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PAYG SIM deals: Ikea Familymobile £10 top-up for £20 credit and more
Former_MSE_Lawrence
Posts: 975 Forumite
in Mobiles
What's the deal?
In a bid to build its customer base, Ikea's Familymobile network is offering 10,000 new customers £20 credit with a £10 top up as an incentive to join. Since it offers some of the most competitive call/text charges anyway (at 9p/min & 6p/txt), this is a good offer if you've an unlocked phone.
If you'd rather a 3 mobile Pay As You Go SIM, another offer means you can grab one with £30 credit for £20, see below.
Ikea £10 for £20 credit offer. How to get it.
You can grab a free SIM directly from the Ikea Mobile site.
Sign up using this link, and when you pay £10 for the 'start pack' you get £20 credit. Bear in mind that by signing up you'll become a member of Ikea Family, which means occasional targeted special offers, and more importantly, cheaper food in Ikea stores.
Ikea mobile is a 'virtual' mobile network. That is, it doesn't have its own transmitters etc - it piggybacks on the T-Mobile network to deliver its service. This means that reception shouldn't be an issue, and also, handily, that Ikea SIMs are compatible with mobiles locked to T-Mobile. Otherwise you'll need an unlocked mobile handset (see the Mobile Unlocking guide for how to do it).
How the call charges compare
In comparisons to the other networks' tariffs, Ikea's second only to ASDA.
Keep your existing number
If you want to take your existing mobile number with you you can simply request to 'port' your old number to the new sim card which should be done in 2 working days. Some forumers have experienced issues with this recently, but it's likely these were teething problems, and it should be better now.
An alternative. 3 mobile offer: Pay As You Go SIM with £30 credit for £19.99.
Woolworths is currently offering a 3 SIM card with £30 of pre-loaded credit for £19.99. Based on 3's 'flat 12' tariff, calls aren't quite as cheap as they are with Ikea (though voicemail is free), but they still beat most networks. If you've an old 3 phone you can put the SIM in, this may be a better deal for you.
Call charge/min: 12p
Text charge: 12p
Voicemail charge: FREE
Data & roaming charges vary.
Other PAYG SIM offers
The deals above are the best we've seen, but it's possible to get a free SIM card on most networks. For the latest, check out the dedicated Free SIM offers discussion.
Am I better off with PAYG or contract?
As a rough rule of thumb, use less than 150 minutes of calls and hundred texts a month and PAYG is cheaper, as the higher call cost is offset by the lack of monthly fee though this ignores the upfront cost, which is hefty with a high-end phone as PAYG isn't as heavily subsidised as contract. It also has the advantage that there's no bill, so no shock when you realise how much you've spent.
For full details on choosing the right system, read the Cheapest Mobiles guide.
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In a bid to build its customer base, Ikea's Familymobile network is offering 10,000 new customers £20 credit with a £10 top up as an incentive to join. Since it offers some of the most competitive call/text charges anyway (at 9p/min & 6p/txt), this is a good offer if you've an unlocked phone.
If you'd rather a 3 mobile Pay As You Go SIM, another offer means you can grab one with £30 credit for £20, see below.
Ikea £10 for £20 credit offer. How to get it.
You can grab a free SIM directly from the Ikea Mobile site.
Sign up using this link, and when you pay £10 for the 'start pack' you get £20 credit. Bear in mind that by signing up you'll become a member of Ikea Family, which means occasional targeted special offers, and more importantly, cheaper food in Ikea stores.
Ikea mobile is a 'virtual' mobile network. That is, it doesn't have its own transmitters etc - it piggybacks on the T-Mobile network to deliver its service. This means that reception shouldn't be an issue, and also, handily, that Ikea SIMs are compatible with mobiles locked to T-Mobile. Otherwise you'll need an unlocked mobile handset (see the Mobile Unlocking guide for how to do it).
How the call charges compare
In comparisons to the other networks' tariffs, Ikea's second only to ASDA.
Keep your existing number
If you want to take your existing mobile number with you you can simply request to 'port' your old number to the new sim card which should be done in 2 working days. Some forumers have experienced issues with this recently, but it's likely these were teething problems, and it should be better now.
An alternative. 3 mobile offer: Pay As You Go SIM with £30 credit for £19.99.
Woolworths is currently offering a 3 SIM card with £30 of pre-loaded credit for £19.99. Based on 3's 'flat 12' tariff, calls aren't quite as cheap as they are with Ikea (though voicemail is free), but they still beat most networks. If you've an old 3 phone you can put the SIM in, this may be a better deal for you.
Call charge/min: 12p
Text charge: 12p
Voicemail charge: FREE
Data & roaming charges vary.
Other PAYG SIM offers
The deals above are the best we've seen, but it's possible to get a free SIM card on most networks. For the latest, check out the dedicated Free SIM offers discussion.
Seen a better Pay As You Go offer? Please post it below, and we'll add it in.
Am I better off with PAYG or contract?
As a rough rule of thumb, use less than 150 minutes of calls and hundred texts a month and PAYG is cheaper, as the higher call cost is offset by the lack of monthly fee though this ignores the upfront cost, which is hefty with a high-end phone as PAYG isn't as heavily subsidised as contract. It also has the advantage that there's no bill, so no shock when you realise how much you've spent.
For full details on choosing the right system, read the Cheapest Mobiles guide.
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0
Comments
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Just to add: the familymobile web account portal let you to send free unlimited text from your computer. These phones also got free voice mail!! , gprs for abroad can be activated for free via the web site and also web topup etc':money:
the deal is £10 = £20 not £10 + £20 =£30
It is a free tenner that's all.:TFive exclamation marks the sure sign of an insane mind!!!!!
Terry Pratchett.0 -
Just to add: the familymobile web account portal let you to send free unlimited text from your computer. These phones also got free voice mail!!
Since when ?
Voicemail is not free. Its 9p a message.
http://www.familymobile.co.uk/infopages/uk-price-sheet
Web Text is not free. Its 6p a message.
http://www.familymobile.co.uk/services/text-messaging
"Web Text
Web Text allows you to send text messages from your computer. For some people, this might be a faster way to send a text message. You can also send the same text to a group of people simultaneously, but please note that you are charged for each person you send a text message to!
All text messages sent by Web Text are charged at the same low rate as texts sent from your mobile phone"0 -
Thank you JHP for helping old eyes
I am crap in reading the small print, the leaflet that came with the phone states that using the Voice mail is free (I suppose using is free but calling it is not?).
Funny in the web text section of the site they don't mention any charges, only on the rates page, confusing or what. Anyway still free from O2 et-al :TFive exclamation marks the sure sign of an insane mind!!!!!
Terry Pratchett.0 -
You may also want to check out ASDA PAYG they use Vodafone not T-Mobile which I believe to be a better network coverage well for me anyway.
Click Here for more information.0 -
Hi,
Main purpose is for voicemail and soon will be porting my mobile number over.
asdamobile.com/compare_tariffs.html
giffgaff.com/index/pricing
tescomobile-freesim.co.uk/lite-sim/
Can tell me about the quality and service you have received from them and if you can beat the cost of voicemail retrieval.
Thank you0
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