PAYG comparisons

ScarletBea

All the comparison sites I've seen don't have an option to evaluate if PAYG is really the good thing for you (the ones that have it, it's deactivated for the moment), or which PAYG is the best.

I hardly make calls with my mobile, or when I do, it's just quick ones. I don't send that many texts as well, although it's more than the calls.

My gf has an O2 PAYG, bought years ago (she probably tops up £10 every 3 or 4 months...), so I thought I should stay within the same network since the calls are cheaper, but when I see the O2 site, even the PAYG seem to require a top up of £10 a month (or maybe the right thing is very well hidden!).

Can anybody help?

sjc_2

Visit CPW and do a O2 PAYG Upgrade. I picked up a Nokia 6300 this weekend for £99.96 and I get 10% back of my topups over the last two years which in my case was only a fiver. But depending upon how much she's topped up you could get the phone cheaper taking off your free credit.

northern_munky

I have been on O2 PAYG for 2 1/2 years and don't think you can beat it. You don't have to top up £10 a month. Once you have topped up by £10, you will get 300 texts for a month but the £10 stays on as credit, when the month is over you just use the £10 until you have to top up again.

SJC, I have just bought a new O2 branded phone from Woolworths and was reading about the 10% back. Have you actually registered your upgrade yet, how do you go about it, can you keep the old simcard and tariff you were on, or do they try and shift you onto one of the new tariffs?

sjc_2

With me through CPW they just took the SIM Number and Mobile Number and registered it for me. The SIM Card was originally a free one that O2 were giving away some time ago.

ScarletBea

Thanks, I'll investigate then

*vanessa*

As a family we are all on Virgin PAYG, you can put it so that it debits whatever you have spent straight out of your account, so no having to bother with top - ups, like I do. I generally spend about £3 a month on my mobile. My husband and son are just on top up vouchers, and these last forever, with no need to top up until you run out - Hubby has had his phone 16 months and still has credit left!

benedictadams

do u need to buy a new phone (ie is the current operator likely to take it back if u stop the pay monthly)

and do u need to buy a new sim, virtually all the companies will give out free cards, and if the network you want doesn't at the moment try and get one off freecycle

at the moment T-mobile are doing what i think is a good deal, if you top up £10 by credit/debit card online or by text you will get a free £2. You will also get free weekend and evening texts (fair usage is 3000 a month, how anyone could use that amount is worrying) and one of the pay as you talk plans has texts at 3p, so if you only use the top-up for texts thats 3400 texts at a tenner a month

ScarletBea

Oooh more alternatives.
Benedict, yes, I need a whole new phone and sim card, as I'll be new to the country (my current phone is quite old anyway, so I'd like a new set).

I was checking the CPW that sjc had suggested and found 2 good options (and I need 2 phones - hope she's not reading this now... Barcode, look away )

Just to confirm I wasn't dreaming, I went back to the O2 site and there they don't have 'normal' PAYG tariffs, look:
O2 shop

The thing is, I want to stay in the same network as my gf, and she doesn't want to change to keep her number. So it's O2 - she never had any problems with them anyway.
She'd have to change numbers if moved to a new network, right?

If not, I'll check those other options then... just seems far more confusing, hehehe, so many options to choose from...

ScarletBea

Actually just took a quick look at the tariffs, and T-Mobile's are much better than O2's...

Now just need to check if my gf could keep her number...

Edit: been reading about PAC numbers, apparently that's what's needed to keep same number, right?

benedictadams

woolworths and the t-mobile shop did have some good offers on over the weekend, not sure if they are still on

the PAC is all you need, they advise it can take five working days (and some operators drag their feet)

pigeonpie

you could try Tesco as they use the O2 network. I have that and T Mobile to call my mates on T Mob as it's cheaper. However I mostly call in the eves when the FlexT customers have free calls and it's constantly dropping the call or going straight to the caller's voicemail which is really annoying. The coverage on Tesco/O2 here in London anyhow is way better. If the call drops, you pay 5p to call, then you miss the return and have to call voicemail (10p) or call them back again (another 5p even on mates rates)....calls are ending up costing 15p instead of 5p.

I think TMob are aware of the problem btw but if it doesn't stop soon I won't be continuing to use them.