Non-expiring emergency tariff for elderly relatives

GabbaGabbaHey

I have an elderly (mid 80's) aunt and uncle. He is effectively housebound, but she goes out to do shopping, etc.

A well meaning relative bought them an easy-to-use Dorado handset. Unfortunately, the tariff they are on needs a £10 top-up every month, otherwise the credit expires. As the phone will only be used very occasionally (in an emergency, to call a taxi or make an "I'll be late back" call), this doesn't really meet their needs.

Are there any pay-as-you-go tariffs on which the credit does not expire if the phone is not used?

I'd prefer to stick with the major operators (O2, Vodafone), if possible, as I don't know what coverage is like where they live.

mije1983

Most, if not all, operators have non expiring credit on PAYG (at long as a call or text is made every 6 months to keep the sim active). Are you sure the expiry is not related to a bundle you can buy rather than straight forward PAYG? Which network was it?

With regards to coverage, you really need to find out who is best where your relatives live as every network has blackspots and areas of poor coverage. You can usually pick up sims for free on the networks own websites, so will be able to test what each one is like.

tyllwyd

What tariff is it actually on, and is the phone locked to that network?



I needed an O2 tariff and the one they offered is the big bundle tariff - for that, if you top up £10 in a month, they give you a bundle which expires at the end of the month, but if you have less than £10 credit so you don't have enough for the bundle, it doesn't expire and is just used as PAYG credit in the normal way. If that's the one they are using, it's probably not the best one for them.

jhp

Tesco Mobile Lite runs over o2
http://www.tescomobile.com/help-and-support/1082-pay-as-you-go/1182-call-charges/pay-as-you-go-lite-call-charges

You have to make a call / send a text every 6 months to keep it going.

GabbaGabbaHey

Many thanks for the responses - I'm trying to do this remotely (although I do have the handset - a Doro PhoneEasy 508 - in my possession). Unfortunately it takes a full-sized SIM, and all the other phones in the house are mini- or micro-SIMS, so I've no easy way of telling whether it's locked. The SIM in the phone is a Vodafone one, but it was bought through Phones4U and I don't know what tariff it's on.

When we've visited them, my (O2) phone and my wife's (Vodafone) phone had reasonable signal where they live, hence why I mentioned those operators.

The Tesco Mobile Lite tariff sounds exactly what I want, even if I end up buying them a new handset.

grumbler

If the phone isn't Vodafone-branded, then most likely it's not locked.
10 topup sounds like some Voda's "freebeez". I am not sure how it works, but it seems that you have to enter some code to buy (activate) a bundle. Are you sure that the credit really expires?

Without a bundle the cost is exorbitant - 30 p.m. If the balance is zero, just vote with your feet.

Doro 508 is 2g only. For 2g Tesco Lite is the cheapest with 8p/min. Just order a free sim and check.

Roger1

As pointed out above, most PAYG arrangements require occasional use for credit not to expire. That could just be sending a text, though that's perhaps not the best solution in this case. Three may be useful.

I'm with Three 3-2-1 (PAYG) on one of my phones. Checking my account online, I see

Top-up credit Won't expire

and

Information... Your credit will not expire

I suggest checking with Three, also whether your phone is/can be unlocked to take a Three SIM. A free Three SIM can be obtained at https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Free_sim/Order

EDIT: Re-reading grumbler's post #6, I note that the phone is 2g. Three is 3g, so this advice wouldn't be valid - unless you get a cheap 3g (£10?) from Carphone Warehouse or similar.

System

Roger1 wrote: »

I suggest checking with Three, also whether your phone is/can be unlocked to take a Three SIM. A free Three SIM can be obtained at https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Free_sim/Order

The phone is 2G only so will not work on Three

grumbler

Roger1 wrote: »

... - unless you get a cheap 3g (£10?) from Carphone Warehouse or similar.

I don't know any that cheap 3g handsets, although they do have Samsung Galaxy Y for £15 on PAYG upgrades (including Vodafone). It's not locked and can be used on any network.
I don't think that any smartphone is as 'easy to use' as the above Doro for an elderly person.

Roger1

!!!!!! wrote: »

The phone is 2G only so will not work on Three

Gosh, you're quick. You must have been replying while I was editing!

Herongull

What about White Mobile https://www.whitemobile.com/

Calls 3p/6p per minute to landline/mobiles texts 5p, free voicemail and unlimited calls and texts within network. Works on EE network and any handset.

You just need to make a chargeable call or text every 60 days to keep the sim active.