Advice on PAYG please

Glitterari

Hi everyone,

I am looking to get a PAYG mobile in the New Year. Can anyone suggest the best deal for PAYG? I'm just talking about networks, not what phones you can get on what network.

I've been looking into all the networks, however all the financial side of things doesn't make much sense to me. A mate told me that O2 is the way to go, but from what I can tell it doesn't seem such a good deal. I've seen the Fresh one which looks cheapest. Any comments or experiences?

I am currently on a contract with 3, which is being terminated at the beginning of Jan (I have already sent them confirmation of this in writing) and I had the talk & text 600 tariff for £4.99 per month, via cheque back redemption (luckily only a 12 month contract). I don't want to continue or start another contract with any network, as I shall be starting uni in September and I'm trying to pay off my debts before I get there (I'm 25 BTW and off to do a MA - clearing debts from my BSc!). So PAYG will be good for me. Also, I seriously doubt that any network can offer me such a good deal as the one I have just had.

Sorry for the ramble...

Any comments, opinions, experiences would be much appreciated!

Merry Christmas to all! :xmassign:

Carly

Inigo_Montoya

this article is a good starting point
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1122291633,47314,

My suggestion :

If you dont need a new phone and just want a new tariff from a different network then get the phone unlocked and just buy a new SIM from the network you have chosen - some promotion websites give out SIMs for free e.g. a free PAYG O2 SIM here http://mates.o2.co.uk/Index.aspx

[Deleted User]

Is there a 'Best' company for PAYG? Are any of them cheaper? I thought all PAYG were basically the same and it was just down to which company name you preferred. Someone please let me know if I'm wrong.

[Deleted User]

I'm also thinking about getting a PAYG sim card, and personally I don't make many calls, and I would only use a mobile phone occasionally like once a week if that. Also I don't need trinket free stuff that regular users might be tempted by, that is unless it really is free with no catches.

I suppose now that Tesco mobile has been mentioned I've thought of cheap calls with no frills and could be tempted by that, but who are fresh? not heard of them before.

btw, What are "100 x-net minutes" ??

As you can tell I'm not a big mobile phone user...

Edinburghlass_2

Woof wrote:

I'm also thinking about getting a PAYG sim card, and personally I don't make many calls, and I would only use a mobile phone occasionally like once a week if that. Also I don't need trinket free stuff that regular users might be tempted by, that is unless it really is free with no catches.

I suppose now that Tesco mobile has been mentioned I've thought of cheap calls with no frills and could be tempted by that, but who are fresh? not heard of them before.

btw, What are "100 x-net minutes" ??

As you can tell I'm not a big mobile phone user...

If you will only be texting, have a look at the Tesco Value sim, only 5p a text :xmassmile

http://www.tescomobile.com/valuesim.aspx?pc=22&us=1&h=1

virgo17

Edinburghlass wrote:

If you will only be texting, have a look at the Tesco Value sim, only 5p a text :xmassmile

http://www.tescomobile.com/valuesim.aspx?pc=22&us=1&h=1

Also, Tesco use the O2 network which may offer better coverage in the area you will be using it. Most of the other 'virtual' networks use T-Mobile as the host network, the coverage of which may be OK but for some people is not.

Might be worth asking friends in your area which network performs best for them before comitting.

Cheers,

V.
:xmassign:

Deepaktailor

Go with O2 at the moment, esspiecially with the free minutes they are offering

matrix999

If you go with the O2 Online Sim Card you will get 300 free texts per month for a £10 top up...But you also get to keep the £10!!!

Also for £15 top up you will get the 300 free texts plus 150 Off Peak X Net Mins in addition to keeping the £15 you topped up.

This is the best PAYG tariff on the market for texting and off peak calls without a shadow of a doubt!!

The coverage for the majority of customers in the UK is excellent as is the customer service.

[Deleted User]

I've checked the O2 and T-Mobile websites for their areas of coverage and to me it looks like T-Mobile have better overall coverage in England

O2:
http://www.webmap.o2.co.uk/map.asp

T-Mobile:
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menuid=ctl_change_state&name=searchResults&value=off&nextpageid=phones_cua_uc_gis

virgo17

Woof wrote:

I've checked the O2 and T-Mobile websites for their areas of coverage and to me it looks like T-Mobile have better overall coverage in England

O2:
http://www.webmap.o2.co.uk/map.asp

T-Mobile:
http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/Dispatcher?menuid=ctl_change_state&name=searchResults&value=off&nextpageid=phones_cua_uc_gis

TBH, these maps, like all statistics can be misleading. IMHO the only way to be sure is by practical test. Honestly, try to find a friend on the network you are thinking of and check how their coverage is.

V.

[Deleted User]

The O2 points you make are taken in, but are there any T-Mobile voters out there? I'm not siding with T-Mobile by saying that though because it would be nice to hear from someone who leans on the T-Mobile side just to compare if nothing else.

I agree that each company could easily use their stats to mislead in order to make themselves look like the best.

matrix999

If you go with the O2 Online Sim Card you will get 300 free texts per month for a £10 top up...But you also get to keep the £10!!!

How do you mean you get to keep the £10 ?
Do you not pay the £10 in the first place? Also, is that a regular monthly top up required to get that?