Cheapest SIM to receive texts on?

expl0rer

Hello. I'm looking for a SIM that would only be used to receive text messages on.

Rates per minute / text / MB are not that relevant, as I'm not going to use those, unless I have to to keep the number. The important thing is to keep the number indefinitely without having to top up often.

Suggestions welcome.

ballyblack

credit will not expire providing you use your SIM card at least once every six months with most  providers. So thats under £1 a year

mgfvvc

ballyblack said:

credit will not expire providing you use your SIM card at least once every six months with most  providers. So thats under £1 a year

Some, maybe most, providers have a minimum top up. 1p mobile requires £10 every 4 months and O2 £10 every 6 months.

RWG Mobile say credit never expires on their PAYG.

alanjones60

Iv got a 02 classic sim,not topped up 4 at least 5 years,and still works fine,i just send a text every 6 months to keep it active

ballyblack

alanjones60 said:

Iv got a 02 classic sim,not topped up 4 at least 5 years,and still works fine,i just send a text every 6 months to keep it active

I have the same with Tesco mobile, no £10 every 6 months to keep it active

mgfvvc

alanjones60 said:

Iv got a 02 classic sim,not topped up 4 at least 5 years,and still works fine,i just send a text every 6 months to keep it active

I had two of those, but one was cancelled even though I was sending a text every 6 months. 

There are 3 things you need to be aware of:

1. The original classic O2 PAYG only required one chargeable event every 6 months, e.g. a text
2. Current O2 PAYG requires a topup every 6 months.
3. A previous post on here states that O2 no longer count a text as a chargeable event on the original PAYG plans

The last one would explain why the emergency phone I kept in my car lost its service, even though I had a 6 monthly reminder to send a text and keep it active. It's also possible that I didn't act on the last reminder, but I think that's unlikely.

alanjones60

mgfvvc said:

alanjones60 said:

Iv got a 02 classic sim,not topped up 4 at least 5 years,and still works fine,i just send a text every 6 months to keep it active

I had two of those, but one was cancelled even though I was sending a text every 6 months. 

There are 3 things you need to be aware of:

1. The original classic O2 PAYG only required one chargeable event every 6 months, e.g. a text
2. Current O2 PAYG requires a topup every 6 months.
3. A previous post on here states that O2 no longer count a text as a chargeable event on the original PAYG plans

The last one would explain why the emergency phone I kept in my car lost its service, even though I had a 6 monthly reminder to send a text and keep it active. It's also possible that I didn't act on the last reminder, but I think that's unlikely.

Thanks for that,il make a call now instead of text,its in a spare phone,only keep it really cause its a memerable number,full of 5s and 3s after 07

brewerdave

When my O2 Talkalot 09 PAYG phone stopped ,I got it reactivated by C.S - The agent told me that I had to make a chargeable call or text every 180 days to keep it active.

savergrant

mgfvvc said:

ballyblack said:

credit will not expire providing you use your SIM card at least once every six months with most  providers. So thats under £1 a year

Some, maybe most, providers have a minimum top up. 1p mobile requires £10 every 4 months and O2 £10 every 6 months.

RWG Mobile say credit never expires on their PAYG.

To be fair most networks will say that credit never expires so long as the sim is kept active. Where they differ us how easy it is to get service restored if you don't keep them active, some will restrict outgoing usage for 3 months and then disconnect, others will disconnect much sooner. From other threads rwg are very good at removing restrictions if you ask, whereas some networks will insist you make a topup to restore your service.

flaneurs_lobster

savergrant said:

mgfvvc said:

ballyblack said:

credit will not expire providing you use your SIM card at least once every six months with most  providers. So thats under £1 a year

Some, maybe most, providers have a minimum top up. 1p mobile requires £10 every 4 months and O2 £10 every 6 months.

RWG Mobile say credit never expires on their PAYG.

From other threads rwg are very good at removing restrictions if you ask, whereas some networks will insist you make a topup to restore your service.

FWIW, I asked RWG to restore service to a restricted SIM last Thursday evening (online form). Back working by 10am next day (confirmed by email). That SIM has had ~ £5 credit on it for the last 3 years, lives in the car.