Best Sim-only Deals guide Discussion

brookhouse

lg13mza said:

I contacted them.  Didn't get the new deal, but got a discount and more data (which I wanted anyway).  All-in-all I'm happy.

Nice work. Lebara seems like a basic, as in "no frills", service but easy to deal with them.

SP250

Looked at all the sim only deals on MSE and it seems none of them are for the O2 network.  I am currently with EE and every other call drops out.  After checking with the network coverage for my house, O2 is the only one with half decent coverage.  So where do I go from here?  All suggestions greatfully received.

brookhouse

SP250 said:

Looked at all the sim only deals on MSE and it seems none of them are for the O2 network.  I am currently with EE and every other call drops out.  After checking with the network coverage for my house, O2 is the only one with half decent coverage.  So where do I go from here?  All suggestions greatfully received.

Tesco Mobile is on O2. Also Giffgaff, Sky and LycaMobile.
See if any of them have packages that suit?

CXW

(No longer) Wi-Fi calling: a warning to other SIM-only shoppers:
I need wi-fi calling and it is essential.  I carefully researched on MSE and chose the iD SIM-only deal from MSE during June 2020. There were issues with wi-fi calling in a Samsung phone previously locked to EE but once in a Samsung S7 Edge, everything worked just fine. I needed to buy a new mobile during April 2021 and chose a brand new Samsung A02S, unlocked, from an independent local retailer and tested my iD SIM in the phone before buying to ensure that wi-fi calling worked, which it did.  On May 27th Samsung rolled out their Android 11 update which installed fine but stopped wi-fi calling working. All other permutations have been tried and tested, such as an EE SIM in the A02S phone, wi-fi calling works; the iD SIM in an iPhone, wi-fi calling works, etc.  iD then insisted that the phone I had bought was not EU-stock, (I am currently waiting for Samsung to confirm whether this is true or not) and therefore they would not support it.  

Two weeks later there is no solution from either iD or Samsung who keep passing the buck between themselves. iD now state that they only support wi-fi calling for phones purchased through themselves, which mine isn't, but when I signed up 12 months ago that was not a stipulation, (else I would not have proceeded)  and when I asked for them to confirm the paragraph number in their Terms and Conditions I was supplied with they have ignored the request and their resolution is to offer to "release" me from my monthly contract.  I can't afford (and would not in any case) purchase another phone from iD so I'm back looking on here again and understandably wary of the claims that any of the network providers make about whether wi-fi calling works or not.  None of this is my fault but acting in good faith and researching diligently I am still very frustrated about the service level.  Caveat Emptor!!

brookhouse

Have you found another network/SIM that works with this phone?

CXW

Hi, I can put my work-provided pay monthly EE SIM into the A02S and it works fine; likewise, the iD SIM works fine in the work-provided iPhone, which actually makes the situation even more frustrating since it infers it is a problem solely related to the Android 11 update, but iD are not prepared to investigate a resolution.

CXW

I'm not relishing trying to find a replacement network for obvious reasons because there is clearly no guarantee from any of them that WiFi calling will work to start with then not stop some time later and for the same reason I don't want to contract for more than 1 month. What to do? 🤔

brookhouse

CXW said:

I'm not relishing trying to find a replacement network for obvious reasons because there is clearly no guarantee from any of them that WiFi calling will work to start with then not stop some time later and for the same reason I don't want to contract for more than 1 month. What to do? 🤔

Probably try in a more technical forum than this for advice on Samsung phone and Android update.

I asked in this forum a few weeks ago about MVNOs that support WiFi calling. Someone posted a couple of useful links so you may find a pay monthly (non-contract) provider who'll do it.

CXW

Thanks for the pointer; I tracked down the post and examined each of the offers from the MVNOs; if you can access the small print then mainly, if they offer wifi calling, they cover themselves  by saying the phone must be purchased from them, but since I have just bought a new phone which did work perfectly on iD wi-fi calling then stopped after the Android 11 rollout I'm not in the market for another new phone, particularly buying from an unknown quantity who may or may not bail out of supporting you if the going gets tough. It's all very unsatisfactory...... 

Martin_the_Unjust

Couldn’t you just use WhatsApp or similar?