payg for occasional use / without monthly topup / ?

pc-postie

I need a mobile phone for emergencies and don't want to fork out ££ each month for a service I won't use. I will only use it for the occasional text or call.
What is the best / cheapest way I can use an existing, modern, unlocked phone on PAYG and just use it occasionally?
I'm totally new to this and need advice please.
Many thanks...

aaj123

pc-postie wrote: »

I need a mobile phone for emergencies and don't want to fork out ££ each month for a service I won't use. I will only use it for the occasional text or call.
What is the best / cheapest way I can use an existing, modern, unlocked phone on PAYG and just use it occasionally?
I'm totally new to this and need advice please.
Many thanks...

Get a giffgaff sim.

pc-postie

doesn't this still cost at least £5 a month?

sdduk

3 network is the best for what you want
you can top up every three months £5-£10 or just leave it till the money you put on runs out

£5 gives you 25 text, free call to 3-3, free internet allows

you lose the free text after three months if you don't topup again
but if you don't use the £5 it don't matter you can still use that till it runs out....Not sure if you can only topup on line for the £5 deal

£10 gives you 300 text, 3-3 free call, free internet plus the £10....if you topup on line they give you 600 text
but you don't have to topup online you can just buy a topup card form most shops on the high st.

aaj123

pc-postie wrote: »

doesn't this still cost at least £5 a month?

Nope. 5 quid is the cheapest monthly goody bag but you don't necessarily have to purchase a goody bag if your usage is too low. You can just add credit and be pay as you go for as long as the credit lasts. There is no expiry date for the credit.

zagfles

I think all the networks have PAYG with no credit expiry, although you usually have to make one call every 6 months to keep the SIM alive. My kids have phones they hardly ever use, I just make sure they make a chargeable call every 6 months so it only costs 30p or so a year.

baywood_2

sdduk wrote: »

3 network is the best for what you want
you can top up every three months £5-£10 or just leave it till the money you put on runs out

£5 gives you 25 text, free call to 3-3, free internet allows

you lose the free text after three months if you don't topup again
but if you don't use the £5 it don't matter you can still use that till it runs out....Not sure if you can only topup on line for the £5 deal

£10 gives you 300 text, 3-3 free call, free internet plus the £10....if you topup on line they give you 600 text
but you don't have to topup online you can just buy a topup card form most shops on the high st.

Can you still get this plan , tried for my husband when we wanted to move him onto same network as the rest of us and they said not available anymore got to buy add on with the money?? Maybe i was told wrong

sdduk

baywood wrote: »

Can you still get this plan , tried for my husband when we wanted to move him onto same network as the rest of us and they said not available anymore got to buy add on with the money?? Maybe i was told wrong

Sorry only just got back on my computer
Yes i think you are right just been onto 3s website and can't find it now

Don't like there website much it takes you around the houses trying to find anything you want


i still get the £5-10-15 every 3mths but i have been with them over a year.

neil40

Giffgaff is good.Only 8p per min calls & 4p texts with ever lasting credit as long as you make or recieve one call/text every 6months.

pc-postie

Thanks for your suggestions so far.

I don't want internet or any other services
- just very low volume for the occasional texts and calls
- perhaps sometimes no use at all in some months.

My 'other phone' has O2 PAYG where as long as I make a call every 6 months I don't have to do anything else. My credit remains if I don't top up.
I would like a similar service for my new phone.

It seems to me most services appear to take back credit after a period of time and expect me to top up on a regular basis.

Giffgaff seems similar to my O2 but I get the impression I have to top up every so often (their website seems to suggest once every month?). I don't want to get into a regular payment for a service I will not be using!

johnk

zagfles wrote: »

I think all the networks have PAYG with no credit expiry, although you usually have to make one call every 6 months to keep the SIM alive. My kids have phones they hardly ever use, I just make sure they make a chargeable call every 6 months so it only costs 30p or so a year.

Really? I thought Virgin Mobile does not have an expiry date (though not great tariff), or at least last time when I was with them. Has it changed?