Moving abroad but need UK phone too

clarelutwyche

I am starting a new job in Oman in a couple of weeks. I will get a local SIM for use out there but will need a UK phone/SIM for when I come back during holidays and also, I think it is cheaper for people over here to contact me on a UK phone? (not sure though?). I have a contract here which runs until Sept 2009 which Vodafone will only let me get out of if I pay them £675 (double the amount I would owe by paying up the contract!)

Can anyone advise me on what is my best course of action? Should I let a friend have my current contract phone to use the minutes and cancel it next year and then get a Pay as you go to take with me? Any ideas on the most advantageous PAYG Sim card for this?

Would be grateful for any tips

borosteve_2

clarelutwyche wrote: »

I am starting a new job in Oman in a couple of weeks. I will get a local SIM for use out there but will need a UK phone/SIM for when I come back during holidays and also, I think it is cheaper for people over here to contact me on a UK phone? (not sure though?). I have a contract here which runs until Sept 2009 which Vodafone will only let me get out of if I pay them £675 (double the amount I would owe by paying up the contract!)

Can anyone advise me on what is my best course of action? Should I let a friend have my current contract phone to use the minutes and cancel it next year and then get a Pay as you go to take with me? Any ideas on the most advantageous PAYG Sim card for this?

Would be grateful for any tips

I wouldn't give your phone to your friend unless you are REALLY sure that they won't go mad on your bill. I can't see how Vodafone can charge you double your contract to end it? Personally I'd check with CAB to see if thats correct. If it is then it might be worth taking it with you and keep it switched off in a drawer and just using it when you come home - you may also be able to downgrade to a cheaper tariff sometime in this contract period and save money that way too.
You may be best off getting a phone when you get to Oman, otherwise it will cost you a fortune to answer peoples calls. Alternatively if when you get there you are getting an internet connection then consider taking Skype. You would be better to download it in the UK onto your computer or on a memory stick as it can be hard to download in the Gulf States (certainly is in the UAE).
Any other questions a good place to try is britishexpats.com - discussion forums - middle east. There may be many similar questions so have a read through and if you can't find an answer post the question. You should get a relatively quick answer (though they are +3 hours ahead).
GOOD LUCK!

Cavey

borosteve wrote: »

I wouldn't give your phone to your friend unless you are REALLY sure that they won't go mad on your bill.

The alternative is to sort out a contract as a formal written declaration that he will assume all responsibility for all usage. This way, if they do incurr excessive charges you recoup your costs through small claims court.

jimgee

You can do a transfer of ownership on Vodafone in a matter of minutes and after half your contract you can also downgrade the tariff if it's too much. For £50 you can also change the number on Vodafone so your friend could keep theirs and maybe you could keep yours as a PAYG sim out there. Don't forget it's free to receive SMS on roaming and obviously costs people no more to send you them there than if you were in the UK.

For calls though a local sim is the way to go and according to this it's only 7p/min to call Oman from a landline to a mobile:
http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/oman-mobile