Best pay as you go?

prettyflamingo

Hi, apologies if this should be within a thread somewhere else, but im so confused by all the different options i could really do with some advice!
I use my phone mainly for texting, quite a lot (maybe 15-20 texts a day at most), i dont use it for calling except in emergencies, i'm not too bothered about using the internet although this is possible with my current phone.
i dont want to change my handset im happy with that (it is unlocked).
currently on tmobile (EE) used to get a 3p charge for texts but this has gone up (think its 10p or something now). i have the option of 6 months web for £20, and they recently rang me to ask if i wanted to go onto a £7 a month contract as i am currently topping up at least £10 a month.

i dont believe i am on the best deal at the moment, and i dont believe that they are offering me the best, should i swap to 3? anyone offer any advice?
thanks

grumbler

500 texts at 3 will cost you £10.
Unlimited texts cost £7.50 on giffgaff (PAYG). Or check ChitterChatter sim-only contract 250+500+500 for 12x£5.
Virgin have 1x£7 contract with 150m+Unltd+500Mb (£5 for Virgin Media customers)

prettyflamingo

thanks for the reply, i was hoping for a pay as you go option still rather than a contract, i dont like the idea of being tied in for a minimum amount of time...
is the 3 3-2-1 any good? or am i just better off being brave and getting a contract still?
when you quote the numbers is this texts-minutes-mbs?

grumbler

It's a school maths really.
Texts cost 2p at 3. You need about 500. 2p*500=£10 - as I said.
What I quoted was minutes-texts-Mb.
The last 1x£7 deal meant 1-month contract.
Re 'being brave' it's your choice, but make sure the signal is good. Virgin and ChitterChatter both use EE. Giffgaff is O2.

I forgot to mention Talkmobile (Vodafone) that have 1x£7 contract too with 250+5000+500.

prettyflamingo

thanks, these one month contracts, can you run them on a rolling renewal?

grumbler

Yes, they go on indefinitely until you give a 1 month notice to cancel. However, unless you are Virgin Media customer I don't see how 1x£7 contract is much better than giffgaff £7.50 PAYG.

prettyflamingo

ive had a bit of a look at giffgaff and it does look the best deal, i havent come across the t's and c's so cant see if there is a minimum amount of time between topups before you become ineligible for the deal? is it simply top up 7.50 whenever you run out of credit even if that runs into 6 weeks rather than a month?

grumbler

It's a PAYG. You can use your balance to buy a bundle ('goodybag') that lasts for a month. IIRC there are auto-topup and auto-renewal options.

Without a goodibag texts/calls cost 6p/10p, i.e. are expensive.

prettyflamingo

ah right i get it now thanks, i will look further into the giffgaff option...
do you have any idea about the amount of internet that would be used by sending a couple of emails a day? or having a quick look at the odd website?

Tyler_Du

Look at Ovivo

grumbler

I think 250Mb will suffice with correct settings and all updates done via WiFi, but you have to keep a close eye on your usage.

Re Ovivo, it's only 300 texts for free. [STRIKE]Extra 200 texts will cost £4 - indeed cheaper than with giffgaff. The only downside is one-off £20 for the sim card, but £15 is the account topup that will be used later for not free texts.[/STRIKE]
Extra 200 texts will cost £10 (!).