Cheapest unlimited or nearly mobile data plans?

GervisLooper

I don't feel like I want to commit to a 12 month contract at this stage so I guess suggestions payg or rolling monthly offers.

I see smarty have one, which is monthly, for £20 per month.

Is that the best offer around?

Rodders53

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/sim-only/ 
click on show all deals and reset filters to choose unlimited.

Smarty U/L is on offer at £15 there as a rolling monthly.

It all depends on which networks work where you live and travel to...  Smarty and IDMobile use the 3 network...

If you need O2 or Vodafone then different MVNOs will be needed.

GervisLooper

Rodders53 said:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cheap-mobile-finder/sim-only/ 
click on show all deals and reset filters to choose unlimited.

Smarty U/L is on offer at £15 there as a rolling monthly.

It all depends on which networks work where you live and travel to...  Smarty and IDMobile use the 3 network...

If you need O2 or Vodafone then different MVNOs will be needed.

Hmm I am currently with now mobile which use ee so not sure how 3 would be. It is a rural area so don't know but isn't that another one of the big ones with the best coverage isn't it?

flaneurs_lobster

GervisLooper said:

Hmm I am currently with now mobile which use ee so not sure how 3 would be. It is a rural area so don't know but isn't that another one of the big ones with the best coverage isn't it?

Reception quality on mobiles can be very localised, particularly if you are concerned with indoor reception. 

Ask local friends/neighbors which network they use and if they are happy with it.

You could get SIMs from suppliers for different networks to try but getting them activated to check them out is likely to cost around a tenner each (think you might be able to try Asda (Vodafone) for a fiver).

GervisLooper

I don't know anyone where I am.

3 seems to be covered here according to online checker.

Idmobile has much better pricing for none unlimited with much larger allowances per pound than smarty. Thought I could try with an estimated low ballpark one and go up if still wanting more.

However from what I read on their website you are not able to check your balance online which makes it an automatic no-go as I am using this only for laptop connection so must have a way to check either by internet or sms, neither which seem to be available for id. Smarty however state they can be checked by logging in to your account.

ButtersUK

I make absolutely no claim to expertise on mobile phone MVNOs but have had a little experience and wonder what the thoughts of others might be given that things change over time.

As far as I can see the more popular MVNOs are as follows.

Asda, Lebara, Talkmobile and Voxi use Vodafone

1p Mobile, RWG, ecotalk and SPUSU use EE

giffgaff,Sky mobile,Tesco use o2

Smarty and ID mobile use Three

o2 used to sel a thing called  321 Classic Pay As You Go at 3p for calls, 2p for texts and 1p per gigabyte but no longer sell it, although you still see adverts for it on ebay etc.  (surely the terms and conditions must have changed for these SIMs)   I have one of the original, early issue ones in my wifes phone and it still works OK. There's no regular top up required which why it's good for her as a low user.

RWG looks cheap on paper but reviews say customer service is poor

1p mobile apparently has solid customer service  (in the UK) and gets good reviews but no longer does PAYG and has put it's minimum annual spend up a few times. The website is a bit confusing and some stuff is a bit hard to find.

Talkmobile seems respectable all round. The cashback sites do offers I believe. I might look closer at them if I change.

I've got Asda and Tesco SIMS in spare phones and they present no problems as spare SIMs but when you ring CS they're overseas and the service you get is a bit hit and miss. I make six monthly texts to keep them alive.

I have an EE monthly 25gb unlimited calls contract at £10.25 and the customer service (in the UK) has been good for me and EE coverage is reckoned to be the widest. It runs out in April and I'll look to see if they'll lower the price to nearer the MVNO costs as I use little of the capacity.

MSE does deals on some of the above, probably worth a look. 

I'd love to hear how folks get on with the SIM of their choice especially for people like me who are not mega users but would like a decent experience with customer service if ever the need arose, particularly a usable phone help line where they speak sufficiently clearly and slowly so as to have a meaningful conversation.

flaneurs_lobster

ButtersUK said:

o2 used to sel a thing called  321 Classic Pay As You Go at 3p for calls, 2p for texts and 1p per gigabyte but no longer sell it, although you still see adverts for it on ebay etc.  (surely the terms and conditions must have changed for these SIMs)   I have one of the original, early issue ones in my wifes phone and it still works OK.

That would be 1p per MB. I've got a couple of these and yes, still work fine. Some mention on here and elsewhere that they require a £10 top-up every 6mths but this has not been my experience (yet) and one of them has been live for 3+ years.

Otherwise I think you're spot on. I've also got RWG, 1p, Giffgaff. 

Giffgaff is worth a mention, can be used as a pure PAYG and they have FINALLY got Wi-fi calling working. Support (for anything other than personal or billing matters which are handled offline) is supplied by other "members" who offer their experience and expertise in exchange for airtime credit inan online forum. It's perfectly possible to run an account for zero cost just by spending a few hours a week answering other user's questions. 

My only PAYM is Vodafone, 120GB/mth full-fat for £7/mth (USwitch deal). Always found their CS very helpful and knowledgeable, even when sorting out some techy stuff to do with shared smartwatch accounts and roaming credits. Not to be confused with Vodafone Broadband CS who are dreadful.

virgo17

ButtersUK said:

1p mobile apparently has solid customer service  (in the UK) and gets good reviews but no longer does PAYG and has put it's minimum annual spend up a few times. The website is a bit confusing and some stuff is a bit hard to find.

I think it is more accurate to say that 1P Mobile still provide PAYG but subject to a minimum take (actual use or debit) of £10 every two months.

ButtersUK

Yes, most certainly banged to rights there regarding gigabytes and megabytes. Hands held higjh.

No experience of giffgaff at all and certainly not qualiied to offer anyoine else advice, more's the pity.

Has your RWG experience been as patchy as others?  Some feedback appears dire. Don't think I'd risk it myself.

I confess 1p would get more serious consideration to replace my EE monthly £10.25 contract (which will go up in April, of course). It would be one of their annual plans given that you can ring someone in the UK and you, apparently, get the full EE coverage.

But people do seem happy with their Talkmobile experience. Owned by Vodafone and been going for ages and allows you to speak to a human. A fiver a month for 5GB (MSE deal) would suit me.  

Is there a drawback to the deals via MSE and Uswitch etc? Or the £25 cashback through the cashback site(s)?

I'll look to see what Uswitch Vodafone deals are available. I certainly don't need 120GB though.

My broadband is, of course, another topic.

I've been with Idnet for many years but am increasing aware that I ought to go FTTP and Andrews and Arnold have a distinct appeal. But, like I say, thats a matter for another thread.

ButtersUK

virgo17 said:

ButtersUK said:

1p mobile apparently has solid customer service  (in the UK) and gets good reviews but no longer does PAYG and has put it's minimum annual spend up a few times. The website is a bit confusing and some stuff is a bit hard to find.

I think it is more accurate to say that 1P Mobile still provide PAYG but subject to a minimum take (actual use or debit) of £10 every two months.

Point taken.

ButtersUK

UPDATE to my previous ........

Uswitch now show 40GB for £8.

Certainly no longer 120GB for £7.

That, for you, was a bargin  an' no mistakin'  !