This mobile phone business is too confusing for me

Willow6

So I will just set out what I am after and hope that some kind soul on here will save me!

I am after a new mobile phone for Christmas for my partner. I want a decent mobile phone and am looking into the £50-£80 kind of bracket for the handset.

My partner is a fairly low user with regard to calls per month so definately want a pay as you go rather than contract. The important thing that I cannot got a grip on where to find is where the best tarrifs are. Please do not link me to the guide in MSE as I have looked at that and visited the comparison sites shown and still had no clue!

Just point me in the direction of a cheap tarif with a reasonable phone. I am not looking to shave a penny here and a penny there just want a good solid deal and not to be ripped off. At the moment I am considering Tesco's standard deal but am not sure if that is the best or even close to it.

Help!

mobilejunkie

Maybe a k750i from somewhere like the Carphone Warehouse. It's still one of my favourite all-round phones despite its age. Should be able to pick one up at that price on a choice of PAYT tariffs. It may come unlocked from cpw - which means (if so) you could simply change networks with a different sim if he wants to at some stage.

Willow6

Any more information on good phones or tarifs?

Dickieburd

I am of the same opinion as you I would look at Tesco Mobile Value Tarriff for all UK landline and Uk mobile calls at 15p/min and all texts to UK landline and mobile phones at 5p each.
If your partner regularly calls up to 3 numbers then they will be cheaper on the Standard tarriff.
A good idea is to register a Standard Tarriff number on the Extra Tarriff and this will be effective for 30 days after switching and will automatically switch onto Extra anytime a top up of at least £15 is made.
So you will be on Standard tarriff but if you ever top up by at least £15 then you will be automatically switched onto Extra tarriff for 30 days and all UK landline and mobile calls are 10p/min and all texts to UK numbers will be 5p. If you do not top up by at least £15 then the tarriff is switched back to Standard with 3 favourite numbers.