Any deals for bad credit

richwhit

Hi all,

Unfiortunately I have a bad credit rating and am being refused any offer on taking out a mobile phone contract.

I currently Pay as You Go and spend over £40 a month topping up for what seems not much phone use. I'm with Vodafone and need to keep my mobile number as it's printed on all of my work business cards, letterheads, etc;

Does anyone know of anyone who may be able to offer me some sort of deal that would be cheaper than what I'm paying. I remember reading somewhere that Orange offer a deal for those with bad credit but if I transfer to them would I be able to keep my same number?

Any advices or links to other threads (I have been searching the last 45 mins but came across nothing) would be truly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,

richwhit

grumbler

richwhit wrote: »

...
I currently Pay as You Go and spend over £40 a month topping up for what seems not much phone use. ...
Does anyone know of anyone who may be able to offer me some sort of deal that would be cheaper than what I'm paying.

What are you paying for actually?

With http://giffgaff.com/ sim you can get 1,500 UK minutes, unlimited UK texts and unlimited mobile Internet for £25.

With icardmobile sim you pay just 4p/min for cals and 1p for texts.

I remember reading somewhere that Orange offer a deal for those with bad credit but if I transfer to them would I be able to keep my same number?

Everyone, regardless of their credit history, can easily port their number to any network, is it PAYG or contract.

richwhit

Thanks for the reply Grumbler.

I simply use my mobile for outgoing calls and outgoing texts - no internet or anything else!

So am I correct in thinking that I would be better of going with one of the deals you suggest (which I assume as PAYG) for cheaper call and text rates and is it a simple process of getting my mobile number transferred to the new provider?

Sorry for my ignorance but am simply bewildered by all of the technicalitys of mobiles!

Many thanks in advance for your further advices,

richwhit

richwhit

Oh and really sorry but this is how little I know but what is SIM and how does it operate ??!!

grumbler

sim card.
The one that bears your number and your network and that you insert into the phone to get it working on this network.

You can buy or get a free new PAYG sim card, e.g. from giffgaff, top it up and use it in your phone if it is not locked to your current network. If it is locked you can unlock it (for free or a small price depending on the model). Or you can buy a new unlocked phone with a new sim for just 1p+£10 top up if you wish.

Then you ask your network for a PAC and give it to the new network to have your old number ported to the new sim card.

richwhit

Wow thanks Grumbler.

I've ordered a SIM card from giffgaff which should hopefully arrive in a couple of days. My phone is a basic Nokia model. Any way of knowing whether it needs to be unlocked?

Assuming I just call up Vodafone to get my PAC?

Thanks so much,

richwhit

d123

grumbler wrote: »

With icardmobile sim you pay just 4p/min for cals and 1p for texts.

Just to clarify, it's the other way around, 1p per min for landline calls, 4p per text (and 5p per min for mobile calls).

richwhit

I've phoned Vodafone and to get my PAC code and on their automated system they have given me my PUK code - is this the sam thing? It's an 8 digit long number??

grumbler

richwhit wrote: »

My phone is a basic Nokia model. Any way of knowing whether it needs to be unlocked?

Only by inserting a sim card from another network. Many Nokias can be unlocked for free: see the sticky at the top.

Assuming I just call up Vodafone to get my PAC?

Yes, assuming that you are on PAYG deal. The Porting Authorisation Code lasts 30 days.

BTW, I think that without internet giffgaff is not the best deal around.

richwhit

Thanks D123 - so is the icardmobile deal better for me rather than giffgaff.com as all I use my mobile for is making calls and sending texts - no internet required?

richwhit

Yes Grumbler I'm on a PAYG deal - do you think the PUK code they have given me is the PAC code I require??

Grumbler just noted your advice on giffgaff maybe not being the best for me as I do not use internet on the phone. Would you suggest icardmobile perhaps or someone else.

Thx for your help - should have done this 2 years ago and saved myself loads!