To stay on PAYG or too a yearly contract with o2?

sunni

Oh decisons decisions! I'm with o2 PAYG and thinking of changing too a contract sim only tariff (12 month contract) paid by direct debit.

I currently top up £15 per month and get unlimited calls and texts too o2. I have a web bolt on of £6 which is 500mb data. I would text other networks which is 12p per text. I also claim the o2 rewards which is 10% back of top-ups which you don't get with the contract!

With the contract its £16 per month with 600 free minutes too any network including landlines and 500 free minutes too o2. It's unlimited texts too any network and 500mb data. Seems quite good apart from the 35p picture messaging charge! Oh decisions decisions - the free minutes too any network and unlimited texts is tempting!

Buzby

Go what you feel you are getting a good deal on. What suits some, will frustrate others. Just remember, any contract requires you to let them wreck your credit file if you make the slightest error or even get your phone stolen. PAYG gives added protection, and this should not be overlooked.

sunni

It seems like a good deal and I forgot too add that at times I top up £20 per month as I text other networks and get charged. Just a pity they can't do it on a monthly contract as a tester lol

Herongull

Do you need 600 minutes per month or would you use much less?

Start with thinking about how much you really need.

As Buzby says, contracts are risky - if your phone is lost or stolen you might have to pay hundreds or thousands of £ for the calls made by the thief. Do you want to take this risk?

There are cheaper PAYG options and capped contracts.

sunni

o2 said on average I use 800-900 minutes per month so I chat quite abit lol.

The thought of losing my phone or getting it stolen seems abit risky now if I get a contract.

I text quite alot as well but I currently get unlimited texts too o2 so that's all good - I just text a different network. If only it was unlimited texts too any network think I'd stay with PAYG - not sure if they offer any other options on PAYG but they said I'm currently on the best tariff?

Herongull

You can get 750 minutes, 5000 texts and 500mb for £10 per month with Tesco mobile. These contracts can be capped so very little risk of big bills if phone is lost or stolen.

Could you just use slightly less minutes?

sunni

Well I probably could use less minutes but almost everyone who rings me is o2 and it would cost them 25p per minute too call me on tesco mobile, then they'd want me too call them back and my minutes would soon go!

I rang o2 and said too them if my phone was lost or stolen with there SIM only deals what would happen? They said they would block the phone and SIM so no-one could use it and they send out a replacement SIM too use for the remaining of the contract.

Buzby

What they DIDN'T tell you that you remain fully responsible for all use UNTIL you report it. If you don't notice it is gone for (say, 2 days) and they make 36 hours of calls to Nigeria - guess who get's the bill?

You! With PAYG, when your credit it runs out, that's the end of your commitment.

Herongull

Buzby is right.

Even if you notice and report your phone lost or stolen within a few hours, the thief will have racked up 100s if not 1,000 of £ worth of calls before the phone is blocked. There have been several posts where this has happened to people.

Thieves sometimes have their own premium number that generates them income. When they steal phones, they just phone that number and rake in money that YOU will have to pay for in your phone bill.

Are you happy to fork out a few thousand £ for premium calls made the thief?

Why risk it? Use PAYG or capped and just enjoy your phone.

Tigsteroonie

Bear in mind that with the £15 payg deal, you are getting the O2 calls & texts PLUS you still have the £15 of credit to spend on calls and texts to other phones. Whereas with the contract deal, you are 'buying a package' of calls and texts, but you don't then have that £16 to spend.

We've thought about switching from the £15 deal onto contract or even O2's pay-and-go-go-go deal, but it's not worth it for us - we don't spend that much on other calls/texts each month, so our credit starts racking up

macman

If you average 800-900 minutes per month (that's 15 hours per month), then why would you consider a contract capped at 600 mins? You'll be paying a premium rate for all those extra 200-300 mins.