PAYG data SIM without expiring data? Is that a thing?

juliushibert

Does any network sell a data SIM with data that doesn't expire?

Looking for a data SIM to use in a tablet. I infrequently use mobile data on it, as I’m usually near a WiFi connection. So looking for a SIM that I can top-up with around 10-50GB of data. Use for 12 months or however long it lasts. A monthly contract doesn’t make sense for me.

I thought I’d seen someone like SMARTY or GiffGaff or Three offering a PAYG SIM along these lines. But can’t seem to find anything. All data SIMS are monthly contracts (even 1-month length) from what I can see so far.

Neil_Jones

As a general rule on PAYG tariffs what you top up with goes towards the calls/texts/data.  If you want the extra data you usually buy it separately as an add-on which runs for typically 30 days.  Otherwise it comes out your credit.

DullGreyGuy

Not done the research but because how accounting works its unlikely...

Prepayment for services creates a liability on the balance sheet and that liability will probably increase with inflation if you allow it to roll forward for years. You can write it down overtime, someone who paid £10 for 5mb in 1990 but never used it is fairly unlikely to try and use it now but it will never reach 0 unless there is an expiry date. Accountants dont want to keep revaluing old liabilities indefinitely. It takes time and effort but its a millstone that just keeps growing over time. 

To fully geek out... a pension scheme can only wind down when they can show they have no liabilities. I've not worked with pensions much in my career but found it very odd when a scheme approached us to look to insure their residual risks which included cover 6 people, who if still alive would be, over 125 years old (well over the world record) but had never claimed their pension (under £10 a year on average)  and so technically were still a liability. 

eDicky

Three UK data-only SIMs with validity up to 12 months are available from eBay sellers, eg:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264881590060?epid=2303211337&hash=item3dac2c4f2c:g:e58AAOSwyANfNA68&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA4FLVb7/WDpsOaEMwjZvOExh8LCwRC6y/gjQqL7HOiWHf8UpAVPqgytg+2grQnRBZLZEPOGwnjPq9TG18CzBsO9xhth/01C+N7RSAfKgHjFZPbU67n2jC68AlBwmZDhc6WRTezTZBKlLAExsOBcnGWmyMitmd5OGWRz7IpO0ZKpetGMewx9x9KiYsOzy4MuhhYxrJeVSESR7P9+Ra5yI6ktIhNgnIsgScM0hqYHHHVxxTSGiMbPE+udUnTXlTqa1dJjEOYh5EQfB6ocXm6KgnAfrA0YjUBq8vdlTRkSNf452w|tkp:Bk9SR9iKw8b0YA

juliushibert

eDicky said:

Three UK data-only SIMs with validity up to 12 months are available from eBay sellers, eg:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264881590060?epid=2303211337&hash=item3dac2c4f2c:g:e58AAOSwyANfNA68&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAA4FLVb7/WDpsOaEMwjZvOExh8LCwRC6y/gjQqL7HOiWHf8UpAVPqgytg+2grQnRBZLZEPOGwnjPq9TG18CzBsO9xhth/01C+N7RSAfKgHjFZPbU67n2jC68AlBwmZDhc6WRTezTZBKlLAExsOBcnGWmyMitmd5OGWRz7IpO0ZKpetGMewx9x9KiYsOzy4MuhhYxrJeVSESR7P9+Ra5yI6ktIhNgnIsgScM0hqYHHHVxxTSGiMbPE+udUnTXlTqa1dJjEOYh5EQfB6ocXm6KgnAfrA0YjUBq8vdlTRkSNf452w|tkp:Bk9SR9iKw8b0YA

Thank you. This is exactly what I was looking for. I knew I’d seen something Like this before. 

Have you bought one of these before? Do they work with 5G? As Three has 5G coverage in my area. 

getmore4less

3 have 24gb 24m Sim £35

A 40gb month till April 2024 £60

Cheapest will probably be one of the discount Sims like the 6m Lebara/Lyca

Running 12gb for 1p a month for 6m.

Think cheapest now is probably £1-£2 month.
Eg 5GB £1.69 6months.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/lebara-30-days-5g-sim-with-unltd-mintxt-eu-roaming-100-intl-mins-5gb-for-ps169-pm-for-6-mths-12gb-for-ps240-for-6-mths-at-lebara-4004244

Regular PAYG 1p MB done that in the past for low use like just maps traffic.

Another option might be RWG £15 then  free 750MB month then PAYG if you go over

jimjames

Tesco doesn't expire as long as used once every 6 months

531063

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/134180099501?epid=11031977068&hash=item1f3dc1d5ad:g:M38AAOSwkUpi29w9&amdata=enc:AQAHAAAAoLjg6NciVTyFkAHqcZAkAc3Xe+cnnDOBJTbvIVnR4tIYIvF+9gfUFuF1BJ9dKob+ghQBDKLD0PIU1IEzWvDdH7Q3Iz27ogOmdov8Z8gllYzoyd0Jdgnq183WF+tNUDrwZsmLsB1to3Kj+qHMjjMJLb/ooi5HphuqVnPre5jgyk/rbXpX7n/PsGxJtByxJq/swfTWBfJc6+6TaQq/7GbIllw=|tkp:Bk9SR6Krvpb1YA

juliushibert

getmore4less said:

3 have 24gb 24m Sim £35

A 40gb month till April 2024 £60

Cheapest will probably be one of the discount Sims like the 6m Lebara/Lyca

Running 12gb for 1p a month for 6m.

Think cheapest now is probably £1-£2 month.
Eg 5GB £1.69 6months.

https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/lebara-30-days-5g-sim-with-unltd-mintxt-eu-roaming-100-intl-mins-5gb-for-ps169-pm-for-6-mths-12gb-for-ps240-for-6-mths-at-lebara-4004244

Regular PAYG 1p MB done that in the past for low use like just maps traffic.

Another option might be RWG £15 then  free 750MB month then PAYG if you go over

All that info is invaluable and exactly what I needed.

I can't thank you enough. 

flaneurs_lobster

A warning from another thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6393523/ee-50-120gb-12-months-data-sim-only-valid-for-6-months