Quick question re: GiffGaff or similar PAYG

PostHoc25

Hi all, I'm wondering if there are any PAYG sims that have a very infrequent requirement to top them up. I just need one so I can use my back-up phone in 2 step verification. Don't want a couple of sites linked to my regular number for personal reasons, but also can't be topping up a spare handset with £10 every month when it's likely to never be used.

Google suggests GiffGaff just want you to send a text every now and then? Is that accurate or do you also need to top up every so often to keep it active?

I'm on one penny mobile for my main handset which is £10 every 60 days and suits my regular needs fine.

Thanks in advance.

mta999

you can buy an EE sim with a £10 bundle and then text 'stop pack' to 150 to switch it to 'ordinary' payg. Use it every few months to keep it active

Frozen_up_north

Having a separate phone on a different network to your main phone could provide resilience if your 1p Mobile (EE network) is down.

GiffGaff use the O2 network, which we have found to be much better engineered than the Three network. Not sure about Vodafone or whether the newly combined VodaThree (or whatever it’s called) will improve the original Three network.

My vote would be for GiffGaff, here we have one mobile on 1p and another on GiffGaff. 1p have more EU roaming countries and more roaming data, but no app. We visit Jersey regularly and 1p includes the Channel Islands whereas GG do not. On the other hand, GiffGaff have an app. Both SIMs are on a “non contract” 30 day basis.

ScratchyCat

O2 payg classic sim from ebay. Top up initial £10. Just make the odd call at 3p or text at 2p to keep active.

I still have a 3 sim on payg with a little money left, but at 35p a minute for a call to keep the number active its a rip off. 3 use to be 3p a minute payg when I joined them. I ported my main number away from them when they did there massive price hike.

Runner_Duck

I'm pretty sure GiffGaff requires monthly top ups with the cheapest being £6. When I was looking a year or so ago the cheapest I could find was the O2 classic from eBay but as someone said GiffGaff uses the same network which could be a negative for you.

savergrant

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6655408/quick-question-re-giffgaff-or-similar-payg

I use rwg which gets a lot of bad press but is really cheap. A sim with £1 credit just requires one chargeable call or text every 90 days, at a cost of 5p that £1 can last 5 years. Uses EE network like 1p but without bells and whistles.

pseudodox

I have a spare phone on ASDA PAYG. Requires one chargeable call/text every 180 days plus a £5 top up every 180 days. If the credit builds up through not needing to use the phone I make a text donation to a charity I would otherwise be giving cash to. So the cost to me to keep the number active is peanuts.

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81885339#Comment_81885339

Giffgaff can be used as a pure PAYG, no need for monthly payments. Needs a £10 top-up to activate and a call/text every 180 days to keep active. Just order a free SIM online.

I've had one active in a spare phone for an initial £10 for the last 4+ years.

Frozen_up_north

On the GiffGaff SIM order page, it says:

Prefer to pay as you go? Our rates are just 25p/minute, 10p/text and 10p/MB without a plan

glennevis

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81885339#Comment_81885339

wrong

@flaneurs_lobster is right.

huw01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6649263/i-want-a-cheap-sim-only-contract-for-emergency-second-phone

You are asking the same question as this guy previously, have a look at this thread and my messages about how to setup a giffgaff payg.

It works for me. Don't forget to setup a chargable event reminder in your calendar so the number isn't disconnected. But yes it's really simple and cheap