Mobile Phone help for a dummy

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034294#Comment_82034294

You think that Vodafone would pay TCL to restrict an £8 phone? Sounds highly unlikely. It's advertised as having 4G calling, you really think that's not going to work with an O2 or 3 SIM?

It's called a Vodafone phone not because of any branding/restriction but because it's sold (according to the listing) with a £10 Voda SIM.

Perhaps @LindsayT could confirm but I don't think the £10 add-on is actually enforced.

EDIT: This "add-on" is suggested on the same Argos product page - bit odd if it's Vodafone only.

LindsayT

@flaneurs_lobster

When I read the listing for the phone and saw what I have copied below, I thought it meant I had to pay an extra £10 on top of the £8 phone price but they only charged £8. When I opened the box, there was a £10 Vodafone sim card for a month, which I won't be using as can get a sim cheaper.

Handset must be purchased with £10 airtime. This will automatically be
added to your transaction. Handset not available without airtime.

flaneurs_lobster

@LindsayT

Believe you are correct, what you have is a "free" SIM (or what the supermarkets etc charge £1 for). You would need to register/add funds to the SIM account to make it active.

Vodafone are likely to have done a deal with Argos hence the cheap phone.

Notice the phone doesn't come with a charger, do you already have something suitable (or maybe a laptop/PC USB socket with power)?

LindsayT

@flaneurs_lobster

Yes, I have PC USB and USB in some of the wall sockets. Now just need to find the cheapest way to make my very few calls. LOL.

ScratchyCat

1p mobile would cost you £30 a year. £10 every 120 days.

Now mobile has low tariffs or RWG mobile, teaser sim for £2 a month.

O2 classic payg sim off ebay for 20p. They may even send you 2 sim. Initial voucher Top up is £10. You might even get a free £5 on top of that.

Lebara was doing a low tariff for first 6 months then, £4.90 a month after that.

Numerous monthly rolling sims are around £5 a month. So approx £60 a year.

flaneurs_lobster

I'd add to the above Asda Mobile's £4/mth unlimited calls/text only (no contract) and Mozillion (uses EE) have £3/mth unlimited calls/texts if you sign up for 24 months.

PHK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034304#Comment_82034304

No Vodafone didn't pay TCL to restrict the phone and I didn't suggest that.

But carrier branded phones do have different firmware.

At that end of the market, phones have limited bands and Vodafone will have chosen a model that matches it's bands (for PAYG(

Because VoLTE operates slightly differently on different networks and different networks ( or even tariffs) have different access to bands then using another network's SIM may give variable results.

Edit: As I expected there are three different versions of the TCL-5041 and each version is available to suit a different group of bands.

LindsayT

@ScratchyCat

Now mobile and RWG both seem to have not very good reviews.

@flaneurs_lobster

Was tempted by the Asda one at first. Then saw the Mozillion one and decided to go with that. Fingers crossed I've done the right thing LOL.

Thank you both for your input and others who replied to the post.

ScratchyCat

I know that RWG don't have good reviews. As it happens I have two sims with them. Been with them 4 years now and only had 1 issue back early on when i joined them. Which was resolved very quickly.

I do have another issue currently which im about to ring them about. But otherwise I have been reasonably happy with there service for my very low usage. I can only speak as I find. The tariff im on they no longer offer, but for me I have made huge savings on my mobile bill.

virgo17

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82034410#Comment_82034410

1P Mobile is now £10 spend every 60 days although there is a workaround to reduce this by buying the occasional boost.