Never had a mobile...

cottager

Hope you can suspend your disbelief when I tell you I've never had a mobile phone to answer a few questions...

I've never really needed one: there are only relatively short periods when I'm uncontactable, so anyone who can't get me either leaves a message and I'll call them back, or they'll ring a bit later.

I can see how a mobile could be useful, even for someone like me: emergencies for instance. And also I could be quite wrong -- once I had one, maybe I'd become a true convert; but at the moment it seems more likely it would mostly just be lying around!

It's not that I have anything against mobiles, more a case of paying for something (or being tied into something) on an ongoing basis that I'd hardly ever use.

That's the angle I'm coming from, so if you'll forgive questions from a complete dumbell as far as mobiles are concerned

If I bought one outright and used PAYG, would I need to be in any sort of contract? In other words, once I'd paid up front and if I paid for any calls as I went along, would there be anything else to pay or would I be tied into any agreement?
(I'm not averse to buying a mobile; it's only getting involved with an ongoing contract and additional charges I couldn't justify and would want to avoid.)

If not, great. But say I only had it for emergencies, maybe with people occasionally calling me but ordinarily I made no calls myself. Could I be "cut off" in some way purely through lack of use?

If not, also great. But what about the credit I'd bought? -- does that last indefinitely? So for the sake of argument, if I bought £10-worth now and never made any calls, I'd still have the same amount of credit a year or two down the line when I'd broken down in the middle of nowhere and needed to use it? -- assuming of course the phone was charged and I'd remembered to take it!

ehlo

If I bought one outright and used PAYG, would I need to be in any sort of contract?

Nope. PAYG phones can even be bought by under 18s so there couldn't be any sort of contract

If not, great. But say I only had it for emergencies, maybe with people occasionally calling me but ordinarily I made no calls myself. Could I be "cut off" in some way purely through lack of use?

Different networks have different inactivity periods however I believe that many say 6months of not making or receiving a call will get you cut off. Some even count a free call to the info line as activity.

If not, also great. But what about the credit I'd bought? -- does that last indefinitely? So for the sake of argument, if I bought £10-worth now and never made any calls, I'd still have the same amount of credit a year or two down the line when I'd broken down in the middle of nowhere and needed to use it?

Credit should be indefinite, but this may depend on the network.

cottager

ehlo wrote: »

Nope. PAYG phones can even be bought by under 18s so there couldn't be any sort of contract

Different networks have different inactivity periods however I believe that many say 6months of not making or receiving a call will get you cut off. Some even count a free call to the info line as activity.

Credit should be indefinite, but this may depend on the network.

Thanks so much ehlo: gets me started, and all the right answers so far

So moving on, and again apologies for lack of knowledge...

Is it simply a case of me choosing which PAYG mobile to buy, whether that be online or in a shop?

Once bought is it then up to me which network to use and that's when I'm given a number, or how does all that "happen"? Do PAYG phones come with a network pre-selected in some way, so it's a factor when buying one?

If I choose which network, I guess I do some homework on comparison sites? Presumably I'd also need to work out who gives decent value in terms of what my credit buys. Also things like whether I can top up my a/c online and stuff like that?

For inactivity terms, where would I find that? Is it a case of trawling their T&Cs, or is there somewhere which easily compares this?

victor2

You just need a basic phone. Your best bet would probably be to go into a mobile phone shop and say what you want a phone for and that you want the cheapest PAYG one they've got. They should be able to answer your other questions as well. The phones will quite possibly be tied into a particular network, so ask neighbours or friends with mobiles to check which networks have a decent signal at your home, where you would presumably like to be able to use it.
You don't necessarily have to buy from a dealer. Once you know a network you're happy to go with, look in your local supermarket for their cheap PAYG phones and see if any are on the chosen network.
Supermarkets won't have any helpful staff, but possibly the best deals once you know what network is OK and what their T&C's are. At worst, one quick billed call every 3 months should keep your number active. I have an Orange mobile for such purposes and put about £10 a year on it, but will send a text or make a call about once a month.

Edit:
My current phone is a "hand-me-down" from DD when she upgraded. The mobile phone man in my local market unlocked it from the network it was locked into for a tenner.

ehlo

PAYG phones are generally tied to networks. This is because the network often subsidises the phone cost slightly.
Legally you can remove this network tie (by unlocking the phone) after a certain amount of time.

If you don't intend to use it much, the network you use doesn't make a huge amount of difference. However if you want to be completely MSE there is quite a bit of difference in calls/SMS pricing between the different networks.

