best mobile phone contract for teenagers ?

edfdave

Hi, both my kids are currently on PAYG with orange & 3. However they seem to have got to the stage where they 'need' a contract. Their main needs seem to be unlimited texts and minimal talk time. My main need is to keep it capped at no more than £10 per month and to be able to get hold of them (and vice versa) in emergencies. Someone out there must understand the ins and outs of this minefield ? The best bet I've seen looks like Tesco's capped deal at £10 per month, sim only. They've both got phones that are quite new and I'd really rather not really replace so I'd like to go sim only. Thanks.

barjam_2

have you had a look at giffgaff, it's not contract but the goodybags are pretty good, might be worth you having a read up about it, me and mine are all on giffgaff

grumbler

edfdave wrote: »

Their main needs seem to be unlimited texts and minimal talk time.

chitter-chatter (t-mobile) have £6 1-month rolling tariff with a free unlimited texts booster available.

However, it is a usual uncapped contract with unlimited credit. Don't know how trustworthy your kids are.

diamonds

Orange

Canary free off peak calls and picture messages with a £10 top up & you can buy unlimited texts for £5, 100 mins of calls for £5 with calls charged at 5p after the 100 mins for the rest of the period they 100 mins were valid, I assume you top up £10 but with Orange shops they can top up from 10p with pocket money, thus you are teaching them the value of budgeting usage and money

http://www1.orange.co.uk/service_plans/payasyougo/extra_overview.html

zagfles

edfdave wrote: »

Hi, both my kids are currently on PAYG with orange & 3. However they seem to have got to the stage where they 'need' a contract. Their main needs seem to be unlimited texts and minimal talk time. My main need is to keep it capped at no more than £10 per month and to be able to get hold of them (and vice versa) in emergencies. Someone out there must understand the ins and outs of this minefield ? The best bet I've seen looks like Tesco's capped deal at £10 per month, sim only. They've both got phones that are quite new and I'd really rather not really replace so I'd like to go sim only. Thanks.

Don't even think about getting a contract for your kids unless you (and they) know exactly what you're doing. This forum is full of horror stories of supposedly "capped" tariffs where the cap doesn't work, with some small print buried in the T&Cs, with bills in the hundreds or even thousands run up...

Most networks have "packs" you buy on PAYG to give unlimited texts eg the Orange one mentioned above, or O2 have unlimited texts for £7.50 a month, so if you top up £10 a month that gives them all the texts they want plus £2.50 to make calls.

And no risk whatsoever of getting a massive bill.

BOBS

We use O2 on the £5 a month for unlimited texts which has now increased to £7.50 a month for umlimited texts and they know if they go over the £5 and make calls, picture message etc they loose out on top up. So £10 top up has to last 2 months. If they need to talk to me they text 'ring me' as i am on free calls.

fiendishlyclever

barjam wrote: »

have you had a look at giffgaff, it's not contract but the goodybags are pretty good, might be worth you having a read up about it, me and mine are all on giffgaff

Agreed. £10 for 250 mins, unlimited texts and internet. If they don't have any minutes left they will still have texts. Free 0800 calls too might come in useful!

edfdave

Thanks everyone. That's given me some stuff to think about. I'll do some more research. I was hoping something would obviously fall out. So much for the free market ... too much choice ! The idea of a regular DD on a PAYG soulds llike a good alternative to contract.

fuzzybear01

There are lots of deals on PAYG that give unlimited texts when you top up by a certain amount. I'm on Tmobile and a £10 top-up gives unlimited texts. I imagine the other networks have similar deals. If they have a smart phone then £20 gives 6 months unlimited internet as well

edfdave

fiendishlyclever wrote: »

Agreed. £10 for 250 mins, unlimited texts and internet. If they don't have any minutes left they will still have texts. Free 0800 calls too might come in useful!

I've been looking at this and the £10 deal looks very good. How does that work in practice tho'? Do you have to go online and top up £10 every month and then buy the £10 goody bag ? I was hoping I could have a DD setup every month to sort it all out but it doesn't sound like I can.

grumbler

Auto top-up

Complete guide to goodybags :

We're working on making it possible to automatically renew goodybags - it is on the list of things to do.

The only really capped deal (besides Tesco) I know with DD is 12x£15.50 http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/mobile-tariffs/#step2-youfix-plan, but it comes with a free Nokia C2-01 that you can sell and with £40 quidco/TCB cashback, that bring it to about £10 you wanted. Free unlimited texts booster is available if you don't need the internet.