SIM-only, no data, for only occasional use is so hard to find

Paddy_Landau

SIM-only deals have become so expensive!

I'm looking, on behalf of someone else, for a SIM-only deal.

He makes calls and texts only on the rarest occasion, so he wouldn't use even 10 minutes and 10 texts in a month. Less, typically. He would, on the other hand, receive calls and texts. Definitely no premium calls or texts.

No data at all is required.

It used to be possible to purchase a "bundle" of calls and texts that wouldn't expire for six months, or in Virgin Mobile's case, never if you made a call or text at least once every six months. So, £5 could easily last a year for this person.

But now, the cheapest that I have found is £4 per month, which comes to £48 per annum. I know that it's not much money for most people, but for him, it is.

Have you come across something that would suit his purposes, please?

Chino

Paddy_Landau wrote: »

But now, the cheapest that I have found is £4 per month, which comes to £48 per annum.

You evidently haven't been looking very hard, as even only a cursory search shows this:
https://www.three.co.uk/Store/SIM/Pay_As_You_Go

For the "Free SIM" option (the most relevant option for you, I would imagine), note the requirement to "Call, text or use some data at least once every 6 months to keep active."

[Deleted User]

Or the O2 Classic Pay As You Go , which is very similar to 3's offering. https://www.o2.co.uk/help/pay-as-you-go/classic-pay-as-you-go

its_all_over

Paddy_Landau wrote: »

SIM-only deals have become so expensive!

I'm looking, on behalf of someone else, for a SIM-only deal.

He makes calls and texts only on the rarest occasion, so he wouldn't use even 10 minutes and 10 texts in a month. Less, typically. He would, on the other hand, receive calls and texts. Definitely no premium calls or texts.

No data at all is required.

It used to be possible to purchase a "bundle" of calls and texts that wouldn't expire for six months, or in Virgin Mobile's case, never if you made a call or text at least once every six months. So, £5 could easily last a year for this person.

But now, the cheapest that I have found is £4 per month, which comes to £48 per annum. I know that it's not much money for most people, but for him, it is.

Have you come across something that would suit his purposes, please?

Maybe you should have been searching for pay as you go rather than sim only.

The 2 best pay as you go offerings for a low user have been mentioned by other posters, you just need to check whether Three or o2 is better for coverage where you are.

ValiantSon

Paddy_Landau wrote: »

SIM-only deals have become so expensive!

I'm looking, on behalf of someone else, for a SIM-only deal.

He makes calls and texts only on the rarest occasion, so he wouldn't use even 10 minutes and 10 texts in a month. Less, typically. He would, on the other hand, receive calls and texts. Definitely no premium calls or texts.

No data at all is required.

It used to be possible to purchase a "bundle" of calls and texts that wouldn't expire for six months, or in Virgin Mobile's case, never if you made a call or text at least once every six months. So, £5 could easily last a year for this person.

But now, the cheapest that I have found is £4 per month, which comes to £48 per annum. I know that it's not much money for most people, but for him, it is.

Have you come across something that would suit his purposes, please?

What you are looking for is easily found. You want Pay As You Go. Try Three, who offer a very cheap PAYG SIM. Credit doesn't expire and costs are 3p/min and 2p/text. To keep the account active you just need to send one text every six months. https://www.three.co.uk/Store/SIM/Pay_As_You_Go

ValiantSon

gsmlnx wrote: »

Or the O2 Classic Pay As You Go , which is very similar to 3's offering. https://www.o2.co.uk/help/pay-as-you-go/classic-pay-as-you-go

Less good. O2 require a top-up every six months, which will cost a minimum of £10, while Three only require you to use the phone, so a minimum cost of 2p. Only worth considering if they can't get a Three signal.

Paddy_Landau

Chino wrote: »

You evidently haven't been looking very hard, as even only a cursory search shows this:

Don't be horrible. We spent ages searching. We also contacted a few places — including Three — and none of their Sales people mentioned those options.

its_all_over wrote: »

Maybe you should have been searching for pay as you go rather than sim only.

Ah, that would explain why we didn't find those options! Though, why on earth Three didn't mention their offering is beyond me. Maybe they were pushing their pay-monthly offering?

Thank you so much, people, for now we have something sensible to work with!

[Deleted User]

ValiantSon wrote: »

Less good. O2 require a top-up every six months, which will cost a minimum of £10, while Three only require you to use the phone, so a minimum cost of 2p. Only worth considering if they can't get a Three signal.

I've been on this tariff since January and only topped up at the start. Phone is still working and no warnings from O2 yet about the lack of top up.
Also I cannot find in the T&C's any mention of a 6 month top requirement. There is a requirement to use the phone for a chargeable activity in a six month period

7.1. If you do not carry out any chargeable activity at least once in any 6 month period your Mobile Phone will be disconnected and you will lose any remaining credits balance on your Account. If you wish to be re-connected after this time you will be given a new Mobile Phone number.

https://www.o2.co.uk/termsandconditions/mobile/on-pay-and-go-our-service-terms-are-worth-a-read

Mister_G

I too have been on O2 Classic PAYG since January, with only one £20 initial top up. All still working fine.

If you look here

https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Pay-As-You-Go/Classic-PAYG/m-p/1117692

it looks like you can go 999 days without topping up. However, you must use the phone (make a chargeable call) at least every six months.

I think that O2 are on the case and will be adjusting the Ts & Cs to reflect this, as it is rather ambiguous at present.

Paddy_Landau

I contacted both Three and O2, armed with my new knowledge!

O2 confirmed that:

• You need to make a chargeable call at most 180 days since your last call
• You need to top up at most 999 days since your last top-up

The only significant difference between O2 and Three, as far as I can tell, is that O2 has a number of public WiFi access points that an O2 client may use free. Therefore, O2 seems like our best bet as coverage for both is good in our area.

Thank you again, everyone.

Mister_G

Thank you for getting the situation with O2 Classic PAYG clarified.

Hopefully O2 will update their website, because it's completely wrong at the moment with regard to the top-ups.

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/pay-as-you-go/classic-pay-as-you-go