There are some newer entrants that cater to the budget market such as Tesco and Asda mobile. I found this site the other day. I think they fund themselves through referral links but it is useful for a quick price comparison

PlutoinCapricorn

I never wanted one, but cracked after someone I had arranged to meet was late. I got an "entry level" model in 2003 - it was on the Virgin network and I think they are generous when it comes to not cancelling unused allowance and not using the phone for 3 months.

It lasted until early 2011: the SIMs and batteries wear out. I now have a Samsung entry level model: I use it for texts and occasional phonecalls only. Mobiles can be very useful when meeting people, and as I cancelled my landline my mobile is given as my contact number.

mobilejunkie

Why a certain amount of time??? Unlock it the day you buy it.

Bear_Grills

They were selling unlocked basic Nokias in Argos recently for £20.

cottager

Well, thanks very much to all

Now been looking around for a really basic phone given its anticipated very low usage and the fact that I don't need any frills -- a few calls and texts only.

The Nokia 100 seems about as basic and no-frills as it gets, but has mostly excellent reviews on Amazon, the only real (and almost universal) grumble being about getting the back cover off... evidently a rubber glove is the answer! Anyone who mentions battery life says it holds a charge for a long time. Could be a reasonable choice for someone like me?

There's an unlocked version for £20.79 delivered free, and I could buy a prepaid SIM card separately, for example with O2 with £10 credit, costing £7.29

Or it's also available tied to any of various networks with £10 prepaid: for example with O2 again it's £19.99 -- less than buying separately.

Given I don't already have a SIM from an existing phone, do I want an unlocked one? Am I any less "tied" if I buy unlocked with separate SIM, than if I buy one with SIM included?

What I haven't sorted out yet is the best coverage. A page at Ofcom links to checkers for various networks, but I haven't been able to get the O2 checker to load at all. It's here:
http://www.o2.co.uk/network

I know someone with O2 who's taken calls while here, and he has to walk just outside the door to get reception, so they may not be the best for where I am, but I would at least like to see what it shows! -- anyone else have any luck with the page loading?

Some of the best coverage out of the others listed seems to be Three; but this could be a difficult little spot as it's right up against the bottom of a hill, with some others around as well. I realise no map will be entirely accurate, but surrounding areas mostly seem to indicate there's good or excellent coverage, but not so good just here.

How would you recommend going about choosing a provider, apart from coverage? Most reviews I've read for all of them are awful, full of complaints! Is this more likely to be people on contracts? -- I wondered if on PAYG I'd be less susceptible to needing customer service?

victor2: yes I'll look locally; the Amazon links are only to see if y'all thought this was the sort of phone to suit limited and very basic requirements, and also the unlocked/not unlocked question.
ehlo: will try and look further into pricing and terms.
Pluto: nice to hear someone else needed "persuading" initially

And to all, thanks again for your input -- big help and much appreciated!

esuhl

I don't use my mobile much, but PAYG call prices are quite high and I found it cheaper to get a phone and a SIM-only contract with cashback.

I bought a Samsung E2121B phone (doesn't do much more than calls/texts, but is small, light and has a great battery life). It cost £15 from Carphone Warehouse but came with a Virgin SIM and £10 of credit, I got £5 cashback from Quidco, and it was already unlocked so I could use other SIMs!

Once I'd used the £10 "free" credit, I got an Orange SIM with 300 mins, unlimited texts and 500MB data each month on a 12-month contract. It's normally £15.50/month, but Orange had a promotion on reducing the line rental to £10.50/month. And I got £80 cashback from Quidco, making the total outlay:

Cost of phone - £0.00 (£10 with £10 PAYG credit)
300mins/month - £3.83/month (=£46/year)

Unless you really aren't going to be making any calls (or can get everyone to call you back!), a contract might work out cheaper...

cottager

esuhl wrote: »

Unless you really aren't going to be making any calls (or can get everyone to call you back!), a contract might work out cheaper...

TBH at this stage I don't anticipate making many if any calls myself. It's always possible I'll 'see the light' and become a convert, but haven't had one all these years and not been aware of 'missing anything' very much, as I'm invariably on the end of a landline; but a few people have said I should have one for emergencies, and naturally I can see their point.

But many thanks for all the details and your experience, and I see how cashback and promotions can make it a very cheap option. I just feel at the moment PAYG is probably the best way to go for me (initially anyway, as I dip my toe in the water), even if the relative cost of calls is rather higher. If, after getting one, my habits start changing, well... I'll think again