The cheapest Pay As You Go mobile tariff
Former_MSE_Archna
Posts: 1,903 Forumite
in Mobiles
What's the deal?
Asda has launched a new Pay As You Go price tariff offering the cheapest text and call rates on PAYGs. You can call landlines and mobiles at a flat rate of 8p/min and send a text for 4p.
It service piggybacks on Vodafones network so while it's a great deal for almost everyone anyway, if you're a Vodafone user as its recently upped its PAYG prices, you can make big savings and keep the same coverage.
Plus the credit does not expire. However you do have to keeo the account active by calling or texting at least once in nine months.
Get a sim card for 50p
To access the cheap rates you can either get a sim only deal for 50p, which means you simply slip the sim card into an existing unlocked handset (read how to Unlock Your Mobile) or you can pick up one of Asda's cheap PAYG handsets with sim from around £25.
UPDATE Wed 10 September
The Asda mobile sim out of stock online, though its still available in store (find your nearest store). Asda says it should be restocked by Thursday at the latest. To check just enter you e-mail and the worse case scenario is it'll e-mail you when its back in stock
How the call charges compare
In comparisons to the other newtwork's tariffs Asda is dirt cheap.
Is it always cheapest?
While its rates certainly are the cheapest, there are some deals where you get free bundles when you top up by a certain amount (e.g top up Orange with a tenner and you get 300 free texts)
This can mean those packages undercut asda (though its call costs are much cheaper) so it does depend on usage, however for low users this is still dirt cheap.
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.
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.
To discuss this click reply....
P.S. Thanks to those already discussing this on the forum, we've started a fresh thread to link for the weekly email.
[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]
Asda has launched a new Pay As You Go price tariff offering the cheapest text and call rates on PAYGs. You can call landlines and mobiles at a flat rate of 8p/min and send a text for 4p.
It service piggybacks on Vodafones network so while it's a great deal for almost everyone anyway, if you're a Vodafone user as its recently upped its PAYG prices, you can make big savings and keep the same coverage.
Plus the credit does not expire. However you do have to keeo the account active by calling or texting at least once in nine months.
Get a sim card for 50p
To access the cheap rates you can either get a sim only deal for 50p, which means you simply slip the sim card into an existing unlocked handset (read how to Unlock Your Mobile) or you can pick up one of Asda's cheap PAYG handsets with sim from around £25.
UPDATE Wed 10 September
The Asda mobile sim out of stock online, though its still available in store (find your nearest store). Asda says it should be restocked by Thursday at the latest. To check just enter you e-mail and the worse case scenario is it'll e-mail you when its back in stock
How the call charges compare
In comparisons to the other newtwork's tariffs Asda is dirt cheap.
Is it always cheapest?
While its rates certainly are the cheapest, there are some deals where you get free bundles when you top up by a certain amount (e.g top up Orange with a tenner and you get 300 free texts)
This can mean those packages undercut asda (though its call costs are much cheaper) so it does depend on usage, however for low users this is still dirt cheap.
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.
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.
To discuss this click reply....
P.S. Thanks to those already discussing this on the forum, we've started a fresh thread to link for the weekly email.
[threadbanner]box[/threadbanner]
0
Comments
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This isn't a cheaper deal - but many may find it more convenient (and cheaper, depending on call types) - a Lebara SIM will charge 10p flat rate for calls and texts and 10p for intl texts.
Where it wins for me - is its low costs to numbers abroad - so if you need to ring abroad its probably moneysaving - a few examples:-
* Poland: fixed line 4p per minute and mobile 9p per minute
* USA fixed line 4p per minute and mobile 4p per minute
* India fixed line 5p per minute and mobile 7p per minute
* China fixed line 4p per minute and mobile 4p per minute
* Pakistan fixed line 5p per minute and mobile 7p per minute
* Australia fixed line 4p per minute and mobile 15p per minute
So there's no need to call special numbers etc - its a virtual network -ie it uses Vodafone network in the UK so fairly comprehensive coverage.
The only annoying thing for me is its cheaper to ring friends in the States than my mate across the road - just have to wave at him..:hello:0 -
Does anyone know of a current deal like Vodafones stop the clock for PAYG? They have now stopped this, but I only ever make calls from my mobile after 8pm, and this is great for me - 15p to phone a landline for up to one hour, and no monthly line rental or standing charges.0
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allthatmularky wrote: »This isn't a cheaper deal - but many may find it more convenient (and cheaper, depending on call types) - a Lebara SIM will charge 10p flat rate for calls and texts and 10p for intl texts.
It does seem a con that they have very cheap UK-International charges, yet charge more than double the UK-US rate for a national call. Also beware that this does not mean that this is a cheap international provider when roaming. Their charges are up to £1.80 per minute: for example, UK-China 4p per minute, yet £1.80 per minute for China-UK. Also their GPRS International Roaming costs (according to their tariffs) are £30 per 100Kb of international data transferred - or £300 per Mb :eek: .0 -
allthatmularky wrote: »This isn't a cheaper deal - but many may find it more convenient (and cheaper, depending on call types) - a Lebara SIM will charge 10p flat rate for calls and texts and 10p for intl texts.
10p for interenational texts is very competitive. Particularly considering Vodafone are charging me 25p a text right now on my pay monthly contract.0 -
Can anyone see whether the credits from a top-up have a finite life and if yes, how long they last? I can't find anything on their website that mentions this.
This is key for people who make few calls. If a £10 top up gives you call credits that expire after, say, a month, then if you make 10 minutes of calls that month the effective rate per minute is £1.
