Help - finding the best package

UserX

My head will explode.

My 11 year old was given an entry level smartphone for Christmas thanks to a kindly relative who has now left it up to me to sort out the monthly comings & goings :eek: I've started t have a look around and it all just seems so complex and I'm not really sure I know what I'm doing. I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to technology for me :rotfl:

The phone is unlocked, so I can go with any network and most of them work pretty well where we live. So I'm looking for:

Unlimited texts
Bit of data each month
MUST BE a capped amount/month - I can't afford nasty surprises!
Talk time - I guess at 11, however many minutes there are will get used, but we do also have a landline!

I just don't know where to begin. Is it me?

ZhugeEX

Best option is pay as you go.

I recommend Giff Gaff who do 250 mins, unl texts and unl data for £12 top up every month.

You're in control of how much you top up so there is no chance of going over.

UserX

Thank you ZhugeEX

As far as I understood - and this is when my head starts hurting! - with GiffGaff, you can go over your minutes and you end up getting charged. Is that correct? I know 250 minutes sounds like a lot, but I could quite conceivably see it all being used up plus some!

Whereas with true PAYG options, once you've run out of credit, you can't phone or text....

My own mobile is one of these 'capped' packages from T-mobile but it doesn't include any data (because I don't need it) so I was looking for something along those lines but with data included. Part of the problem is that price comparison sites seem to need me to know how many minutes I'll want and as this is the first time my 11yr old has had a phone, I don't know!!!

grumbler

UserX wrote: »

As far as I understood - and this is when my head starts hurting! - with GiffGaff, you can go over your minutes and you end up getting charged. Is that correct?

Yes, if you have some balance remaining after buying a 'godybag'.

Whereas with true PAYG options, once you've run out of credit, you can't phone or text....

The same with Giffgaff, although I believe some auto-topup options are available. And, like Giffgaff, most providers offer some bundles on PAYG.

Part of the problem is that price comparison sites seem to need me to know how many minutes I'll want and as this is the first time my 11yr old has had a phone, I don't know!!!

Another option to consider is '3' PAYG 321

jem16

UserX wrote: »

Unlimited texts
Bit of data each month
MUST BE a capped amount/month - I can't afford nasty surprises!
Talk time - I guess at 11, however many minutes there are will get used, but we do also have a landline!

I just don't know where to begin. Is it me?

Tesco Mobile offer capped contracts - you can get 1 month contracts or 12 months.

For example for £10pm you could get 500 minutes, 5000 texts and 1Gb data - this is a 1 month contract.

Change that to a 12 month contract and you get 1000 minutes, 5000 texts and 1Gb data.

You can choose the level of cap for each month, from I think £5.

DCFC79

I was just going to suggest Tesco Mobile but Jem beat me to it. I was going to suggest it as you mentioned you didnt want any surprises as you cant go over say the £10 or whatever amount you decide to go for.

ZhugeEX

UserX wrote: »

Thank you ZhugeEX

As far as I understood - and this is when my head starts hurting! - with GiffGaff, you can go over your minutes and you end up getting charged. Is that correct? I know 250 minutes sounds like a lot, but I could quite conceivably see it all being used up plus some!

Whereas with true PAYG options, once you've run out of credit, you can't phone or text....

My own mobile is one of these 'capped' packages from T-mobile but it doesn't include any data (because I don't need it) so I was looking for something along those lines but with data included. Part of the problem is that price comparison sites seem to need me to know how many minutes I'll want and as this is the first time my 11yr old has had a phone, I don't know!!!

Tesco Mobile and Three are the only UK networks that offer capped contract packages.

And no, Giff Gaff won't charge you extra because it's pay as you go.

Lets say for example you top up £10 with GG for one of their bundles. Once you hit the limit you have no credit left to use unless you yourself add more credit. It's just a simple top up situation where you buy more credit when you've run out. You are 100% in control of this situation.

Herongull

What about Ovivo: 200 minutes, 300 texts and 500mb free each month for a one off payment of £20 for the sim,

Don't top it up and your son will learn to manage with this allowance. Far better to give kids responsibility than give them unlimited everything they want. Your son can use Whatsapp instead of texting when he's used up his texting allowance.

Once the allowance is used up, he has to wait until next month, so no risk of bill shock if the phone is lost or stolen.

He will get some internet adverts - that is how they can give you a free allowance - when he uses google.

Neil49

Herongull wrote: »

What about Ovivo: 200 minutes, 300 texts and 500mb free each month for a one off payment of £20 for the sim,

Don't top it up and your son will learn to manage with this allowance. Far better to give kids responsibility than give them unlimited everything they want. Your son can use Whatsapp instead of texting when he's used up his texting allowance.

Once the allowance is used up, he has to wait until next month, so no risk of bill shock if the phone is lost or stolen.

He will get some internet adverts - that is how they can give you a free allowance - when he uses google.

The one off payment of £20 includes £15 credit which would be used up if he went over the monthly allowance. Once that is used up then you are in the situation where you are limited by the monthly allowance.

This could be interpreted as a good way to learn to control your usage and what happens when you go over your allowance.

mountainofdebt

I've set Junior (ok, he's not so Junior any more lol!) on giffgaff.

Unlimited texts, 200 minutes and 250MB for £7.50.

For £12 you get 250 minutes, unlimited texts & internet.

In my experience teenagers tend to text rather than talk so I agree - unlimited texts, who ever you go with, is a must lol!

criboo

For a while I was on Three PAYG. It was £15/month and was I think 200 minutes, 5000 texts and unlimited data. Alternatively, for £15/month you can get 2000 minutes, 5000 texts and unlimited data on a 12 month Sim-only contract with them. No chance of going over with that :P

Maybe also check Virgin Media, they run on the EE network, so coverage is fantastic, and offer unlimited everything packages at reasonable prices.