PAYG for elderly person with no data

funkey_monkey

Hi,

I need to obtain a PAYG sim for an elderly relative who has to move as Virgin Media is stopping support of PAYG.  The handset they use and prefer does not have internet capabilities and nor do they want to upgrade to a modern handset.  This person has a house phone for the vast majority of calls and only requires a mobile in the case of when they are out and require help or if the landline is not working.

So, I'm trying to find a suitable PAYG deal for them.  They would be limited to the EE or O2 networks.  Is 1pmobile the best option for them as they only need to ntop up £10 every 4 months, or is there anything else suitable out there?

Would their unlimited deal at £36 be the best option (Unlimited calls & texts for a year (1pmobile.com))?  I can't see any faults with it for her scenario.


Thanks.

alanjones60

RWG . 50 mins or texts,and 250mb free every month. No top up required.

RWG runs on EE

Iv been with them 6 months now. No problems at all

BUFF

How much do they actually use the mobile? Giffgaff (owned by O2) PAYG can be operated as either a credit (needs 1 call every 6 months to keep the sim/account active) or plan. If they hardly ever use it then credit will be cheaper. https://www.giffgaff.com/pay-as-you-go

Three are similar - why is this network not an option?

funkey_monkey

Giff-Gaff would be okay as they run on O2 network.  Only EE and O2 networks have sufficient coverage.  Plenty of providers run on those two networks, but there are plenty other which run on Vodaphone or 3 - which are not great in our area.
You might be confusing netowks (4 networks in UK - O2, EE, 3 Vodaphone) and providers who piggyback on their networks (Giff-Gaff, RWG, etc.).

funkey_monkey

Giff-Gaff rates are higher than 1p mobile.  Their credit rates is 25p/min, 10p/text and 10p/MB.  1p mobile is 1p for all.  she would use £36pa so would that not be the better option - or the RWG.

What rate does RWG have if you go over the 50 min/text limit?

alanjones60

RWG rates are 10p a min 10p a text and 5p per mb. Minimum top up is £5. You can buy a top up at any paypoint shop.
You ask for a NOW mobile top up as RWG is owned by NOW mobile

getmore4less

Low use RWG is the cheapest (free) for 50 mins or txt.
If more is needed the extra mins get pricy on PAYG.
75 is £1 which you can swap to on a monthly basis.

Sky(O2) mobile £42 deal for unlimited calls and text with the Nokia 105 is a good shout.
Research how long the SIM will give unlimited. 
Should be at least 12m some say longer.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/search?q=nokia 105

Look at the sky deals on how to do it.

For 1p mobile the annual at £30 may be better than the £10 min top-up as you have £30 up front if your use may be variable an go over the £10 requiring a 4th top-up in a year.

BUFF

funkey_monkey said:

Giff-Gaff would be okay as they run on O2 network.  Only EE and O2 networks have sufficient coverage.  Plenty of providers run on those two networks, but there are plenty other which run on Vodaphone or 3 - which are not great in our area.
You might be confusing netowks (4 networks in UK - O2, EE, 3 Vodaphone) and providers who piggyback on their networks (Giff-Gaff, RWG, etc.).

Not confusing networks - Giffgaff is owned by O2 (or more correctly these days Virgin Media O2) which is why it not surprisingly runs on O2's network ...

How many minutes a month do they use on average?

funkey_monkey

 BUFF said:

funkey_monkey said:

Giff-Gaff would be okay as they run on O2 network.  Only EE and O2 networks have sufficient coverage.  Plenty of providers run on those two networks, but there are plenty other which run on Vodaphone or 3 - which are not great in our area.
You might be confusing netowks (4 networks in UK - O2, EE, 3 Vodaphone) and providers who piggyback on their networks (Giff-Gaff, RWG, etc.).

Not confusing networks - Giffgaff is owned by O2 (or more correctly these days Virgin Media O2) which is why it not surprisingly runs on O2's network ...

How many minutes a month do they use on average?

It would be well under 30min most months.  If they were calling someone for a conversation they would use the landline - they only use it as an emergency and for others to contact them when out of house.  Would do a bit of texting with it, but I'd have no idea of the number of texts.

funkey_monkey

Their handset is a Nokia 1661-2.
Would a handset that old cause problems with providers these days?

Phantom151

If they have Sky then sim only start at about £4 month. Unlimited calls and texts.