Paying for a mobile phone in instalments: The smartest way to get your new smartphone

Why choose a mobile phone on an instalment plan?

The biggest advantage of paying for a mobile phone in instalments is financial breathing space. Instead of spending €1,000 or more in one go, you pay a fixed, low amount each month. This is combined with your mobile contract, so you have everything clearly listed on a single bill.

Customer benefits at a glance:

• No large upfront investment: Keep your savings in the bank for other things.
• 0% interest: With virtually all providers, you don’t pay a penny extra for the loan on your handset.
• Flexibility: Choose how much you want to pay off each month by making a one-off down payment.

Spread your costs and enjoy the latest features straight away

How exactly does device credit work?

When you pay for a phone in instalments, you are taking out a ‘handset credit’. This is effectively a loan whereby the provider advances the cost of the handset to you. You repay this amount over the term of your contract (usually 12 or 24 months).

Phone bundle versus subscription

It’s important to know that your monthly payment consists of two parts:

1. The phone bundle: The repayment of your phone.
2. The subscription costs: The costs for your data, call minutes and text messages. As soon as your contract period ends, the handset bundle stops automatically and your monthly costs will drop significantly.

A new phone without a BKR check

Would you prefer not to have an official record with the Credit Registration Bureau (BKR)? That’s possible! Since the legislation surrounding handset finance has been tightened, any loan over €250 is registered.

There are two ways to avoid a BKR check:

1. Choose a handset under €250: There are plenty of excellent budget phones that fall below this threshold.
2. Pay a deposit: Have you set your heart on a more expensive model? Then pay part of the cost upfront, so that the remaining loan amount stays below €250. This way, you can enjoy a new phone in instalments without a BKR check.

How to avoid a BKR registration when buying your new smartphone, infographic: Kimmic

How to find all deals without a BKR registration straight away

Don’t want to have to work out for yourself whether a handset exceeds the magic €250 threshold? We’ve simplified the search process for you. On every handset page on our website, you can filter the results for ‘BKR-free’ deals with a single click.

Here’s how to use the smart filter:

1. Go to the page for your favourite smartphone (for example, the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy).
2. In the subscription filter, look for the option ‘No BKR check’.
3. Tick this box.

As soon as you do this, the results will refresh immediately. You’ll now only see offers where the handset credit is €250 or less. This way, you can be sure you’re taking out a contract that won’t affect your borrowing capacity – for a mortgage, for example – and that you’ll pass the means test with ease.