SIM only, PAYG, V. light useage recommendations plse?

debsjc

My grandma has just moved into accomodation without a landline, so we have bought her a special 'large button' mobile to mainly receive calls on. It didn't come with a SIM, so now I need to get a SIM on a Pay as you go basis.

It would be mainly to receive calls, but we would put £10 credit on it for her to use in emergencies.
What I don't want if for that £10 to expire every month, or to have a minimum amount that we have to top up every year.

We don't need any free texts or anything, that would be a bit much for her!

Could anyone recommend the best option please?
I've only ever had a contract myself, so I'm a bit lost on this!

Thanks

grumbler

It would be useful to check the reception in the house before choosing the provider.
What provider are you with? Have you checked the signal in the house?

Stuart_W

It sounds like your main concern is going to be signal strength. Get hold of anyone you can with a mobile and make a few calls to find out who has the best signal.

All the main PAYG tariffs do not expire PAYG credit as long as you make a call or send a text every 6 months. One £10 top up could last for years!

If it is only for limited use emergencies, 8p a minute or 25p a minute isn't really going to matter. A decent signal is more important.

debsjc

Thanks very much. I think Vodaphone and O2 work well there, but I'll double check.

Exemplar

Orange do a £5.00 per month tariff with free phone. 50 minutes and 50 texts on a 36 month contract. And Orange/T-Mobile use each others networks now. I have one and keep it in the car for emergencies.

fiendishlyclever

debsjc wrote: »

Thanks very much. I think Vodaphone and O2 work well there, but I'll double check.

Asda mobile on vodafone, GiffGaff on O2 (or Tesco value). Both do 8p min calls and you only have to make one call per 6 months to keep it active. However if call price isn't an issue get a £0.01 phone with a £10 vodafone topup and get cashback too.

You can get lots of basic phones these days with big buttons that are suitable for people with failing eye sight (the people I work with keep raving about them). Buying the phone without a contract is usually the cheapest option. The only way I could see a contract being useful is that it removes the requirement to make a call every 6 months.

Ypaymore

If your worried about the top up running out http://www.thephone.coop/support/phone-co-op-network-mobile-rates do a £2 a month ( 30 days notice) sim only deal with reasonable outgoing rates.

Hazzanet

Ypaymore wrote: »

If your worried about the top up running out http://www.thephone.coop/support/phone-co-op-network-mobile-rates do a £2 a month ( 30 days notice) sim only deal with reasonable outgoing rates.

You do have to be careful with this option, though, and make a call or a text message about once a month. The T's and C's allow them to discconnect you after 60 days of non-use.

Term 1.6.6 - [...] We reserve the right to disconnect the wireless service on any SIM card should there be no usage in two consecutive calendar months. We will use reasonable endeavours to notify You in the event of this occuring.

macman

ASDA, 8p per minute and 4p per text, nice and simple and runs on Vodafone.
I've also always found their call centre very efficient.

pkc_2

There is also GiffGaff...

But don't orange allow you to topup just 10p.. (To save money I get my mom/dad to drop call me).. so we only have to top up some much per 90 days or so