Tesco or Plusnet Sim only?

Susan1942

I am now going to buy a phone but want to get sim only. Both Tesco and Plus net particularly have good deals that would meet my needs. I see that Tesco is piggybacked to o2 and that Plusnet to EE.
Plusnet have got 2 great deals 1.5 GB 2000 mins and 1000 texts for £6 ends 18/9. Tesco have got for the same price 500MB 250 mins and 5000 texts. I am currently with o2 on contract which ends 25/9 I have got 300MB 300 mins and unlimited texts and I dont use anywhere near that. I think average 85MB 100 mins and the most ever texts 440 but average monthly 85. I have never had anything other than PAYG and contracts with o2 Have never been with any other than 02.
They have the Motorolo G5 tp buy for £129 but only in blue which is exclusive to them. Their cheapest Sim only is £10 50 with mins and data ok but only 500 texts If I want unlimiited texts I have to pay £13 00.
The Motorolo to buy elsewhere is £149 in gold or grey. I like the grey. I could buy it from John Lewis which would give me a 2 year guarantee. Also Tesco CPW do the phone at the same price. I see CPW use iD sim which is also very cheap. could do with a bit of advice I am nervous about being able to retain my phone no
If I were to buy the phone from o2 do you think they might give me a better deal on the SIM.
Many thanks for the information I know will be forthcoming. Sue

ballyblack

Tesco has got 'Tesco Xtras' app which gives you a further £3 off plus 200mb data

Mister_G

I'm not sure which the better deal will be for you, but I would check that the EE coverage is ok where you are.

I assume that your current O2 coverage is ok, so that may tempt you to stay with a provider who uses their network.

You could always try an EE PAYG SIM, but you would need to make sure that your phone is unlocked.

Susan1942

I assumed that if I buy a phone outright say with John Lewis it would be unlocked? Is this correct? I can see that maybe buying one from o2 might be locked as they sell it as PAYG?
I get great coverage with o2 so as you say it might be wiser to stay with what I know Tesco use o2 ? Would I need to get the PAC code and then give it to Tesco ? Could I do this online as there is not a Tesco store in Harrogate?. Only small shop at garage and a small one in town.
I do appreciate your advice Thank you

[Deleted User]

Susan1942 wrote: »

I assumed that if I buy a phone outright say with John Lewis it would be unlocked? Is this correct? I can see that maybe buying one from o2 might be locked as they sell it as PAYG?
I get great coverage with o2 so as you say it might be wiser to stay with what I know Tesco use o2 ? Would I need to get the PAC code and then give it to Tesco ? Could I do this online as there is not a Tesco store in Harrogate?. Only small shop at garage and a small one in town.
I do appreciate your advice Thank you

Never ever pick a mobile supplier based on price alone, if you can't get a decent reliable signal it's just a small house brick. If O2 coverage is good everywhere you normally roam then stick with them as the network at least.

From MSE's own site that means:-

Major players: Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile
Minnows: LycaMobile, TalkTalk Mobile

You might want to check out each of their sites for the phones and/or sim deals. If you're with Sky and intend to remain (they charge £10 a month more if you leave) then they look like they've got some really good deals at the moment.

Mister_G

Susan1942 wrote: »

I assumed that if I buy a phone outright say with John Lewis it would be unlocked? Is this correct? I can see that maybe buying one from o2 might be locked as they sell it as PAYG?
I get great coverage with o2 so as you say it might be wiser to stay with what I know Tesco use o2 ? Would I need to get the PAC code and then give it to Tesco ? Could I do this online as there is not a Tesco store in Harrogate?. Only small shop at garage and a small one in town.
I do appreciate your advice Thank you

JL phones all appear to be SIM free, so will be unlocked.

O2 PAYG phones are locked to O2 for the first year. They then charge £15 to unlock it.

Yes, Tesco use O2

You will need to get a PAC from O2 by phoning 4445. As far as I know you can't do it online. (You can join O2 online).

You may find this useful

https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/pac-code/tesco-keep-number#Joining_Tesco_From_Another_Network

Hope that helps

Susan1942

Sorry for not getting back yesterday. Yesterday I went into o2 to look at the Motorola G5 o2 have it in blue which is exclusive to them. The person I spoke to said I could buy the phone for £129 + £10 for a sim card . I realised afterwards that this is probably a PAYG and will be locked to o2. I told him that my contract is not up until the 23rd October and he said that I need to wait until 30 days prior to this date. They were offering 250 MB 250 mins and 500 texts at £10 50 for sim only. This is much less than others were offering for less money. He said I would need to make a call for a PAC no and that retention might offer me a better deal.
I had gone into CPW as they had the phone in grey at £149 which seems to be where it is being sold everywhere. They could offer me a Sim with Virgin with 300 MB 300 mins and unlimited texts for £6 which is what I currently have. I have never exceeded this in fact no where near it.
This am I was looking at my account and pressed unlock thinking this would take me another screen. In fact I had actually requested unlocking. I then had a bit of a panic so called o2 I explained what I had done I told the person that I was going to buy a phone when my contract was up and that I was going to leave o2 as I could get a sim elsewhere for less money and more data mins etc
She then said as a loyal customer she could offer my 500 mb 500 minutes and unlimited texts for £6 I would be more than happy to stay with o2 for this deal. She is going to call me on the 23rd of September and I can then go to Sim only. I have good reception etc with o2 It avoids all the messing about of having to retain my number etc so am happy with this.
My only other question is can I just buy the phone without taking it PAYG from o2 or purchase the phone elsewhere. I did ask CPW about warranty and she told me 2 years I cant see this when I check online John Lewis state 2 year warranty If I wanted the phone in grey would CPW sell me the phone only and I would just have the contract for sim only with o2. I would like whoever I buy the phone from to set it up for me probably. I am senior senior and a bit scared of moving things like my photos. Will the new phone take the existing SD card I have in my current phone? Sorry too many questions but I rely so much on the people who post on these forums. Thanks again Sue

ballyblack

I am senior senior and a bit scared of moving things like my photos. Will the new phone take the existing SD card I have in my current phone?

On your current phone download/open Google photos App (it may already be installed)

In settings in Google Photos App click 'free up Space'

All your photos will go up to 'Google photos' cloud

Easily access them there on new phone when you sign in

As regards SD card in new phone it may format wiping all the info on it..

Best to use Google Drive & photos to store everything in the cloud beforehand

Bye the way the Moto G5 can be unlocked in an hour or so on Ebay for under £2


.

Susan1942

I had clicked on unlock on o2 Got a message from o2 saying can't unlock as not our device
It is an o2 contract but I took the contract and new phone from CPW

ballyblack

I said Ebay not o2

Can be unlocked from o2 or any Uk network
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorola-Moto-G-Mobile-Phone-Unlock-Code-Moto-E-Moto-G4-G5-Unlock-Code-/221377839527?hash=item338b25c1a7:g:R2AAAOxyUylTRULO

tazwhoever

JL phones are unlocked and I've been using Tesco SIM only for the past 5 years