Advice please on PAYG SIM

Cyberman60

I want to change from a monthly contract with O2 as I make few calls, mostly texts, and can spend up to six months out of the UK. I am paying 16 quid this month and think this is far too much when I am often not even here.

When abroad I buy a local SIM and usage costs peanuts, so obviously I would like similar in the UK.

Any ideas please ? I would just like to be able put an amount on the phone as credit and just use it as and when, as I do abroad. I have an unlocked smartphone, have no need for data as I use free hotspots(eg: The Cloud), my own broadband etc.

Thanks in advance !!! :beer:

Scrounger

Three's '321' tariff is currently the best value payg. :beer:
Scrounger

JJ_Egan

Giffgaff payg uses the O2 network .

Im_just_careful

[URL="wlmailhtml:{DCB17544-3E7C-48A8-B690-65133E9D714E}mid://00000150/!x-usc:http://www.paygdeal.co.uk/"]http://www.paygdeal.co.uk/[/URL] will help you evaluate options but it is hard to beat "3" and 3 2 1 for low use.

zagubov

321 is the one I'm on and I can't find anything remotely comparable.. The only thing cheaper were the ridiculously cheap low-usage £1 contracts by Vectone and Takmobile, and they're not available now.

Do check whether the account is closed if not used for several months, if you're away for a long time.

d123

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Giffgaff payg uses the O2 network .

Giffgaff also suffers from low priority on the O2 network which mostly shows through extremely poor data speeds and reliability.

They are also in the middle of a drastic "consultation" where they are making huge increases to their prices (for example, what currently costs £12 a month appears to be increasing to £20 a month).

I don't think it is currently worth recommending Giffgaff as a budget or good value provider, at least not until they make public the specifics of their increases and fix the congestion and data speeds.

matelodave

I went to 3's 3-2-1 when Asda changed their service provider and so afar I've been mightily impressed.
Since March I've got through under £5 which consists mainly of calls, a few texts and a bit of mucking about with data. Even a 10 minute call only costs 30p so I reckon it's a bargain.
I haven't found anywhere yet where it won't work (except out at sea on my mates yacht)

Niv

d123 wrote: »

Giffgaff also suffers from low priority on the O2 network which mostly shows through extremely poor data speeds and reliability.

They are also in the middle of a drastic "consultation" where they are making huge increases to their prices (for example, what currently costs £12 a month appears to be increasing to £20 a month).

I don't think it is currently worth recommending Giffgaff as a budget or good value provider, at least not until they make public the specifics of their increases and fix the congestion and data speeds.

I do not disagree regarding the priority but the £12 to £20 bit is incorrect. Where that comes from is the unlimited data element - new customers would have to buy the £18 goodybag (the £20 bag is being reduced in price) to get unlimited data where in the past you could get it for £12, however the call allowance was different between the old £12 and £20 options. Existing customers (joining before 24th Sept I believe - but the cut off may be different form this, if anyone is interested I would check the website first) can still get unlimited data for £15pm.

Graham1

If you are out of the country for long periods make sure you read the small print on PAYG terms. Each have different periods after which if you have not topped up or made a call the balance is forfeit and the number is released. 180 days used to be the common standard but most of the MVNOs have shorter periods for this, down to 60 days.

J_B

Graham1 wrote: »

after which if you have not topped up or made a call the balance is forfeit and the number is released. 180 days used to be the common standard but most of the MVNOs have shorter periods for this, down to 60 days.

I think the phrase is incurred a chargeable event rather than 'topped up or made a call'
An incoming call is fine IME

Graham1

That may be the case for some suppliers but I would suggest reading the precise T&C as some do say "made calls or topped-up" in the last N days for their disconnection condition. It's not always clear if texts count, some say they do, others don't say. Most have an additional grace period during which if you do another top-up you are reconnected, but after that both number and balance are gone.