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sim card

beattiesman
beattiesman Posts: 330 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
edited 29 May 2023 at 9:30AM in Mobiles
looking for a sim card that you can top up with a voucher from supermarket or paypoint .dont want one that has to be topped up after a certain length of days .not a heavy user calls & texts a some data .thanks 

Comments

  • flaneurs_lobster
    flaneurs_lobster Posts: 4,481 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Which networks do you get a decent signal with?
  • beattiesman
    beattiesman Posts: 330 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    most of them i think but to be sure i would have to check network coverage for suitable sim card 
  • Here's a bunch of free PAYG SIMs  - checking the individual terms for exactly how/when top-up is required and rates charged is needed.

    O2 Classic PAYG SIM (O2)

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154923322856?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=55yUjWKeRd-&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=x4jiurarqrk&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

    Now Mobile (EE)

    https://nowmobile.co.uk/order-free-sim

    Lebara (Vodafone) 

    https://mobile.lebara.com/gb/en/free-sim

    Smarty (Three) 

    https://smarty.co.uk/free-sim

    Other suppliers available 

    https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/best-pay-as-you-go-sim-cards/




  • savergrant
    savergrant Posts: 1,215 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 29 May 2023 at 12:59PM
    looking for a sim card that you can top up with a voucher from supermarket or paypoint .dont want one that has to be topped up after a certain length of days .not a heavy user calls & texts a some data .thanks 
    To be honest I think the ONLY provider which has absolutely no topup requirement (After the initial one) is rwg. There is however a requirement to make a call or send a text every 3 months (so in practice you would have to topup £5 every 25 years to be safe.) That said if you don't use your phone for over three months and your service is restricted  you can call them and I have heard positive experience about restrictions being lifted without fuss. With most networks if you don't meet the minimum topup or make a chargeable event your service may be restricted, and if you don't get the restriction lifted your sim may be disconnected and number recycled. With 1pmobile it isn't may be, it is will be.

    https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/offers/
  • flaneurs_lobster
    flaneurs_lobster Posts: 4,481 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    To be honest I think the ONLY provider which has absolutely no topup requirement (After the initial one) is rwg. There is however a requirement to make a call or send a text every 3 months (so in practice you would have to topup £5 every 25 years to be safe.) That said if you don't use your phone for over three months and your service is restricted  you can call them and I have heard positive experience about restrictions being lifted without fuss. 
    True that, done twice now on two different RMG SIMs, reinstated promptly after email to support. SIMs continued to allow inbound calls/SMS.
  • alanjones60
    alanjones60 Posts: 464 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    The old 02 classic sim dont require a top up either,not topped up for 2 years,still works fine, and the three data reward sim is the same also.
    Plus with the three and rwg sims there is still free roaming,no daily £2 charge. And rwg let you use all your data as well,no cut off point when you are charged extra
  • savergrant
    savergrant Posts: 1,215 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    edited 29 May 2023 at 2:27PM
    The old 02 classic sim dont require a top up either,not topped up for 2 years,still works fine, and the three data reward sim is the same also.
    Plus with the three and rwg sims there is still free roaming,no daily £2 charge. And rwg let you use all your data as well,no cut off point when you are charged extra
    From a previous discussion I think o2 does have a minimum topup every six months. It may not be enforced but it is in t&c's. Ditto asda mobile.

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

    That page reads like 'give us an excuse to end your service' to me

    Asda however are decidedly woolly;

    "As long as you use some mobile data or make a chargeable call or text once every 180 days, your credit won’t expire. Find out more about top-up expiry and keeping your SIM active"

    Then when you click the link;

    "Does my top-up expire?

    For your account credit to remain active you must top-up or purchase a bundle within 180 days of either activating your account (i.e. when you first made a call, sent a text or used data) or the last top-up or bundle purchase you made. Every time you top-up or purchase a bundle within 180 days, this time frame will reset.

    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.

    If after a further 90 days, you haven’t contacted us to top-up or purchase a bundle your account will be expired. Once your account is expired you will no longer be able to retrieve the mobile number or any credit remaining on the account."

  • savergrant
    savergrant Posts: 1,215 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    The old 02 classic sim dont require a top up either,not topped up for 2 years,still works fine, and the three data reward sim is the same also.
    Plus with the three and rwg sims there is still free roaming,no daily £2 charge. And rwg let you use all your data as well,no cut off point when you are charged extra
    3 would be an option though;

    "Pay As You Go SIMs can expire. To keep your number active, you must use it for at least one chargeable activity every 180 days. A ‘chargeable activity’ is something like making a call, sending a text, using your data, or using an existing top-up credit or Data Pack allowance. "

    No mention of what the procedure is if you don't make a chargeable activity though, or whether you can get them to restore the service.
  • brewerdave
    brewerdave Posts: 8,592 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The old 02 classic sim dont require a top up either,not topped up for 2 years,still works fine, and the three data reward sim is the same also.
    Plus with the three and rwg sims there is still free roaming,no daily £2 charge. And rwg let you use all your data as well,no cut off point when you are charged extra
    I've got an O2 Classic PAYG SIM in an old phone I keep for the car. Haven't topped it up for ages BUT when it got "switched off" I was told by the Customer Services agent who re-enabled it ,that I had to make a chargeable call every 2 months to keep the SIM alive. Not sure if that is correct but I now "phone home" ~ 6 weeks or so.
  • savergrant
    savergrant Posts: 1,215 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    It all depends on their attitude to your custom. They won't allow people to join the tariff and have the option to disconnect you, but at the moment they aren't doing so. However in 6 months' time they may feel different.
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