Asda mandatory 180 day top-ups

oliverbrown

Is this webpage out of date?
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/best-pay-as-you-go-sim-cards/

There is no mention of top-ups expiring on Asda, however this page seems to suggest otherwise:
https://mobile.asda.com/help/topping-up/top-up-expire

After 180 days without topping-up or purchasing a bundle your account will become restricted and you won't be able to make calls, send texts or use data, however you will still be able to receive inbound calls and texts.

We will send you a text message when you reach 180 days of inactivity, to reactivate your account, you will need to call us on 0808 006 2732 from any phone (free of charge) and top-up or purchase a bundle.

oliverbrown

Found this older version of the page after some digging:
https://web.archive.org/web/20211107175649/https://mobile.asda.com/help/topping-up/top-up-expire

The 180 day chargeable usage requirement has been replaced with a 180 day top-up requirement.

SpanishBlue

I was just about to move from Three to Asda. Not sure I will now!

Perhaps RWG is a better option now for very low users with a one off £5 payment, giving you 50 free minutes every month with no more top ups ever required. Other slightly more expensive options are available if 50 minutes is not enough for you.

https://www.rwgmobile.wales/rates-plans-eng-per/

flaneurs_lobster

It is possible to top up an Asda account by just £1 if you use their text service (you have to have a payment card registered with them first). What's not clear is if this would satisfy the 180 day top up requirement, can't see why not.

oliverbrown

flaneurs_lobster said:

It is possible to top up an Asda account by just £1 if you use their text service (you have to have a payment card registered with them first).

Minimum text top up is £5.

flaneurs_lobster

Sneaky Asda! That's changed since March when I last topped-up by a quid. I guess it closes an anomaly with their £5 minimum online. 

k_man

Need a plan for the remaining credit on my Asda SIM.
£10 a year moves it outside of my good value, low cost secondary SIM rating.

3wheels

k_man said:

Need a plan for the remaining credit on my Asda SIM.
£10 a year moves it outside of my good value, low cost secondary SIM rating.

Me too, I had expected my original £5 top up to last me a few years. I certainly don't want to give them another £5.

Farway

3wheels said:

k_man said:

Need a plan for the remaining credit on my Asda SIM.
£10 a year moves it outside of my good value, low cost secondary SIM rating.

Me too, I had expected my original £5 top up to last me a few years. I certainly don't want to give them another £5.

This is bad news for me as well, looks like I'll be flitting elsewhere, luckily I've already got RWG SIM so should be easy enough, shame about the reaming credit but I'm not chucking good money after bad for a service I rarely use

k_man

I have other SIMs too. Just begrudge the £3.47 credit wastage 😁.

Oddly my last top-up was over 180 days ago.
Best go wake that device and check for messages.

Sea_Shell

Just seen this!!

Is this for all customers or just new ones?  as we've not received any notification of a change AFAIK.

We're low users and have auto top-up (of £5) set once balance falls below £5.

That lasts us ages.