Most Minutes, Smallest Cost

Paul_Varjak

As part of my job I spend most of the day on the phone and many of the calls are to mobiles. Calling mobiles from a landline is expensive - the chepeast provider is 18185 at 6p/minute + 5p connection charge (per minute billing).

So, I needed a mobile phone that would work at home so, I got free SIM cards from Orange, T-Mobile and O2 to test which would work in my area. O2 gave the best signal.

I considered the O2 Simplicity SIM-only tariff at £30/month and just 30 days and no lengthy contract, but could I do better?

I was prepared to risk a cashback deal from a reputable source but my real concern was how long my work would last? Without work, I would have no need for a mobile phone!

I checked for deals on the following sites:

www.onecompare.com/
www.mobilephonechecker.co.uk/

I quickly found cashback deals with e2save giving 1200 x-network minutes and 500 SMS per month for £45/month (18 month contract) less £540 cashback:

18 months (£45/month) = £810

less cashback (£540) = £270 (£15/month)

So, not bad, just £15 per month over 18 month and I get a new phone into the bargain! Assuming I used all 1200 minutes each month, that works out to just 1.25p/minute (per second billing). Compare that with calling a mobile from a landline!

I then considered what the true cost to me would be if my work ended the day I bought the contract! At face value, my loss would be £270 as I really do not call mobile phones outside of my job! But O2 allow you to drop by one tariff after 9 months and by another tariff in each succeeding month. Taking this into account, the net cost to me would be just £75 and if Quidco pay out (£36.50p), this is reduced to just £38.50p (somewhat less than the Samsung E900 handset I got would cost on PAYG).


NOTE: To track cashback on Quidco I had to 'fudge' the URL address. It tracked ok but I will have to see if e2save honour the deal.

Quentin

You only considered the net cost (£270).

Your potential loss is much higher if e2save find a way not to pay you (for the cashback, never mind the quidco hand out!)

Saeed

I think you forgot the major downside! If you lower your tariff you do not get any cashback whatsoever. most companies pay the first cashback at month 9 on a 18 month contract so if you downgrade you invalidate all you claims :eek: People should only go for one of these deals if they are prepared for and can cope with the loss of the entire amount which on a 18 monther can be £500-800

ioscorpio

Have you considered the 3 deal 1100 mins for £20 + quidco + refer a friend

http://threestore.three.co.uk/mixnmatchtariff.aspx?tariff=0

Paul_Varjak

Saeed wrote: »

I think you forgot the major downside! If you lower your tariff you do not get any cashback whatsoever. most companies pay the first cashback at month 9 on a 18 month contract so if you downgrade you invalidate all you claims :eek: People should only go for one of these deals if they are prepared for and can cope with the loss of the entire amount which on a 18 monther can be £500-800

I had not realised that. Anyway, when I started the contract I had no idea I could reduce the tariff. So, my biggest potential loss is £270; I do not forsee problems getting cashback as I have used these deals before without problem.

e2save have now confirmed that Quidco will pay me £36.50p so my potential loss drops to £233.50p.

Paul_Varjak

Although e2save were not offering cashback on this deal via Quidco, by 'fudging' the URL I have managed to get the £36.50 cashback - the money was credited to my bank account yesterday!!!