which PAYG sim for tourist

fre_82

Hello,

I occasionally visit the UK and always used a Virgin Mobile PAYG sim to have a UK number.

Now I can't seem to find the sim again and because I'm visiting London tomorrow I was wondering if there are any better options for me.

What I need (in order of importance):
- sim/number never expires
- Cheap flat free data charged per day of usage
- Cheap calls to uk landline

Most plans I find are on a monthly basis which is useless for me. Is there a site where I can compare the 'standard' PAYG tariffs?

Any suggestions as to which provide is most suitable?

Thx!

HappyMJ

sim/number never expires may be the hardest part.

Ovivo does offer a SIM for £10 and allows you to make a few free calls 100 minutes each month.. Data is free up to 300MB. How many minutes do you think you would need in a month?

fre_82

So Virgin Mobile is the only provider where the sim doesn't expire?

I visit like 3 to 5 times per year the uk for max 3 days, so monthly PAYG plans aren't suitable.

I would only use a few minutes per day (max 5 minutes if any) but a plan where long calls to landlines are cheap would also be a plus.

A daily price cap for data is much more important.

grumbler

fre_82 wrote: »

So Virgin Mobile is the only provider where the sim doesn't expire?

All sims expire if you don't make a chargeable call or send a text once every 180 (mostly) days. Some sims can survive longer, but only if you are lucky.

I visit like 3 to 5 times per year the uk for max 3 days, so monthly PAYG plans aren't suitable.

What is 'monthly PAYG'?
Ovivo suggested above is PAYG without compulsory topups (as any PAYG). Google for it. It costs one-off £10 and you keep getting free minutes+texts+data every month with reasonably cheap everything outside the free allowances.

A daily price cap for data is much more important.

Price cap on PAYG?!

jhp

Whilst Virgin did not strictly enforce 180 day,s and they went on for ages after it . They have recently reduced it to 90 days.

"You need to use our Services at least once within any 90 day period either by making a chargeable call or sending a text message. If you don’t we may suspend your access to the Services and cancel this Agreement. If we cancel this Agreement, you may lose your phone number and any unused Top Up credit on your account (see Clause 10.3). We don’t really want to lose you as a customer so please ensure you keep talking or texting!"

Ovivo may not be a practical suggestion as you arrive in UK tomorrow,and presumeably need something you can get your hands on straight away.

The standard Virgin tariff http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/genericContent.do?contentId=payasyougo.what.it.costs.shop.sm287#The (Addict Tariff) costs 26p a min to call a mobile/uk landline.

Given that you visit UK on a regular basis,so you meet call requirements . I suggest you get something like a Tesco Mobile Sim from one of their bigger shops and put it on the lite tariff. 8p a minute to UK Mobiles and Landlines.Data 60p MB. Providing of course your phone is unlocked to take it.
http://phone-shop.tesco.com/tesco-mobile/help-and-support/call-charges-payg-litetariff.aspx

Buzby

Similarly - treat the SIM as disposable. ASDA-Wallmart will sell one free with a Top Up, and you throw it away when finished.

fre_82

grumbler wrote: »

All sims expire if you don't make a chargeable call or send a text once every 180 (mostly) days. Some sims can survive longer, but only if you are lucky.

Any other than Virgin Mobile where it might work?

grumbler wrote: »

What is 'monthly PAYG'?

Where you put for instance £10 on your sim which pays for a plan which costs £10. There is no money left on the sim.

grumbler wrote: »

Ovivo suggested above is PAYG without compulsory topups (as any PAYG). Google for it. It costs one-off £10 and you keep getting free minutes+texts+data every month with reasonably cheap everything outside the free allowances.

That's an excellent offer. How long does the sim stay active without top ups?

grumbler wrote: »

Price cap on PAYG?!

I remember paying a maximum daily amount for data the last time I used the Virgin Mobile sim. I could be wrong though

Thanks for your help

HappyMJ

fre_82 wrote: »

That's an excellent offer. How long does the sim stay active without top ups?

Forever....but...you must use the SIM once every 60 days. From wherever you are just send a text from the SIM every 60 days...or to prevent forgetting just send a text a month. It will cost 8p to send a text from the EU to the UK or 49p from elsewhere and that comes of your £10.

Buzby

All SIMS on PAYG expire, this requirement is mandated by OFCOM so service will be removed automatically and all remaining credit lost. Roaming is also problematic, so making chargeable calls a difficult process

grumbler

fre_82 wrote: »

Any other than Virgin Mobile where it might work?

Nowhere. AFAIK, Giffgaff PAYG (and Ovivo) sim is the only one that can be sustained by a incoming call every 180 days (60 days for Ovivo).

Where you put for instance £10 on your sim which pays for a plan which costs £10. There is no money left on the sim.

If you just 'put' £10 it usually never expires unless the sim gets cancelled. What you say is topping up and then using the balance for buying a bundle.

grumbler

Buzby wrote: »

Roaming is also problematic, so making chargeable calls a difficult process

Why is it problematic if data roaming is switched off? Why making a call or sending a text is difficult?