Edit:
Ah! Reading Arachna's original post more carefully, it says credits don't expire. Still can't see it on the ASDA website, however.koru0 -
allthatmularky wrote: »This isn't a cheaper deal - but many may find it more convenient (and cheaper, depending on call types) - a Lebara SIM will charge 10p flat rate for calls and texts and 10p for intl texts.
Where it wins for me - is its low costs to numbers abroad - so if you need to ring abroad its probably moneysaving - a few examples:-
* Poland: fixed line 4p per minute and mobile 9p per minute
* USA fixed line 4p per minute and mobile 4p per minute
* India fixed line 5p per minute and mobile 7p per minute
* China fixed line 4p per minute and mobile 4p per minute
* Pakistan fixed line 5p per minute and mobile 7p per minute
* Australia fixed line 4p per minute and mobile 15p per minute
So there's no need to call special numbers etc - its a virtual network -ie it uses Vodafone network in the UK so fairly comprehensive coverage.
The only annoying thing for me is its cheaper to ring friends in the States than my mate across the road - just have to wave at him..:hello:
Thanks for this mate. I was happy with my Orange call abroad SIM which gave me calls to the USA for only 6p and then I used magic numbers to call my favs for a max of 20p an hour but this looks better.Self confessed Florida expert
with over 320 trips there!
Co host of the Disneybrit and Eye on Orlando Podcasts
and Craig Duncan Soul Show on Orlando Sky Radio0 -
Does anyone know of a current deal like Vodafones stop the clock for PAYG? They have now stopped this, but I only ever make calls from my mobile after 8pm, and this is great for me - 15p to phone a landline for up to one hour, and no monthly line rental or standing charges.
Magic numbers from Orange is similar..... although has to be another ORange number and its 20p for an hour but its any time of the daySelf confessed Florida expert with over 320 trips there!
Co host of the Disneybrit and Eye on Orlando Podcasts
and Craig Duncan Soul Show on Orlando Sky Radio0 -
From their web site:
I have not used my Lebara Mobile for a while and it has now stopped working. Why is this?
We automatically deactivate SIM cards if you do not use them to make a call or send a text for more than 80 days. Unfortunately these SIM cards cannot be reconnected and the mobile number also stops being available for you to use after this time..
Now, from their T o B:
2.5 The Services supplied under this Agreement shall continue to be supplied for 80 days following your last use of the Services provided that you have sufficient call credit except in the event that this agreement is terminated earlier in accordance with clauses 10. At the end of such period the Services will cease to be available to you regardless as to how much, if any, unused call credit you have remaining on your account.
2.12 Usage of the Lebara Mobile SIM Card and Service is limited to fair and reasonable usage. Our Services and tariffs assume fair usage of the Service by you. In the event of fair usage not being sustained on your account, Lebara Mobile reserves the right to review the rates and tariffs applied to your account or to terminate the Services and in this event, such termination shall be deemed to have been made by you.
(how is fair usage defined?)
2.13 Lebara Mobile may have to alter the number of your mobile phone, or any other name, code or number associated with the Services.
2.14 The Customer may not make certain types of calls using the Products and Services. Please refer to Lebara Mobile’s Customer handbook and/or Lebara Mobile’s website www.lebara-mobile.co.uk for details. Special Rate Services are not available unless requested through the Lebara Mobile Customer Service.
(not sure quite what they mean by that)
2.15 All incoming voice calls which are not answered or which are received when the product is busy, switched off or out of coverage will be automatically diverted to the Lebara Mobile voicemail Services (provided the Customer has activated it) and this functionality may not be altered. In the interest of other users, we must limit the number and duration of the messages that can be left on your voicemail service. Please note that confidentiality of messages cannot be guaranteed. You must not (nor allow others) to record any abusive, obscene or hoax messages likely to cause offence.
2.16 Lebara Mobile shall always display the Customer’s telephone number to such persons.
(does this mean number cannot be withheld?)
2.23 The maximum call length is 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds.
(Ha!)
3.4 The Customer agrees to observe and comply in every respect with the terms of the Agreement and all relevant codes of practice on number portability as may be issued from time to time by the Government or Regulator or other competent authority.
(what????????)
3.5 Services must not be exploited commercially to the detriment of Lebara Mobile or any third party reselling may only occur upon the prior written consent of Lebara Mobile. Enterprises, which are affiliated with a Customer are also considered third parties within the meaning of this clause.
(So can only be used by personal customers not business customers)
4.5 The call charges for International calls are stated and charged per minute and will be rounded up to the next whole minute. Therefore the minimum call charge shall be for one minute at prevailing rates.
(per minute billing - what a con)
4.6 The call charges for National Mobile and Landline calls are stated and charged per minute and will be rounded up to the next whole minute. Therefore the minimum call charge shall be for one minute at prevailing rates.
(same for domestic calls)
4.7 The Customer will be given due notice of price increases for Services of Lebara
Mobile, which can be implemented at any time and can be effective from any date. If the Customer continues to use the Services after the entry into force of changes in prices, the new prices will be considered as accepted. Tariffs for roaming and prices for value-added services, special services and short numbers may be amended at any time.
(they can put the prices up as they please)
:T0 -
Can anyone see whether the credits from a top-up have a finite life and if yes, how long they last? I can't find anything on their website that mentions this.
This is key for people who make few calls. If a £10 top up gives you call credits that expire after, say, a month, then if you make 10 minutes of calls that month the effective rate per minute is £1.
I would need to know this as well as I make very few calls. I have never had a PAYG before. If I keep my phone and buy the 50p sim, does that mean I just top up when needed?0 -
Vodafone isn't as good a network as made out, IMO. I think o2 is a better network, esp for coverage indoors.0
This discussion has been closed.
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