Cheap deal for texts and calls + new phone?

AMC1979

Hi guys, my problem right now is wanting a better phone but having a deal similar to the one I'm on now. I'm currently on a Simplicity monthly rolling contract with O2. I get 150 mins (but only use 120 or fewer) and 300 texts (use about 250) which costs £10. I've been on this for around 12-18 months now. I like being on a rolling contract and not being tied in for ages. It feels like a good compromise between PAYG (as I probably use my phone too much for PAYG) and being tied into a contract. I'm not bothered about internet use or downloading stuff.

My mobile is a basic Sony Ericsson which is between 4-5 years old. I now want to get the Nokia C3-00 which looks like a Blackberry but I want a similar deal to the one I've got now - ideally no fewer minutes/texts for £10 a month.

I asked O2 if they could upgrade me to a better phone, but the best they could do was something like £15 per month with only 100 minutes and unlimited texts, plus tying me into a contract for 24 months! Why would I want to pay £60 more a year to get fewer minutes, be tied in for longer, all just to have a better phone? Doesn't make sense. I threatened to leave (as Martin suggests you do!) but it didn't work, the customer services lady was pleasant enough but said that was the best she could offer. Humph.

So then I decided maybe I'll just buy the phone and keep the SIM I've got or try to get a similar deal on another network.

So far the following looks like the best deal for me: buy the Nokia phone for £59.97 from Tesco Mobile and I was thinking of getting their £10 SIM to put in it which would give me 500 mins and unlimited texts for £10 a month on a monthly rolling contract. It's a much better deal than O2 (in fact I can't see my current O2 plan on the O2 website which suggests it's no longer available). The only drag is having to change my mobile number and of course cancelling the contract with O2.

I'm assuming that even though Tesco Mobile use O2 for their coverage, I can't just put my O2 SIM into the new Tesco mobile phone? That would be easiest as I wouldn't have to change providers, just get the new phone. I'm not sure I want the hassle of trying to unlock the new phone if it comes to that.

Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

Orrin

The Tesco phone will most likely be locked so you won't be able to use the O2 sim in it without unlocking. Tesco should be able to do this for you, but they may charge or require a minimum top-up amount. You can probably get it unlocked at your local market too.

You can still keep your existing number, just get a PAC code from O2 and give it to Tesco who will port the number over.

bengalknights

Depending on which nokia it is you could probably unlock it yourself and if not then the local market .As Orrin states all you have to do is request you pac code from O2 and give it to tesco to transfer the number.

becky4131

I have also being looking at the nokia c3 on contract with o2 but the texts and minutes they can offer compared to other networks is shocking.

I don't use my phone that much (currently on payg and spend 10 a month) but need a new phone so contract seemed the way forward without having to buy the phone.

What do people reckon of 24 month contracts? i don't have a problem keeping the phone for 2 years, my current phone is at least 4 years old.

Orrin

becky4131 wrote: »

I have also being looking at the nokia c3 on contract with o2 but the texts and minutes they can offer compared to other networks is shocking.

I don't use my phone that much (currently on payg and spend 10 a month) but need a new phone so contract seemed the way forward without having to buy the phone.

What do people reckon of 24 month contracts? i don't have a problem keeping the phone for 2 years, my current phone is at least 4 years old.

I don't see how you can get a good deal on a 2 year contract for a phone that only costs £50 on PAYG. You'd be much better buying the phone and sticking with PAYG or SIM only if you ask me.

becky4131

I was thinking of staying on payg but the sim deals are 10-15 pound a month to get good amount of minutes/texts.I would also like to use internet a bit so this would take me over 15 pound a month.

T-mobile are offering free phone, 300 minutes, 300 texts and unlimited internet with 125 pound cashback.

I can't find a deal anywhere as good as this on payg especially as you have to buy the phone before hand.

Orrin

There are some good deals around on that T-mobile £15 tariff at the moment, and if that's automatic cashback then it does look good. If that's the one at buymobilephones then you can get another £30 c/b with quidco/tcb on top.

You can still get more for less on PAYG though; giffgaff for example offer 250 mins, unlimited texts and unlimited data for £10 and their regular pricing is a lot cheaper than T-mobiles too. The saving on this over 2 years is about the same as your cashback so you'd still be down the cost of the phone if you went with that option. I guess it depends how much the flexibility of not having a contract is worth to you and if you think the inclusive minutes/texts on the T-mobile plan are enough.

becky4131

Yeh i thought it sounded a good deal, to be honest having a contract for 2 years does not bother me too much and i will easily keep within the minutes/texts tmobile allow each month.

I am going to wait after xmas see if the offers change or phone goes down in price at all.

AMC1979

According to Tesco's website they charge £20 to unlock a phone which is under 12 months old. I'm not sure I would be able to unlock a brand new Nokia model myself - according to the main website the codes seem to be for the older phones.

I personally prefer the freedom of a monthly rolling contract, and if you buy a SIM separately you can get good deals like the Tesco one, which actually gives you quite a lot for £10 — more than I currently get from O2 (although my O2 deal was SIM only).

My thoughts are to buy the Tesco phone and the Tesco SIM and just use the new number. It would be the cheapest option. I don't have any loyalty to O2, particularly if they won't give me a better deal to stop me leaving. I might ring them up though and tell them my plans, then see what they say — sometimes depending on the person you talk to, it's worth calling back as different customer service advisors say different things.

Orrin

AMC1979 wrote: »

My thoughts are to buy the Tesco phone and the Tesco SIM and just use the new number. It would be the cheapest option. I don't have any loyalty to O2, particularly if they won't give me a better deal to stop me leaving. I might ring them up though and tell them my plans, then see what they say — sometimes depending on the person you talk to, it's worth calling back as different customer service advisors say different things.

It's up to you if you choose not to keep your old number of course, but it won't cost you anything to transfer it. You just need to request a PAC from O2 which they will probably give you over the phone there and then.

Also if you want to try and negotiate with O2 you will likely be offered a better deal once you request the PAC as this shows you are serious about leaving.

AMC1979

Good point about the PAC code. I'll try calling O2 first and request the PAC code and see what they say. The Nokia I want is £20 cheaper on the Tesco website than O2's — at the least I would hope that O2 could match the Tesco price otherwise I'll leave them for a better deal!

Thanks for your advice