Free mobile voice, text and data plans coming to UK ( Freedompop )

vinylmusic

I was very sceptical about this deal
Up till now I've been very satisfied with GiffGaff which for a low user like myself has been an excellent deal
However free is better than the £5 a month which I was paying

When my GiffGaff was next due for a top up I started using my Freedompop sim instead, keeping my GiffGaff sim in a cheap basic Samsung which I bought ages ago for a fiver so i can still receive calls on that number and have it to fall back on

It hasn't gone without its teething problems. You have to set it up properly to the letter which I being a clever !!!! didn't do right and nothing worked
Finally I learned that I had to remove the sim, power off the phone. Then replaced the sim and power it up again. Then it was fine

So far so good. A free month on premium. cant complain
I've had a couple of dropped calls and some text messages that failed
I also learned that one should turn off data from the start. I used up around 670mb of my 1gb in a couple of hours or so because I thought I was still using wifi

Some things I'm not clear about
if I go over mt quota do I pay per minute/text/mb data or an i automatically upgraded to the next level? Or does it just stop working till I either top up or wait till the next monts allowance kicks in?

I did get one clear answer
I have to remember to downgrade before end of the 30 days orI'll be paying £9.99
I asked if I downgraded early would I still have my premium allowance till the end of the 30 days duration. The answer was No, I'd lose it so i sey my phone alarm to remind me

Strangely enough the Freedompop messaging app downloaded ok but there is no icon for it. I have to go into google play each time to find it. then it works

I hope the above info is of use to someone
I'm curious about experiences of others
Has anyone discovered any perks or pitfalls? I'd love to hear all the fors and againsts

mobilejunkie

I use mine only for data; therefore avoided the app. Works perfectly and I watch my use. Already downgraded (2 sims). I only use it now and then so mb are low, which suits me on this phone.

I believe they charge your credit card automatically if you exceed your allowance (I never will) - providing those details for that were necessary to have an account with them.

d123

I've discovered a significant problem with FonePop and won't be recommending them as a usable phone service from now on (it's still ok for those wanting data and texts).

FonePop only allow calls to 01, 02 numbers and 07 mobile numbers, they have blocked access to any 08xx including 0800 and also to all 03xx. It is not possible to call any 03 or 08 number even as a chargeable extra.

I've pointed the OFCOM regulations out to them about free access to 0800 and 0808 and requiring them to include 03xx in allowance and they say they don't care as they consider themselves a VOIP provider not a mobile service.

I've reported them to OFCOM, but with the usual slowness of OFCOM the odds are FonePop will have gone bust before OFCOM takes any action.

redux

d123 wrote: »

... and they say they don't care as they consider themselves a VOIP provider not a mobile service.

That's a bit funny to me, as they refused to tell me the SIP settings.

The reason I had asked is their app blocks outgoing call use of the other SIM in a dual SIM phone, so I'd like to try their SIM in an old Nokia.

d123

redux wrote: »

That's a bit funny to me, as they refused to tell me the SIP settings.

The reason I had asked is their app blocks outgoing call use of the other SIM in a dual SIM phone, so I'd like to try their SIM in an old Nokia.

Their exact words:

We understand your point, however, we are different from other service providers. We are a VoIP service. This imply that chargeable calls does not apply to our service, and all calls will be billed through the call allowance that you have on your plan

vinylmusic

when you don't hava a data connection they use the 3 network
This must be true because I have made calls well out of range of a wifi connection

vinylmusic

I've ditched my freedompop and gone back to GiffGaff
I had too many dropped or failed calls and most text i tried to send failed
Its too unreliable
Nice idea but rubbish

Roger1

FrredomPop are offering a free international data service with a SIM costing £10:
http://uk.freedompop.com/worldwideuk

But when I try to order, I get

FreedomPop Global SIM

A new trio SIM with global data works in all compatible devices including Google Android and Apple iOS smartphones. The SIM will automatically be remotely updated as new countries are added to global coverage.

Price: £10.00 (Retails for £10.00)

Temporarily Sold Out

redux

Roger1 wrote: »

FrredomPop are offering a free international data service with a SIM costing £10:
http://uk.freedompop.com/worldwideuk

But when I try to order, I get

I get:

Email address already in use!

If I change email address and put a German postcode:

Valid UK postal code required. Be sure to add a space before the last 3 digits.

Different email, and UK postcode, same message as you, temporarily sold out.

If they have actually launched this, it's a shame they didn't email people on their list.

vinylmusic

I was so fed up with dropped calls and failed text that I felt that I decided to downgrade back to the free plan. ( I had been offered the premium plan free for first month)
I could have continued till the end of the 30 days but knowing me I'd probably forget and go over so best downgrade now.
I know I've hardly used any data because apart from downloading the freedompop apps I only use wifi and as a precaution I switched off mobile data. Now I'm curious how I managed to use 700mb of data over 5 days
Although on the trial it said I'd get 1gb free it also said if I revert to the Free package I'd have to pay for the data i've used over 200mb
That must mean that I'm going to be charged for 500mb usage
It did advise to wait till the end of the free trial before downgrading but that would be a huge risk as things were going. If in 5 days I supposedly used 700mb I'd hate to think how much it would have amounted to if I continued for another 25 days
I cant help feeling ripped off already as I can see I am set to be charged for 500mb that I didn't use
It's a pitfall I hadn't anticipated

So much for their advertizing spiel

Free is really Free, no gimmicks or games. FreedomPop believes mobile access is a right and not a privilege and is committed to offering basic levels of mobile service 100% truly free. If you need more than basic, we hope you will pay for our bigger plans that are priced well below the market.

I also found this under their q&a:
If you go over your monthly data amount, your credit card on file will be charged a small amount so that you may continue using your FreedomPop service without interruption. The overage rate is as follows:

Free plans = 1.5p/mb (£5/333mb)
Paid plans = 1p/mb (£5/500mb)
If I'm right that means I'm going to be £7.50 out of pocket for two short phone calls and 3 downloaded apps.
They have my card detaikls so theres nothing I can do about it
Needless to say I'm really cheesed off