Newbie seeking advice on Giffgaff

joeluken

dazzaofdagenham wrote: »

I've just signed up for that....includes 12 months of premium Spotify....so with unlimited calls and texts...could be a winner.

Some people saying I could have got cashback through top cashback ?

Mobiles.co.uk did the same Voda sim only earlier this week with £120 redemption plus £10 back if you linked via Qudico so it worked out at £9.16 pm average over the year. I don't think it still offering it though.

I also think some early birds managed to get the £20 sim direct from Voda online going via Top Cash Back and got £70-£80 cash back but I seem to recall reading the cash back had now changed/stopped.

It's a good deal but my issue with Voda is poor data coverage when I travel and I had regular problems with scam charges i.e. premium texts, services etc. I still don't think Voda allow customers to prevent out of allowance spend and Voda customer services makes EE ,which is bad, look fantastic !

Hope it works out for you but I suggest keeping a very close eye on your bills.

[Deleted User]

Just a further wee query....

I've been studying 3 Mobile sim only plans. They have an unlimited data with 200 inclusive minutes for £20 a month, with a 12 month contract. They also have a PAYG bundle with unlimited data and 300 minutes for £20. What is there to be gained by signing up for the 12 month contract, when you can get a better deal by repeated purchases of the PAYG bundle? Am I missing something?

joeluken

Deleted_User wrote: »

Just a further wee query....

I've been studying 3 Mobile sim only plans. They have an unlimited data with 200 inclusive minutes for £20 a month, with a 12 month contract. They also have a PAYG bundle with unlimited data and 300 minutes for £20. What is there to be gained by signing up for the 12 month contract, when you can get a better deal by repeated purchases of the PAYG bundle? Am I missing something?

Three sim only plans 12 month or 1 month also offically allow tethering upto the data allowance limit or 12GB tethering allowance if it's an AYCE data plan. Also sim only contracts provide intemised billing.

Three's PAYG bundles officially don't allow tethering and don't provide itemised billing. it may still be possible to tether but it's in breach of Three's T&C's and it may take action i.e. block your sim.

As with all PAYG the price/bundle offered can change at any time without notice i.e. not so long ago the £20 PAYG bundle was £15 whilst the sim only contract must provide notice of change and will not change inside your minimum contract term.

Don't forget to use cash back site Quicdo when buying on line as it is currently offering between £30-50 cash back on Three sim only contacts. So a £20 pm 12 month sim only plan will reduce to £15.33 pm average during its minimum term when factoring the £50 cash back. A the end of the minimum term you can potentially negotiate a better deal. During the next 12 months Three's PAYG bundles may change i.e. different allowance and/or higher price to ensure its sim only plans remains more attractive.

[Deleted User]

Ah, thanks, joeluken, v helpful. As I don't know what tethering means, I assume I don't do it but maybe I'm doing it unknowingly? I see the point of the price change possibility with the PAYG bundle, but I suppose if it becomes too costly or uncompetitive, it would be simple to sign up to a contract. Am I right in saying that contracts can go up in price during their term but only up to RPI inflation?

joeluken

Deleted_User wrote: »

Ah, thanks, joeluken, v helpful. As I don't know what tethering means, I assume I don't do it but maybe I'm doing it unknowingly? I see the point of the price change possibility with the PAYG bundle, but I suppose if it becomes too costly or uncompetitive, it would be simple to sign up to a contract. Am I right in saying that contracts can go up in price during their term but only up to RPI inflation?

Tethering or hotspot simply means using the data connection on your phone like home Wifi and allowing other devices such as other phones, tablets, laptop, game consoles etc access to your mobile data allowance. Great if you have kids or family that use other device to consume data when away from home.

Yes you can move from PAYG to sim only at a future date but Three also changes the price of its plans periodically as do all networks. What I got for £15 sim only at the time is now £33 and cash back deals also change.

Three's sim only plans do not go up with RPI annually only its handset supply contracts.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all the help Joe. I've registered at Quidco and almost sure that I'm going to go for the Three Mobile unlimited data sim only plan at £20 per month for 12 months, with £50 cashback. One final question! Can I buy now via Quidco (in case the £50 cashback is withdrawn) but not activate my contract until just before 10 March (when my contract ends with EE)? I don't want to be paying two providers between now and 10 March. Sorry for all these basic questions, you've been most helpful.

joeluken

Deleted_User wrote: »

Thanks for all the help Joe. I've registered at Quidco and almost sure that I'm going to go for the Three Mobile unlimited data sim only plan at £20 per month for 12 months, with £50 cashback. One final question! Can I buy now via Quidco (in case the £50 cashback is withdrawn) but not activate my contract until just before 10 March (when my contract ends with EE)? I don't want to be paying two providers between now and 10 March. Sorry for all these basic questions, you've been most helpful.

No quidco only tracks the sale when you follow its link to the Three website and make your purchase direct with Three. You're not buying from quidco just using its referral link to the Three website to make your purchase direct.

When buying a sim contract via Three's website you also have a 14 day cooling off return period. You can cancel within the first 14 days and there are no charges provided you don't use any minutes, texts of data from the new contract sim. If you use it and cancel you will be charged out of allowance contract rates for what's been used.

Cindy12

I have a sim only contract with EE it gives me 1000 minutes, unlimited texts and 250 mg for £6.60 a month. I had to buy my phone even that works out cheaper.

joeluken

Cindy12 wrote: »

I have a sim only contract with EE it gives me 1000 minutes, unlimited texts and 250 mg for £6.60 a month. I had to buy my phone even that works out cheaper.

That's a good price if you use mainly minutes and texts. :beer:

The reason giffgaff gets promoted by loads of websites with links to buy and individuals offering free sims is it pays commission of at least £5 per PAYG sim activation.

It's like shooting fish in a barrel and many big it up because their primary interest is earning money. By the time an unsuspecting new customers works out it's maybe not as good as made out the commission is on its way and there's no redress because it's just hearsay or opinion promotion type selling. Giffgaff gets its cash the referrer gets its commission the only one loosing out is the customer !

joeluken

grumbler wrote: »

Vodafone are doing 20gb+Unlimited 12x£20 contract, but I would steer clear of this company.

Just be aware this appears to be a 12 month "discount" price after which the contract rolls on at the non discount monthly price of £40....

"Just had the email through from Vodafone detailing the plan after the sim arrived and the email says...

12 months half-price line rental and the finish date, the monthly line rental shows as being £40 so if you have signed up to this offer make sure you start looking for better offers near the end of the twelve month period."