"Sign up for 84 months, and we'll give you free desk phones!" – It's a Trap!
By Jay Dobson
December 15, 2025
2:30 pm
Wait, what? Seven years?
Yes, that is what some of the big national providers are proposing these days. Seven.. even eight-year contracts are becoming alarmingly common. They are asking you to lock your business in for nearly a decade. Here is the reality of that deal:
The Math Behind the “Free” Gift
Those “free” phones usually cost about £80 each. If you are getting four of them, that is £320 worth of hardware. However, over the course of an 84-month contract, you are likely paying an extra £6-7 a month built into your line rental to cover them.
The Hardware Cost: £320
The Total Cost to You: £500-£600
The Commitment: Locked in until 2032.
Furthermore, when you try to leave in year six because your business has evolved and the system no longer fits, you will often be told the phones were never actually yours. They were on loan. You must send them back or pay a “retention fee,” all while facing two more years of exit fees.
This isn’t a conspiracy theory; it is becoming standard practice with the big providers. We see it constantly: a business wants to switch to River Technologies for better service, but they are trapped in year three of an eight-year deal, facing thousands in exit fees—all because they accepted “free” phones years ago.
The River Way: Transparency and Ownership
At River Technologies, we are “Authentic” and “Straight-talking”. We do not do “free” phones with hidden strings.
Upfront Costs: We charge you for the phones upfront. It is the cost price plus a small fee for configuration.
Immediate Ownership: You own the hardware outright from day one.
Fair Contracts: Our agreements are typically 36 months.
Why 36 months? This is the industry standard. It is long enough to satisfy wholesale commitments and keep prices fair, but short enough that your business isn’t trapped if your needs change.
Locking a business into a near-decade commitment is not a partnership; it is a trap. Technology changes rapidly. Your team changes. A three-year commitment is reasonable; an eight-year commitment is taking liberties.
Direct, Honest Service
We are a family business based in Preston. We are direct people. If we are going to charge you for something, we tell you. We don’t dress it up as a “free gift” just to secure a long-term revenue stream.
If you want new phones, great. They are affordable, and we will have them configured and working within 48 hours. If you prefer to buy them from Amazon or bring your own from your previous provider, that is fine too. We will configure whatever you have. We even commit to only ever recommending handsets that will work with any other provider. We don’t want to lock you into a specific platform forever.
We prioritize being “Trustworthy”. While honest pricing might not be as “sexy” as a free gift, it ensures you sleep better at night knowing exactly what you are paying for.
Are you stuck in a bad contract or looking for a fair partner? Contact River Technologies today for a straight-talking consultation on your telephony needs.
When you’re ready to explore alternatives, our VoIP & Cloud Telephony page sets out what modern telephony actually costs — and what you get for it. No long contracts required.
Contact River Technologies
Speak to the team at River Technologies about your business challenges and lets work together to find you th right solution, call 01772 419 150 or email sales@rivertechnologies.co.uk
