Best way to save money on 4 phones in one family

adamhearn

I'm currently on Virgin Mobile PAYG and until recently they offered decent VM -> VM call/text rates. I have one account with them and 4 phones attached the single account that I pay via DD. I don't really like the idea of "topping-up" with evouchers, codes, blah.

However, this month (perhaps the last few?) I noticed the bill creeping and looking into it I saw the text rates are now flat across all networks (texts to/from VM numbers were 3p and are now 15p, the same as if directed at a different network). Whilst I don't recall seeing/agreeing anything to the change in tariff I suppose it's one of the company's many "improvements"...

Neither of the adults use the phone much at all (hence PAYG). The two teenagers are starting to increase their usage [with inane chitchat about nothing]. Try as I might to get them to treat the phone as a resource rather than something they can waste time on, I suspect it's only going to get worse!

So, I'm after a provider that allows me to have a number of phones paid for on a single account and doesn't cost the earth to use. Most bundles I've seen are > £5/month and expire at the end of the month. Myself, I'd probably have £4.00 left each month - I really don't use the phone much! Is this normal for pretty much every provider? if I could add £5 to the phone but not have it expire for a long time it'd be a compromise to what I do now.

I've done a [quick] search and it seems the virtual provider Giff Gaff may be an option for the kids but I can't see it being useful to the old gits paying the bills

Thanks for any information anyone can provide!

grumbler

I've heard Orange had something like this: http://www1.orange.co.uk/service_plans/paymonthly/your_group_overview.html

Don't know about any details.

AFAIK "auto top-up" is available at giffgaff.

The cheapest rolling contracts with DD are £1 with Talkmobile or Vectrone. No good for children but good for parents that don't "use the phone much" and "don't really like the idea of "topping-up" with evouchers, codes, blah".

jb66

Virgin mobile contracts now come with 3000 virgin to virgin mins and you can call a virgin mobile free from your landline within your bundle times

adamhearn

I'm not after signing up to 4 contracts thanks.

I'll take a look at talkmobile. Not heard of them so thanks for the info.

I think the Orange deal requires me to be topping up each of the phone every month? Could be wrong as I've only had a quick scan.