Three PAYG MBB Data Packs on what was a Data Reward SIM.

Phones4Chris

When Three stopped the Data Reward without notifying me of the changes, my complaint got me some decent credit and a 12m Data pack, the latter ran out last December. I only need to use Data on it very periodically, but when I do it's often larger amounts.
Since the days of Data Reward, the Data Packs on Standard PAYG have improved significantly and  MBB Data packs are poor value in comparison for the amount of Data. However, back in the day I was told that the MBB Data SIMs connected to different servers which I assume gave a better priority data service. I don't know if that's still the case - I need to try and check - unless anyone knows for sure.

Using the App on the phone, for some time it has shown the MBB Data Packs as supposedly having inclusive  minutes and texts which they never did, and I'm not sure they do now! Three's website, Price Guides and Ts&Cs are so bad I can't find solid evidence either way and haven't got round to phoning them to check - anyone know from experience?

But here's the interesting bit, recently some additional Data Packs have appeared as choices with far bigger Data amounts as well as 1m, 3m and 12m duration, and are called 3V PAYG MBB xGB yM where x and y are the values of the different choices available. There is no "more info" in the App and so far I can't find any info about these anywhere. Anyone know anything about them?

flaneurs_lobster

Phones4Chris said:

 Anyone know anything about them?

No.

But it is interesting that a product with a time limit (1m, 3m etc) is described as a PAYG product, would this not be a "contract" product since it has a fixed duration? With the demise of true PAYG, maybe this is how these pay upfront fixed duration products are now shorthanded.

And how does a (say) 10GB 1m product differ in price to a 10GB 3m product?

Agree that Three's documentation is almost impossible to navigate and having done it once I'm not going there again.

Bit miffed that when I complained about my Data Reward SIMs being nixed, got exactly B-all.

Phones4Chris

flaneurs_lobster said:

Phones4Chris said:

 Anyone know anything about them?

No.

But it is interesting that a product with a time limit (1m, 3m etc) is described as a PAYG product, would this not be a "contract" product since it has a fixed duration? 

Eh? Don't you remember that when you had your Data Reward SIM that the various Data packs had different durations? The "silly" thing was they were called Data Starter Packs, maybe to distinguish them from Data Add-ons!
For MBB The Packs that have been there for quite a while are -
12GB Data Starter Pack £40.00 one time (lasts for 12 months)
1GB Data Starter Pack 10.00 one time (lasts for 1 month)
24GB Data Starter Pack £60.00 one time (lasts for 24 months)
3GB Data Starter Pack £16.00 one time (lasts for 3 months)
These "new" 3V ones are -
3V PAYG MBB 10GB 1M £10.00 one time
3V PAYG MBB 120GB 12M £60.00 one time
3V PAYG MBB 15GB 3M £20.00 one time
3V PAYG MBB 50GB 12M £65.00 one time
Don't asked me why the 50GB is more expensive than the 120GB !!

Add-ons (whilst you've got a Data Pack but used all data)
1 Day Unlimited Data Add-on £5.00 one time
1GB Data SIM Add-on £10.00 one time
3GB Data SIM Add-on £15.00 one time
7GB Data SIM Add-on £25.00 one time

On standard PAYG SIMs you get -

40GB Data-Pack £10.00 One time

100GB Data-Pack £15.00 One time

200GB Data-Pack £20.00 One time

Unlimited Data Pack £35.00 One time

Those last one calendar month.
There's also -

Unlimited Data Pack 3M £90.00 One time

60GB Auto Renew £10.00 a month

120GB Auto Renew £13.50 a month

240GB Auto Renew £18.00 a month

Unlimited Data Pack Auto Renew £31.50 a month

flaneurs_lobster

Phones4Chris said:

Eh? Don't you remember that when you had your Data Reward SIM that the various Data packs had different durations? The "silly" thing was they were called Data Starter Packs, maybe to distinguish them from Data Add-ons!

I don't recall the pricing/duration of the Data add-ons, probably because I never used the Reward SIMs for data, just as backup calling providers.

Thanks for laying out all the data plans, Any idea what the "3V" designation might refer to?

Phones4Chris

flaneurs_lobster said:

Thanks for laying out all the data plans, Any idea what the "3V" designation might refer to?

Haven't a clue yet!! That's what I've been trying to find out but searches so far have revealed nothing. Will probably have to phone when I have a moment. 

mnbvcxz

Do you need the phone number. Or just data? If just data have you looked at scancom? They currently have an 80gb a month three sim for 18 months for £38 with code 20%OFF3

A vast confusing array of other offers too. They also sell them via Amazon. Also. Esims. 

Phones4Chris

Thanks for the tip, I don't need anything atm, but I'll keep an eye on that, it could still suit my usage needs later.
It's really been a case of the previous existing Data Packs were poor value but if the service priority was much better than standard PAYG, it may be worth hanging on to, as I was considering porting elsewhere, but these new 3V data packs are a big improvement. I didn't want to be in a situation where if I was say Streaming, having it constantly dropping out due to local network congestion on standard phone PAYG! so that Scancom solution may do the job even though I don't need large amounts of data each month.

Frozen_up_north

Another vote for the Scancom SIMs. I have had several with no problems at all. I am slightly puzzled over their “business use only”, especially as they also sell via Amazon.

Prices are excellent, and for our two remote sites are an ideal solution. I use their EE data SIMs, the most recent 50 GB/month one lasts until October 2027 at a monthly equivalent price of £6 per month and no contract.

I think (and it’s just a guess), the SIMs are basically contract SIMs managed by Scancom, as such the end date is not really fixed - they just terminate them on a particular date. One I had worked for around 3 months beyond the expected end date.

Phones4Chris

Just FI, those 3V Data Packs disappeared 2 weeks ago and there was nothing new until more recently. The following have been added - 
PAYG MBB 10GB 1M £10.00 one time - same as 3V was.
PAYG MBB 120GB 12M £40.00 one time - the 3V version was £60
PAYG MBB 15GB 3M £20.00 one time - same as 3V was.
PAYG MBB 50GB 12M £60.00 one time - the 3V version was £65.
What I'd like to know from someone with actual facts - not just read it on some random forum - what's the difference between Data on Three MBB SIMs and Data on Standard PAYG SIMs apart from the amount you get and price you pay ?

Frozen_up_north

Have you checked out Scancom for Three pre-loaded non contract SIMs? I am on my 4th from them.

Here Three suffers (or did when I last used them) from a lack of battery backup, their local site went off with the slightest glitch in the mains supply, so I now use EE. Lack of, or mediocre, battery backup is an industry wide problem. More info:
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/consultations/category-1-10-weeks/272921-resilience-guidance-and-mobile-ran-power-back-up/associated-documents/mobile-ran-power-resilience-technical-report-cfi-update.pdf?v=390945

southone

I'm a bit confused with the "24GB Data Starter Pack" Does it include calls and texts as well as data as the terms and conditions state the following 

"our allowance starts on activation (if you're buying a SIM for the first time) or upon purchase (if you've already activated, are buying a new Data Starter Pack and don't have an active Data Add-on)."

"If you've used up the data allowance in your Pack, you can buy a Data Add-on to tide you over. Otherwise, if your Pack ends, you'll need to top-up and pay for your usage at our standard UK rates (35p/min; 15p/text; 10p/MB)."

Confuse.com