How do I buy a first mobile phone

joolsybools

Virgin are good, I've been with them for 12 years and their coverage is pretty good. They use both Orange and T Mobile so I guess they swap around between the two if one doesn't have coverage in a particular area.

As poster above says, you can order a sim only from their website then just top up as and when you need. I have their rolling 30 contract for £12 a month which has 1200 mins, unlimited texts and 1gb data, but that sounds like it's far more than you need.

Virgin sell pretty cheap handsets on their site too which might be for you if you have difficulty getting out of the house. http://www.virginmobile.com/vm/payAsYouGoPhones.do

sillygoose

To be fair grumbler is a gold mine of good info/comment, but for someone like the op who has never owned a mobile I personally read their post about satellites as being just a bit confused about the technology - did seem a bit harsh to have a go over it! (I sort of expected someone to, but not grumbler!)

Anyway..

Lots of people have suggested good ways to connect on various deals. The only warning I would add is that if the mobile is really for emergency use (hopefully never), then you have to be careful it doesn't get disconnected for low use.

On some deals after the number is first activated, if it not used for a long period of time and even if it has credit on it, it will be disconnected and the network will reclaim the number. This can be safeguarded against simply by making a minimal call once in a while.

im-lost

clivejohnson wrote: »

I'm not even going to bother trying to help. Manners cost nothing

having posted so little in the two years you've been a member, im sure your valuable input will not be missed :rotfl:

suki1964

So funny how we read other people's post, I also took grumblers post to be harsh, as forme it was obvious that the op was totally out of their depth

I also never took the ops next post to be nasty

But hey ho , we are all human, thank nature we arnt all the same


Op, if you are happy to go with virgin, then may I suggest you go to a store and get yourself set up. I don't know who virgin are with customer service but I known O2 ( well my local stores that is) are brill and take as much time as you need explaining how to use your phone

We bought £10 cheapo nokias for our respective mothers, and both learned how to make calls and to top up pretty easily

bouncydog1

Your best bet might be to see if you can have an emergency pager which lots of housebound people have. You wear it on a cord like people in offices do with their swipe cards. If you fall when going to the bathroom etc in the night you press the button and it sends an alert so help can be sent.

We use them for elderly relatives so it gives them security and they are on 24 hour alert. If you are thinking of a second phone for this purpose it would not be nearly as good.

luci

If you get a basic phoned which works on the Vodafone network or is unlocked, ie will work on any network, you could get an Ovivio sim card.

https://www.ovivomobile.com

You pay £10 for the sim which you get as credit on the phone. Then you get 100 mins, 100 text and 400mb of data (which you won't need) free for life or as long as Ovivo are around.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3981617

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4153003

This phone from Argos is £10 on Vodafone, but you will have to pay £10 airtime in addition.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5188398.htm

Owain_Moneysaver

You could also register for priority repair service on your BT line; this may be free depending on your circumstances.

aitch2oh

This is a seperate reply for bouncydog1.

I know all about those press button alarms and also the security cameras that set off an alarm if nothing is moving at the normal times.

As I am told I took Grumbler the wrong way I need to be careful how I say this.

All these alarms that are in place so that someone is alerted to a need for help by an old and/or infirm person are a total insult.

If you cannot be bothered to phone your elderly relative or friend at least once a day then you simply dont deserve that person in your life. All thosealarms are for YOUR peace of mind and not the peace of mind of your elderly person.

The Chief Coroners in many areas kick off about the number of people found dead and smelling rotton ages after their demise because no one phoned them

I think it is indicative of the society we live in that these things should have to exist anyway and yes, Grumbler, I do have a son who never phones me.

On that matter and just in case my son is reading this; my house is now worth over £300.000 and guess who is not in my Will. Now I am going to try and attach one of those funny faces but in case I fail I think it is LOL.

Phone home bouncy dog.:rotfl::T:j

victor2

I see you have deleted your post which said:

I am glad Grumbler has a fan club. So did Jimmy Savile.

I try not to judge people by their posts, as it is easy to misinterpret them, but I do have to say that you come across as a bitter and twisted individual.

MikeWhite

victor2 wrote: »

I see you have deleted your post which said:

I try not to judge people by their posts, as it is easy to misinterpret them, but I do have to say that you come across as a bitter and twisted individual.

Perhaps he deleted it, but I reported it anyway as highly offensive and inappropriate. Sums things up really!
Mike