, please get in touch, these details can’t be changed on the Three app or My3.

Making an overpayment is where you pay more than your monthly payments. If you do this, you have 2 options. You can:

  • Reduce your monthly payment amount to reflect the overpayment
  • Keep your monthly payment amount the same, but repay your device plan early

Reducing your monthly payment amount

This is where you lower the monthly payment amount and keep the same number of payments.

For example:

You have 10 monthly device plan payments of £10 left and want to reduce your monthly payment amount by paying an overpayment of £50. By doing this, you’ll still have 10 monthly device plan payments left to pay, but they’ll be at the lower amount of £5. 

Reducing the number of payments

This is where you keep paying the same monthly payment amount, but have fewer monthly payments to make before your device plan is paid in full.

For example:

You have 10 monthly device plan payments of £10 left and want to reduce the number of payments by paying an overpayment of £50. Doing this means you’ll now only have 5 monthly device plan payments of £10 left to pay.

When you set up your device plan agreement, you’ll have set up a monthly Direct Debit. The amount will be shown in your payment schedule. This is separate from your airtime Direct Debit.

Find out more ways to pay your device loan agreement.  

You’ll need to make sure you make your monthly device plan payments on time. When you take out your device plan with us, we’ll send you a schedule of your payments and when we’ll take them. 

If you think you’re going to struggle to make any of these payments, there are ways we can help. Check the questions below to find out where to get help with your device plan payments and general finances.

If you want to and can afford it, you can make overpayments to your device plan whenever you want. This means you can pay more than your scheduled monthly payments, paying off your device plan balance more quickly. You can also pay your device plan balance in full at any time. 

Ending your airtime contract

Your device plan will not be cancelled and will continue until you’ve made all your repayments, and it’s repaid in full. You can repay any device plan you have with us in full at any time.

Find out more about paying your device plan agreement. 

Your airtime plan will continue until you choose to cancel or upgrade it.  You can upgrade it independently of your device plan agreement. 

If you’d like to upgrade and already have a device plan with us, you can still do this. If you want to and meet our eligibility criteria, you can take out another device plan agreement with us to pay for your new device.

Your existing device plan will continue, and you’ll need to make your required monthly payments for that device plan, as well as your new one.

You’ll have separate Direct Debits for each device plan you have with us.

And you can repay any device plan you have with us in full at any time. 

Help with paying your device plan agreement

The best thing to do is contact us. We’ll discuss what options are available and what to do next.

If there’s a delay in making your monthly payment(s), or if you’ve already missed a payment, this may impact your credit file and could make it more difficult for you to get credit in the future. So please get in touch with us and we’ll try to help.

You can also check out our Vulnerable situation policy.

You can also get free and independent money guidance and debt advice from a number of organisations. To find a debt advisor near you: 

  • Visit moneyhelper.org.uk/debt-advice-locator 
  • Call 0800 128 7777 
  • Send a WhatsApp message to +44 7701 342744 

Debt advisors can help you manage your debt. They can assist you in communicating with any people you owe money to, and help you set up repayment plans that work for you.

You can also contact the following not-for-profit organisations directly to get free, independent advice and money guidance by phone, online, or face-to-face. 

Money Advice Scotland  

If you live in Scotland, visit moneyadvicescotland.org.uk to find contact details for debt advice in your local area. 

Citizens Advice  

For advice and information on debt and other topics, including face-to-face support, visit your local Citizens Advice centre or go to citizensadvice.org.uk.

Advice NI

If you live in Northern Ireland, phone 0800 915 4604, email advice@adviceni.net, or visit adviceni.net for debt advice. 

Citizens Advice Wales

If you live in Wales, you can call Adviceline on 0300 330 1313 to speak to someone about your debts. Calls cost 12p per minute from a landline, and from 3p to 45p from a mobile – or you can visit citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/debt-and-money. 

AdviceUK  

Member centres offer debt advice, including specialist advice for minority communities and people with disabilities. Visit adviceuk.org.uk or phone 0300 777 0107. 

Christians Against Poverty (CAP)  

For free debt advice in your home, check postcode coverage at capuk.org, then call 0800 328 0006. 

National Debtline  

If you live in England, Wales, or Scotland, phone 0808 808 4000 or visit nationaldebtline.org for debt advice and information. 

StepChange Debt Charity  

For debt advice throughout the UK phone 0800 138 1111 or visit stepchange.org. 

Business Debtline  

Offers free and confidential debt advice to the self-employed and small businesses. Visit businessdebtline.org or call 0800 197 6026. 

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