Best deal for me and missus

Victor_Meldrew

Mrs Meldrew wants me to buy 2 mobiles so that she can keep her eye on me. Question is what's the best deal? We'll mainly use it to keep in touch with each other and probably mainly by text. Obviously we'll want the same network (presumably cheaper?) and we do quite like the clam shell phones. I don't think we'll need more than 30 mins Xnet per month or 50 texts per month. Not bothered about camera either.
So, any ideas about the best deal for say 12 months. Is it best to go contract or PAYG? I DON'T BELIEVE how many different ways you can do this but any ideas would be most welcome.

Reestit_Mutton

So, any ideas about the best deal for say 12 months. Is it best to go contract or PAYG? I DON'T BELIEVE how many different ways you can do this but any ideas would be most welcome.

Okay - my gut instinct is to go for PAYG.

Virgin Mobile's PAYG tariff charges 15p/min for first 5 minutes in the day and 5p thereafter (for same network minutes) - I'm assuming that, at your level of useage, ALL your minutes will be at the 15p rate, so 30 of these minutes will cost £4.50.

In addition to this, if you want XNET call access then you can get hold of a 0870 callthrough number (where the cost of the 0870 call pays for your call) which allows access to any UK mobile network at Virgin's flat rate for 0870 numbers of 15p/minute.

Furthermore, texts to other Virgin users are only 3p each.

So, either way, your monthly cost (EITHER 30 minutes OR 50 texts) won't be more than £4.50 (or £54 over the first year) - and probably much cheaper in most months. On top of this you will need to buy your phone.

If you go for a couple of heavily subsidised contracts with free handsets you can probably beat this price e.g. a Nokia 3510i handset with an Orange 100 minute per month tariff can currently be had for the princely sum of £42 over the first year, or £60 if you want to add 100 texts per month. However, this price is only achieveable with a large cashback payment and you'll have to pay the FULL cost of the line rental each month and remember to claim your cashback on both contracts and you might find this a bit of a hassle.

Personally, given your expected useage, I'd plump for Virgin PAYG and maybe have a look at a reconditioned Sendo M550 (£29.99 with SIM pack) or Samsung A800 (£44.99 with SIM pack) handset at http://www.virginmobile.co.uk.

HtH
Reestit Mutton

System

Hi Reestit. I'm surprised you didn't tell him about the Nokia on "3" at £4.99 per month with 500 cross network mins. Yes I know it has a camera, but they don't have to use it. I for one am tempted by the offer even though I'm with orange, I wondered about buying it for someone as a xmas gift.

Edinburghlass_2

I can certainly recommend the Virgin reconditioned phones and funnily enough my daughter has the Sendo flip and I LOVE my Samsung A800 flip phone!

Order today and they will be with you tomorrow and their customer service is second to none. Register your numbers online through the website and you can check out who you last phoned etc. My daughter lost her phone at a bowling alley and within half an hour of this happening we had it blocked, unfortunately not before someone used it, and a new simcard was sent out within a couple of days.

Islander_3

I'd also look at Tesco mobile PAYG - 10p per minute to 3 nominated numbers and also 5p per text

System

Edinbughlass, Hi, I too have the Samsung A88. I decided on this model because other than winter, I tend to wear shorts, and this light small phone is ideal. How sad is that ?. My first one had to be replaced, there was a lighting problem, they said it was due to a wire which was worn between lid and bottom, frayed I think. I'm going to PM you, I want to ask a favour.

Reestit_Mutton

Hi Reestit. I'm surprised you didn't tell him about the Nokia on "3" at £4.99 per month with 500 cross network mins. Yes I know it has a camera, but they don't have to use it. I for one am tempted by the offer even though I'm with orange, I wondered about buying it for someone as a xmas gift.

Hi Island Man,

I decided that, in the case of the OPs situation, the likely useage wasn't worth the hassle. Think about it...£29.99 for a recon phone with 6 months warranty and a maximum of £1.50/month in texts if they choose to communicate via text - that's a sum total of £47.99 over year 1 with no need to (a) pay £60 a month (2 * £30) (b) remember to claim 4 cheques back (2 * 2 cheques).

The OP suggested that he didn't want/need to do more than just make calls and he also said he and his partner had a preference for flip phones so the A800 & M550 are probably just what they need.

cheers,
RM

loafer_2

.. why has no one mentioned the virgin bundle?? Victor did take the time to point out "mainly by text"

If you txt a lot then the best deal is the virgin PAYG + 800 text bundle - 3p any network texts paid for up front.

£20 for the phone and sim + 24 = £44 / year + 15p/min calls
(I assume your not going send 800 over texts a year)

Reestit_Mutton

.. why has no one mentioned the virgin bundle?? Victor did take the time to point out "mainly by text"

If you txt a lot then the best deal is the virgin PAYG + 800 text bundle - 3p any network texts paid for up front.

£20 for the phone and sim + 24 = £44 / year + 15p/min calls
(I assume your not going send 800 over texts a year)

Hi Loafer,

As the OP suggested that he needed 2 phones on the same network mainly for keeping in contact with his partner, the texts are all likely to be same network. Virgin only charge 3p for Virgin-Virgin texts.

800 same-network texts would normally only cost £24 if purchased separately so I thought it would be simpler for them not to pay upfront and buy in bulk, thus not necessarily nailing their colours to the text mast (they might, on occasion, choose to talk as well), especially as their expected annual spend is a maximum of only 600 texts.

cheers,
RM

Victor_Meldrew

Thanks for all the advice people

Like the reconditioned Samsung A800 at £44.99. That looks ideal BUT its out of stock

Now I'll probably only need to text Mrs Meldrew so 3p per text is great on Virgin but she's got more friends than me so I'm interested in the 800 texts to any network for £24 up front bundle. However I can't find it on the Virgin website :-[ All I can find is 800 texts for £24 for 1 month? Or I have missed something?

So basically if we got 2 Samsungs for £44.99 and the 800 text bundle for £24 and 3p texts for me (say 500 for a year) thats a total of £130 plus any calls at 15p which is brilliant.

All I need is for Virgin to restock and to find that 800 text bundle. ::)

Edinburghlass_2

Can I call you Victor?

I would try phoning Virgin regarding the reconditioned phones. As I said the CS team are second to none in being helpful and they might be able to give you an idea as to when they might get some back in.

Also if they can provide you with one, take it then you can "glue" the next phone where you get some credit for introducing a friend ;D ;D