Tell me about TalkMobile - thinking about a contract for sons birthday

easy

I think this http://www.carphonewarehouse.com/buy/SAMSUNG-GALAXY-Y-KM009-FCON is a cracking deal, and I'm seriously thinking about it for DS's birthday present - he will be 13 and is desperate for a smartphone. I had told him no way could I afford it, but as I currently pay £15 for top-ups about every 6 to 8 weeks for him, this wouldn't be any more expensive than his current PAYG on my old cast-off phone.

He's not a great talker, so the minutes allocation would be plenty, and I don't think even he will exceed 5000 texts a month. I know from my own contract that 500MB data is tons (I overspecced on my own contract, had no idea how little I would use), he would connect to our wifi at home anyway.

But I have no experience of how good/bad TM are in terms of reception or customer service.

So if anyone can give me some indication I would be grateful. This offer ends today, so I guess I need to decide by teatime (altho I'm pretty sure similar offers will be available thru August too - business being how it is. DS's birthday is beginning of Sept, so I know I would be paying one month for nothing in the meantime).

Thanks everyone

latecomer

Lots of horror stories of kids on contracts - personally I would either go with Tesco who cap the contract or stay on PAYG where you are constrained by the credit available.

As for Talk Mobile - I've just taken out a contract on them for my mum and they seem fine. Number ported over within a day and everything just works. You pay for answer phone cawlls though hich is a new one to me as with orange they are included as part of your inclusive minutes.

Tony5101

I would go for the Samsung Galaxy Ace on the same contract.
Better phone for the same cost.
I recently got 2 of them (for family) on the same contract when they did the offer a couple of weeks ago - and they're really good phones.

HappyMJ

Reception is the same as Vodafone.

CS...well I've had them for a while and never had to contact.

They don't cap and that is extremely important for getting a contract for someone else.

If you really really want to go down that route then is 27 pence a month too much? It's complex but it's the cheapest...it's a Samsung Galaxy Y which isn't a terrible phone. It isn't great either but it is a smartphone.

See http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/samsung-galaxy-y-7-50-24m-mobiles-co-uk-only-27p-via-redemption-1247093

NFH

Talkmobile can't even abide by the EU roaming regulation. For example, according to Talkmobile's published roaming charges:

• In Germany, Talkmobile charges £0.70/MB, 0.5% more than the price cap of £0.696612/MB (including VAT).
• In Spain, Talkmobile charges £0.29/min, 0.5% more than the price cap of £0.2885964/min (including VAT).
• In Norway (part of the EEA), Talkmobile charges £0.25 to send a text, 3.3 times the price cap of £0.074637 (no VAT applicable).
• In Reunion (an integral part of France and the EU), Talkmobile charges £1.70/min, 7.1 times the price cap of £0.240497/min (no VAT applicable).
• In Gibraltar (part of the EU since 1973), Talkmobile charges £7.50/MB, 12.9 times the price cap of £0.58051/MB (no VAT applicable).

buscape

Why not get the phone from here for £79 and then go on giffgaff? They will give you 250 minutes plus unlimited texts and internet for £10 per month. It will cost you more over 24 months, but there is no risk of a massive bill as it's PAYG and you're free to change networks as and when you feel like it.

Or get it on a capped contract from Tesco Mobile if you don't mind being locked into a contract. You can get 100 minutues, 5000 texts and 500Mb internet for £10 a month and it's as risk free as giffgaff.

MillicentBystander

latecomer wrote: »

Lots of horror stories of kids on contracts - personally I would either go with Tesco who cap the contract or stay on PAYG where you are constrained by the credit available.

As for Talk Mobile - I've just taken out a contract on them for my mum and they seem fine. Number ported over within a day and everything just works. You pay for answer phone cawlls though hich is a new one to me as with orange they are included as part of your inclusive minutes.

:eek::eek:

On-topic: I would go for the Huawei Ascend G300 (way better phone than the Sammy Galaxy Y which is only £16 less!) for £95 net (£5 TCB/Quidco), get it unlocked via ebay code for £5 then go for the £15.50/mth Orange Panther* sim only 12 months deal (reduced to £10.50/mth online) with, get this, £101 TCB exclusive cash back on it. The SIM deal works out at £2/mth net, add the cost of the phone over the 12 month SIM contract and it comes to £10/mth net. Then install CPW's (free!) Bill Monitor App on the Huawei which alerts the user when he/she has used up 90% of his/her mins/texts/data allocation.

*300 mins
U/L texts
500mb data

latecomer

Took me a few reads to spot what was being highlighted

I was going to edit it but dont want to spoil the fun!

zagubov

I got talkmobiles essential PAYG, something like 8p per minute and 4p per text and I think 25p per day for internet.
No hassle porting the number etc. Works fine, but I'm a light user.

Wouldn't touch a contract with a bargepole.

Tesco's might be an exception) (i've used tham and Asda on PAYG.
They do a 7.50 per month contract which I think you could cap. If your son's on O2 it's the same network. Talkmobile's on Vodaphone.Their PAYG's not much different from Asda (same network) but internet's much cheaper.

All the other contracts I seee (even giffgaff's goodybags) raise your spend to at least £10 per month. Forever!

easy

Phew, thanks everybody so far.

You see this is the trouble, there are soooooo many options out there, one can spend (waste) a whole day trying to weigh up the pluses and minuses of them all.

To answer some of you...

Lots of horror stories of kids on contracts - personally I would either go with Tesco who cap the contract or stay on PAYG where you are constrained by the credit available.

Yep, I am aware of that possibility, and it is part of the reason I didn't just 'go for it' when I saw the deal. BUT I also think that children learn responsibility by being given responsibility. He is a clever lad, and we would explain the consequences of going over his limits (phone confiscation and paying from his savings), and show him how to check his balance.

Why not get the phone from here for £79 and then go on giffgaff? They will give you 250 minutes plus unlimited texts and internet for £10 per month. It will cost you more over 24 months, but there is no risk of a massive bill as it's PAYG and you're free to change networks as and when you feel like it.

That is MAD. to buy the phone and then pay £10 per month comes to £319 over 2 years, as opposed to £180 on this contract.
It's better than most SIM only deals I have come across.

I would go for the Samsung Galaxy Ace on the same contract.
Better phone for the same cost.
I recently got 2 of them (for family) on the same contract when they did the offer a couple of weeks ago - and they're really good phones.

Thanks for that advice

If you really really want to go down that route then is 27 pence a month too much? It's complex but it's the cheapest...it's a Samsung Galaxy Y which isn't a terrible phone. It isn't great either but it is a smartphone.

See http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/sams...mption-1247093

Blimey, now that really IS a deal. I wonder if I can get the Ace on that basis?

latecomer

easy wrote: »

Blimey, now that really IS a deal. I wonder if I can get the Ace on that basis?

You wont get the Ace on that deal - and please do some research before going for a redemption/cashback based contract. There is a guide written by mobilejunkie which is a good starting point.

This doesn't mean you should discount them - just do some reading first