Few questions re upgrading vodafone sim only via mobiles.co.uk

isayhello

flaneurs_lobster said:

Yes, quick and easy to upgrade, service was continuous. Just be careful, as @On-the-coast says, the "new contract" and "upgrade" parts of the website look pretty much identical. If you're not asked for your existing number then you're in the wrong bit.

Sure, thanks. I guess if I'm going to TalkMobile then I go via the new contract route and then give them my PAC number to port across.

On-the-coast

Thanks, I'm glad it went ok for you. I may go with TalkMobile, can I ask what your experience was with them vs now being on voda direct, is network coverage the same etc? customer service?

Just curious why you went to voda as TalkMobile deals seem to be a bit cheaper.

Ironically (and i'd be interested in a follow up from @flaneurs_lobster, who said "no roaming included..." above) the main reason i went with Vodafone was that talkmobile (at the time) made buying a roaming update just about impossible (this was 3 years ago)... so i went with vodafone who allowed you to purchase roaming fairly cheaply.
Actually i just did my own follow up... and it's more complicated than i thought... i get free roaming in Norway (where i happen to be going in a few weeks, but not in France, where i expect to be in 2 months - I'm glad for the cross-check prompting!)

the secondary reason is that i'm certain i get unrestricted full speed 5G data with the package I'm on with Vodaphone (i checked carefully, avoided the "basics" packages)... I'm not so sure of that with the virtual providers....  I like to save money, but I'm also happy to pay more for better service.  There are times (e.g. when my wired ISP goes down) that i need a few days of fast data.  The network coverage itself should be identical (and since my other half still has Talkmobile i agree - although unscientifically)... 

https://www.mobiles.co.uk/vodafone-sim-only-deals-upgrades is where you want to be if you're sticking with vodafone.

And I've never had any problems with either talk-mobile or vodafone service, though i'd take vodafone on principle if the pricing was near equivalent (e.g. i was able to drive to a vodafone shop and get my SIM sorted out easily when i had problems)

mobiles.co.uk has currently on the upgrade path,120GB for £7 (vodafone) or 200GB for £8 (which is what i went with)
i don't see any Talkmobile there for new SIM only deals.
There is an IDmobile deal at £4 for 40GB for 2 years which looks pretty good (i'd have taken a 2 year vodafone deal if there had been one... avoids hassle after 12 months.)
I'd avoid the really cheap networks like Voxi, Lebara...

isayhello

On-the-coast said:

https://www.mobiles.co.uk/vodafone-sim-only-deals-upgrades is where you want to be if you're sticking with vodafone.

And I've never had any problems with either talk-mobile or vodafone service, though i'd take vodafone on principle if the pricing was near equivalent (e.g. i was able to drive to a vodafone shop and get my SIM sorted out easily when i had problems)

mobiles.co.uk has currently on the upgrade path,120GB for £7 (vodafone) or 200GB for £8 (which is what i went with)
i don't see any Talkmobile there for new SIM only deals.
There is an IDmobile deal at £4 for 40GB for 2 years which looks pretty good (i'd have taken a 2 year vodafone deal if there had been one... avoids hassle after 12 months.)
I'd avoid the really cheap networks like Voxi, Lebara...

Thanks, I think I'd seen the TalkMobile option on the MSE deal finder page, they don't seem to be listed on mobiles.co.uk as a network I can choose on the sim only deal options. 

You make some good points and I'm the same, happy to stick with voda if it was just 1 or 2 pounds more but for 6 or 7 pounds, and with roaming included, as well as TalkMobile claiming there is no price increase next year, I think it's worth the change. It also feels safer to port away than upgrade as it sounded a bit confusing from your experience.

flaneurs_lobster

On-the-coast said:

Ironically (and i'd be interested in a follow up from @flaneurs_lobster, who said "no roaming included..." above) the main reason i went with Vodafone was that talkmobile (at the time) made buying a roaming update just about impossible (this was 3 years ago)... so i went with vodafone who allowed you to purchase roaming fairly cheaply.
Actually i just did my own follow up... and it's more complicated than i thought... i get free roaming in Norway (where i happen to be going in a few weeks, but not in France, where i expect to be in 2 months - I'm glad for the cross-check prompting!)

I just checked my plan (RED) and, as you say, free roaming in Republic of Ireland, Isle of Man, Iceland & Norway! Who knew? There are some so-call XTRA plans with further inclusive roaming.