Best Sim-only Deals guide Discussion

brookhouse

Uswitch offering 10GB for £10 per month on EE.
Any good? Any catches? EE usually much more expensive so tempting because the signal is good for me.

Farway

brookhouse said:

Uswitch offering 10GB for £10 per month on EE.
Any good? Any catches? EE usually much more expensive so tempting because the signal is good for me.

Compare with the Plusnet one, also using EE 10Gb unlimited text etc. 30 day rolling contract

If same I'd go with EE and jump ship if a catch appears later

badobsession81

Just another query as to whether anyone knows what deals are available for apple watch plans?

I'm on a SIM only EE deal at the moment, but it isn't clear what, if any, plans I can move to and still keep an apple watch cellular plan for using the apple watch without my phone. Can anyone point me in the right direction? I've seen that O2 now support Apple Watch, but do other providers that use the O2 or EE networks allow you to keep using apple watch if you move to them? Hope that makes sense. Thanks.

Stangi

Vodafone basics sim brill! Virgin pac code difficulties though. I don't use data on my mobile phone (just use internet at home on tablet/notebook). I am really pleased with my Vodafone basics sim £6 pm (heard about from mse email) which gives me unlimited calls and texts (plus some data if I wanted it). All I need as I don't need roaming etc. You can choose limit.  Porting my number from Virgin Mobile was difficult from the Virgin end though, because the automatic text for getting the PAC code just kept coming back with a 'technical difficulties, try again later' message and this method never worked. So I was forced to ring Virgin on 789 and it was like pulling teeth. Many security checks to make sure it was me. Not being forthcoming with the reason I could not get a pac code. Had to insist she told me how to remedy this. The fact they'd sent me a new sim (which I didn't order but they felt necessary) which had not arrived anyway, meant I had a "pending order" showing on my account, which was preventing generation of a pac code. Only on my insistence would she cancel the new unused sim, so that I could get a pac code. Then the code she told me verbally was one digit different from the code I was then texted. I gave the texted one to Vodafone and from thereon on my change of mobile provider went like clockwork. Virgin are changing the provider they piggyback on, so many people will unknowingly have these 'pending orders' blocking their pac code generation, if they want to leave. Getting hold of Virgin Customer Services is even more difficult at the moment, so many are being prevented from leaving them. None of the newer Virgin sims would ever work in my old sony walkman phone, circa 2007, and apparently if you have a phone older than 2016, be prepared for problems with their new sim. Because of this and the uselessness of their offshore customer service, I wanted to leave Virgin before my old sim card stopped working when they changed provider. I feel free. And my new provider even has some UK based callcentres, bonus. Thought the info about the reason for prevention of pac code generation on Virgin's part might be useful for others wishing to leave them.  

oldagetraveller1

That's a 12 months tie in though at £6/month.

You probably require more inclusive minutes, but I'm happy with Lebara (VF network) at £4.95 monthly rolling. 2Gb/1000 minutes/unlimited sms. They even credited £10 for porting a number to them.

jmm8997

Called 3 to see if they would straight up match MSE's MobilePhonesDirect (MPD) offer.  They suggested MPD would make payout onerous, require a claim process, submit bills etc. I asked if they could match the overall price, £6.33, they would not.  The best they could offer is £8. I requested PAC code.  I then called MobilePhonesDirect.  They confirmed I would be issued a new SIM card with a new number, and then I would have to ask Three to transfer it.

Three* – top pick MSE Blagged, via MobilePhonesDirect	Equiv £6.33/mth – you pay £8/mth but get £20 automatic cashback within 90 days (2)	12 months	8GB	Unltd	Unltd

brookhouse

oldagetraveller1 said:

That's a 12 months tie in though at £6/month.

You probably require more inclusive minutes, but I'm happy with Lebara (VF network) at £4.95 monthly rolling. 2Gb/1000 minutes/unlimited sms. They even credited £10 for porting a number to them.

Think I might go with Lebara for my second phone (I have to carry an iPhone and an Android phone to test software). They seem pretty good

brookhouse

jmm8997 said:

Called 3 to see if they would straight up match MSE's MobilePhonesDirect (MPD) offer.  They suggested MPD would make payout onerous, require a claim process, submit bills etc. I asked if they could match the overall price, £6.33, they would not.  The best they could offer is £8. I requested PAC code.  I then called MobilePhonesDirect.  They confirmed I would be issued a new SIM card with a new number, and then I would have to ask Three to transfer it.

Three* – top pick MSE Blagged, via MobilePhonesDirect	Equiv £6.33/mth – you pay £8/mth but get £20 automatic cashback within 90 days (2)	12 months	8GB	Unltd	Unltd

Is it really worth your time and trouble? Will go up with RPI and after the first year.

jmm8997

@brookhouse You're right, it doesn't seem worth the effort, but I want to check what the Three call-centre operator said. I used BillMonitor analysis, they recommend;

To match the way your use your phone...

489 MB Data | 22 minutes Calls | 1 messages Texts | 2 minutes Voicemail

...This is the right contract for you

Vodafone Basics

4G contract † | 2 GB Data | Unlimited Calls * | Unlimited Texts * | 12 month contract

£0 upfront £6 a month No Roaming Available

Monthly cost £6.04 over 12 months

---

Save £38.40 over 12 months

oldagetraveller1

brookhouse said:

oldagetraveller1 said:

That's a 12 months tie in though at £6/month.

You probably require more inclusive minutes, but I'm happy with Lebara (VF network) at £4.95 monthly rolling. 2Gb/1000 minutes/unlimited sms. They even credited £10 for porting a number to them.

Think I might go with Lebara for my second phone (I have to carry an iPhone and an Android phone to test software). They seem pretty good

Currently using with a second phone too. 1000 minutes is more than enough for me. Been with them about four months now, no problems encountered. The £4.95 is debited, from the card save in my account, each month and I can cancel at any time. Main phone is BT Mobile, 12 months minimum. When that I might port the BT number to Lebara or a different Lebara sim.

Contacted Lebara twice via "chat", before opting for them and once recently re upgrading. Very helpful advisors.

Still have the £10 credit too.