Need Pay and Go advice

WelshDragon71

I have a really old Motorala mobile, and fancy replacing it. I have 150 quid budget and have picked the Sony Experia U as best price/functionality/quality I can get.

My problem is what PayG company to go for. Currently I use Orange and the coverage in my area is pretty awful, only outdoors is gauranteed and if using my mobile indoors I have to go to a certain place in my house and *hope* I get a good signal. My sister in law lives nearby and the O2 contract phone she has works fine with a good signal even indoors. But I don't like the O2 PayG tariff system, I prefer Oranges where I pay a tenner and that is then credit that I slowly use up. It seems O2 don't do that sort of tariff (at least I can't find one like it).

From what I can gather I pay (say) a tenner and get so much free phone/sms/internet, but only for a month. So anything I don't use in that month disappears and is wasted..is that right? Then if I don't top up I just get charged for what I use after that....is that right also? If that IS the case then how do O2 charge me, do I get a monthly bill or do they wait for it to get so high before sending the bill?

Finally if I use the Experia U to connect to my wifi can I download apps for free off my Bt infinity account? Are there apps that require an internet connection all the time? So if I'm out and about the app will connect via O2 and then I will be charged? Which is something I REALLY don't want.

The issue is I don't have a lot of cash, I want to be able to control my mobile phone spending (I rarely use a mobile phone, but I want the functionality and use of a smart phones "computer" capabilities..i.e. listening to music, the odd game here and there etc etc). But I need a good signal in my house.

Sorry for the essay, trying to get all what's in my head out here! Any advice will be greatly appreciated, but please no phone choice comments, the Experia U has been chosen!

wongataa

You can download apps via wi-fi. If you don't want apps to use data when not connected to wi-fi then see see if their is an option in the apps to not use data or just turn mobile data off in the phone settings.

If you wish to use the O2 network then you can also look at Tesco Mobile and GiffGaff. They both use the O2 network and have better deals than O2 themselves.

pepdavies

Have a look at Ovivo Mobile

grumbler

WelshDragon71 wrote: »

My problem is what PayG company to go for. Currently I use Orange and the coverage in my area is pretty awful, only outdoors is gauranteed and if using my mobile indoors I have to go to a certain place in my house and *hope* I get a good signal. My sister in law lives nearby and the O2 contract phone she has works fine with a good signal even indoors. But I don't like the O2 PayG tariff system, I prefer Oranges where I pay a tenner and that is then credit that I slowly use up. It seems O2 don't do that sort of tariff (at least I can't find one like it).

From what I can gather I pay (say) a tenner and get so much free phone/sms/internet, but only for a month. So anything I don't use in that month disappears and is wasted..is that right? Then if I don't top up I just get charged for what I use after that....is that right also?

What tariff? Normally, you get something free just for topping up and then can use the balance on everything extra.

If that IS the case then how do O2 charge me, do I get a monthly bill or do they wait for it to get so high before sending the bill?

No monthly bills for PAYG.

Check Giffgaff and Tesco Mobile that use the same O2 signal.
http://giffgaff.com/index/pricing
http://giffgaff.com/goodybags

Finally if I use the Experia U to connect to my wifi can I download apps for free off my Bt infinity account? Are there apps that require an internet connection all the time?

This depends on the app. E.g. why would a flashlight app require internet connection?

So if I'm out and about the app will connect via O2 and then I will be charged? Which is something I REALLY don't want.

This is the same for O2 and Orange and all networks. Don't use the apps that use mobile data or disable mobile data. And regardless disable all updates except when on wifi.

The issue is I don't have a lot of cash, I want to be able to control my mobile phone spending (I rarely use a mobile phone, but I want the functionality and use of a smart phones "computer" capabilities..i.e. listening to music, the odd game here and there etc etc).

OVIVO Mobile | Set your mobile FREE!
They use Vodafone signal. See 'Freedom' tariff.

