Virgin Mobile vs Giff Gaff Sim Only deal

nomoredebtplease

Hi there. I'm newly out of contract on my iPhone 4S with O2 and am looking at cheaper Sim only deals.

Not a heavy minutes user (150 - 300 per month should suffice) but would like lots of texts, at least 500MB data and as cheap 'non - contract' minutes (ie. 0844 / 0870 / 0800) and picture messaging as possible. Would also rather not be tied into a 12 month contract.

From my investigations, it looks like Virgin or Giff Gaff seem to be offering the best of what I need. I'm a Virgin Media customer already but their offer doesn't seem much better than Giff Gaffs.

3 also seem popular but I had a 3 mobile a numbers of years ago and found their service and network quality to be pretty appalling so have been burnt by them in the past!

Any advice?

Thanks

grumbler

I think at Virgin 08 numbers are included only in some expensive tariff(s).

fluffyduck1

Yeah Virgin charge loads for ringing 08 numbers, even 0800 which is supposed to be free!

As for giffgaff... for £10 per month (non contract) you can get 1GB data 250 mins and unlimited texts. (add £2 and you get unlimited data)

0800 numbers are always free, as for 0870 numbers you will have to pay but there are many apps on the app store which give a landline number for nearly all 0870/0844 numbers. Picture messaging would be an extra cost 16p each.

The link below compares in a bit more detail some of the other networks against giffgaff.

giffgaffoffer.webs.com/compare

macman

I'm looking for a similar contract. Light phone/text user, but need around 500MB data.
I've narrowed it down to 4 SIM only options, can anyone suggest the best?

3 Essential Internet SIM 200: 200 mins/5000 texts/ 500MB data. £6.90 for a 12m contract or £9.90 for a 30 days contract.
I'm similarly dubious about 3's customer service and 3G coverage.

Virgin Mobile Mobile SIM: 150 mins/unltd texts/500MB data. £7 for a 30 day contract.
However this runs on EE, and Orange coverage in my area is patchy (ex Orange user).

Talk Mobile SIMple: 300 mins/1000 texts/500MB data. £8 for a 6m contract.
This runs on Vodafone, which is my preferred network.

Tesco Mobile: 250 mins/5000 texts/500MB data £7.50 for a 12m contract, or 500 mins/5000 texts/1GB data, £10 for a 30 day contract.
This runs on O2 which is fairly OK in my area. I'd probably try it out on the 1m tariff, and then switch to the 12m if OK.

I'm leaning towards either Talk Mobile or Tesco at present?
Can't believe how uncompetitive the Vodafone and O2 tariffs are if bought direct.

nomoredebtplease

macman wrote: »

I'm looking for a similar contract.

Any reason why you've not included giff gaff in your short list?

grumbler

Why not Ovivo?
Make 6x£10 consecutive monthly topups and start getting 200+200+500 for free without any further topups. If needed, use the topups to buy 300Mb and 150 minutes bundles during the first months .

nomoredebtplease

grumbler wrote: »

Why not Ovivo?
Make 6x£10 monthly topups and start getting 200+200+500 for free without any further topups. If needed, use the topups to buy 300Mb and 150 minutes bundles during the first 3 months .

Not looked into them. Will do now!

macman

nomoredebtplease wrote: »

Any reason why you've not included giff gaff in your short list?

Again, doubts about customer service, and issues raised by existing customers on here.
But I'll take another look.

macman

grumbler, I think your post was directed at the OP, rather than me? But I took a look anyway. Ovivo wouldn't work for me, as I'd probably need an additional bundle of texts and data at £5 each. So that's £10 per month. In which case Talk Mobile seems the better deal if want something that runs on Voda.
The only thing that puts me of TM is the presumably dire CPW-standard customer service-if I need to use it.

grumbler

macman wrote: »

grumbler, I think your post was directed at the OP, rather than me?

No, in fact it was directed at you.

But I took a look anyway. Ovivo wouldn't work for me, as I'd probably need an additional bundle of texts and data at £5 each.

So, you call yourself a 'light user' but 200m+200t are not sufficient? If so, IMO your definition of 'light' is very odd.

So that's £10 per month.

Do you realise that it's the first 3-6 months only? After 3x£10 you start getting free 150+150+400.
That said, nobody can guarantee that this doesn't change in 6 months.

macman

grumbler wrote: »

No, in fact it was directed at you.
So, you call yourself a 'light user' but 200m+200t are not sufficient? If so, IMO your definition of 'light' is very odd.
Do you realise that it's the first 3-6 months only? After 3x£10 you start getting free 150+150+400.
That said, nobody can guarantee that this doesn't change in 6 months.

I'd probably run over on the base level texts and data. The minutes are fine.