Work mobile phone for personal use

DD265

Does anybody use their work provided mobile for personal use? How do you find it?

This is an option for me and I'd have a better phone as well as saving a small amount of money. It's quite timely as my contract ends next month and I was looking to go sim only/PAYG to reduce the cost. I've done some searches on Google but I'm no closer to making a decision.

Pros: only have to carry one phone, work phone is better (iphone 6 vs 5S) and has more storage, would save me £15.50 a month on current usage contract.

Cons: I'm reachable by work 24/7, even on holiday, although my number is not given out to customers, just the office. Work can request access to the phone/recall/brick it at any point. I don't know if I could keep my current number, and I'd like to. I think I'd get tempted to look at my work emails out of hours = a slippery slope!

DCFC79

I wouldn't have the office calling me if I'm on holiday, don't answer the call or get a payg sim and give them the number.

Or leave the works phone at home when on holiday and buy yourself a phone if you want others to contact you.

missile

Carrying two phones is a PITA.
I doubt you will be able to keep your number.
If you decide to use works phone for private. I would suggest set the ring tone for work so that you will know if and when they call and you can choose if you wish to answer.

Nebulous2

I much prefer the two phone system. I like to keep work and private life separate, although my work phone is an old Blackberry with limited internet capability.

We operate a sort of honesty system, where we get the bill, identify personal calls and the cost is deducted from salary. If you don't have that then you would have to pay tax as a benefit in kind.

kingrulzuk

I use my work phone to call and text anyone I need to contact and sometimes I use the phone internet, but I do have a cheap Nokia phone with a PAYG sim where all the friends and family contact me, this way I only top up my phone ones a year and make a call every 4 to 5 months to keep the sim card active.

N9eav

I have a 'Union rep' provided phone that I can use as it has unlimited calls and texts and generous data. So I-phone 6s free of charge for me. However I would take calls from workers needing advice... But to be honest that rarely happens out of hours and if it did they needed some urgent help. So no brainer for me. 6s on contract might be £500 a year

System

Keep your personal and work numbers separate, at the very least.

Convert your contract to PAYG if you aren't going to use it often.
A dual sim phone might also be useful.

DD265 wrote: »

Does anybody use their work provided mobile for personal use? How do you find it?

This is an option for me and I'd have a better phone as well as saving a small amount of money. It's quite timely as my contract ends next month and I was looking to go sim only/PAYG to reduce the cost. I've done some searches on Google but I'm no closer to making a decision.

ABARKIE

Get a Dual Sim phone

Some very good models out there, even for say £100, you can still turn the sim off if required

ERICS_MUM

My main concern would be the benefit in kind issue, could be costly.

d123

Heng_Leng wrote: »

Keep your personal and work numbers separate, at the very least.

Convert your contract to PAYG if you aren't going to use it often.
A dual sim phone might also be useful.

Agreed, it's a bad idea. You suddenly become available all day every day and when you want to leave the firm you instantly lose the phone number all your friends and family were contacting you on.

I don't find it difficult to keep my own sim running on a cheap sim only in my the 6s and my work sim is in my old 5s (or change over if/when required).

On leave and on weekends the work sim goes in a drawer.

Exemplar

Don't port your number to a work contract. If you leave you will lose your number unless you agree to a non charge port. I've seen this happen so many times at my work!