Neil49

pepdavies wrote: »

Have a look at Ovivo Mobile

I'm planning too switch to Ovivo next month but you should check their coverage - they use the Vodaphone network.

http://ovivomobile.com/

The deal is that you pay £15 upfront which provides a credit balance for out of plan features (picture messages etc) and that's it. You get 150 mins talktime, 250 texts and 500 m/b data per month and this allowance is refreshed every month at no charge - yes, no charge!

They make their money by advertising so every so often you have to put up with receiving one on your phone (but it doesn't come out of your allowance).

As there isn't a contract you can move to another provider anytime you like.

I have also seen that 3 are offering a good payg deal called 321. I haven't looked into it too much but I gather they charge 3p per min for calls, 2p per text message and 1p per m/b of data.

Hope this helps.

WelshDragon71

Wow, thanks for all the replies!! I have a few more questions!!

So when I top up with a tenner on O2 pay and go go go I get the "extras" and the tenner is still my balance to use?

How easy is it to just get SIMS from giff gaff or Tesco to replace my O2 one (if I want to for a better deal)?

This OVIVO looks awesome definitely something to consider, so again how easy would it be to just put the SIM in my (once I get it) phone to use? Do I need to unlock the phone or something (I've read that it sometimes needs to be done).

Once again thanks for the great advice! :T

diamonds

LOL money is tight you say....well will BT Infinity at home - it will be !

No idea about o2 but assume that's right you get your credit and go go go bonuses.

Walk into Tesco pick one up, giff gaff is a online order.

Yes mobiles are generally networked locked, Tesco and GG run on o2 so no issue there. Other sims will not work, check if yours is locked by entering another providers sim (not a o2 reseller) choose one of the big 3, Voda, Orange or T-Mobile payg sims to find out, the phone will report back if locked with another provider sim inside it when switched on.

Orrin

WelshDragon71 wrote: »

So when I top up with a tenner on O2 pay and go go go I get the "extras" and the tenner is still my balance to use?

The way I read it the £10 comes out of your balance every 30 days and in return you get the allowance. The gimmick seems to be that your allowance increases over time but even after 9 months you'd be on a worse tariff than GiffGaff would give you from the start. Maybe I'm missing something but it sounds like a crap deal.

WelshDragon71

diamonds wrote: »

LOL money is tight you say....well will BT Infinity at home - it will be !

No idea about o2 but assume that's right you get your credit and go go go bonuses.

Walk into Tesco pick one up, giff gaff is a online order.

Yes mobiles are generally networked locked, Tesco and GG run on o2 so no issue there. Other sims will not work, check if yours is locked by entering another providers sim (not a o2 reseller) choose one of the big 3, Voda, Orange or T-Mobile payg sims to find out, the phone will report back if locked with another provider sim inside it when switched on.

I'm a computer geek so I need a fast internet for gaming and browsing. I sacrifice in other areas

Is it easy to unlock phones?

I havn't bought the phone yet so I can't test other sims.

Orrin wrote: »

The way I read it the £10 comes out of your balance every 30 days and in return you get the allowance. The gimmick seems to be that your allowance increases over time but even after 9 months you'd be on a worse tariff than GiffGaff would give you from the start. Maybe I'm missing something but it sounds like a crap deal.

Yeah that's what I initially thought, if i have to pay a tenner every month then it's not much of a pay and go tariff is it?!! I'm kind of hoping someone with an O2 pay and go go go tariff can clarify this!

mum2one

I'm on the pay and go go tariff - when I put the money on the phone - £10 it takes that off me and gives me the months allowance, - if I want a plus balance, I have to put more money on.

I get 500mb, 500 texts, 150 mins - so for me, it was better than the tariff I was on before.

x

diamonds

Its amazing go go go is available then its a rip off, £15 on Virgin sim only gives unlimited standard calls texts and data (3.5GB fair usage) ...and Virgin are not really fussy for a 30 day sim, the biggest point with no credit file they want is the applicant to be on the electorate roll - and even that I had a relative returning to the UK with no credit file as away 6+ years and as we share a surname they got accepted at my address and my credit file is not perfect (thanks to errors I will need to go to court to clear).