Got a credit card? use our Credit Card & Finance Calculators
Thanks to Wasron,jfgw,Rhyd6,eyeball08,Wondergirly, for Donating to support the site
Pre pay for dummies
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 296
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 3:12 pm
- Has thanked: 69 times
- Been thanked: 112 times
Pre pay for dummies
I've had the same mobile phone number since the 2G era. A long time ago I ported from what was then Orange to what was then T-Mobile.
I was never a big user and had, until recently, a £10/month package.
A few years back I got a work phone that has become my default, but I want to keep the old one as I still have things linked to that number, and eventually I'll retire and won't have the work one.
Recently that £10/month package has been 'upgraded' to £16.50/month, which is a lot just to keep a number.
For my limited usage (which is really receiving calls/texts) occasionally, it seems like a PAYG deal makes sense.
Question is, can I/how do I, transfer my number from EE to a PAYG service? And which should I go to? EE, as T-Mobile now is, seems to have a minimum one-month period in which to use what you buy, which is not what I'm after.
J
I was never a big user and had, until recently, a £10/month package.
A few years back I got a work phone that has become my default, but I want to keep the old one as I still have things linked to that number, and eventually I'll retire and won't have the work one.
Recently that £10/month package has been 'upgraded' to £16.50/month, which is a lot just to keep a number.
For my limited usage (which is really receiving calls/texts) occasionally, it seems like a PAYG deal makes sense.
Question is, can I/how do I, transfer my number from EE to a PAYG service? And which should I go to? EE, as T-Mobile now is, seems to have a minimum one-month period in which to use what you buy, which is not what I'm after.
J
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4767
- Joined: November 14th, 2016, 7:33 pm
- Has thanked: 178 times
- Been thanked: 1379 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
It was dead easy to keep my number when I transferred to 1p mobile:
https://www.1pmobile.com/classic-sim
I did not even have to phone up for a PAC code. 1p mobile uses the EE network.
https://www.1pmobile.com/classic-sim
I did not even have to phone up for a PAC code. 1p mobile uses the EE network.
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 5311
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 12:04 pm
- Has thanked: 3296 times
- Been thanked: 1034 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
presumably you had to port your number to your new sim Geoff? or did 1p mobile just "tale over" you existing "account" ?
just interested
didds
just interested
didds
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 481
- Joined: May 11th, 2017, 8:33 pm
- Has thanked: 91 times
- Been thanked: 207 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
Tesco PAYG doesn't have any time limits on credit (which is why I use them). Operates on O2 network.
Info about swapping to Tesco mobile here https://www.tescomobile.com/help/gettin ... -switching
Info about swapping to Tesco mobile here https://www.tescomobile.com/help/gettin ... -switching
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4767
- Joined: November 14th, 2016, 7:33 pm
- Has thanked: 178 times
- Been thanked: 1379 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
didds wrote:presumably you had to port your number to your new sim Geoff? or did 1p mobile just "tale over" you existing "account" ?
Here are the instructions:
https://www.1pmobile.com/ask-penny/?que ... o-1pMobile?
All admirably clear. Everything has been easy with 1p mobile. The only pitfall is that they retain your credit card details without asking. I delete them after each payment.
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 829
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 6:29 pm
- Has thanked: 152 times
- Been thanked: 208 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
If it is really only going to be used for incoming calls/texts then the most cost effective solution would be a PAYG where you make just a single (as small as possible) initial topup. Then send a text message every six months to keep the number live.
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 296
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 3:12 pm
- Has thanked: 69 times
- Been thanked: 112 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
Hi
Revivifying this thread I started due to a change in circumstance.
I took Geoff100's advice and went to 1p mobile. At the time it was £10 to top up for 120 days, so c£30 pa. But it is now changing to £10 for 90 days so c£40 pa, which is more than I want to pay just to receive the odd call now and again.
So... any better contenders for a receive-only service provider?
Revivifying this thread I started due to a change in circumstance.
I took Geoff100's advice and went to 1p mobile. At the time it was £10 to top up for 120 days, so c£30 pa. But it is now changing to £10 for 90 days so c£40 pa, which is more than I want to pay just to receive the odd call now and again.
So... any better contenders for a receive-only service provider?
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4491
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 2:25 pm
- Has thanked: 648 times
- Been thanked: 1266 times
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4767
- Joined: November 14th, 2016, 7:33 pm
- Has thanked: 178 times
- Been thanked: 1379 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
James wrote:Hi
Revivifying this thread I started due to a change in circumstance.
I took Geoff100's advice and went to 1p mobile. At the time it was £10 to top up for 120 days, so c£30 pa. But it is now changing to £10 for 90 days so c£40 pa, which is more than I want to pay just to receive the odd call now and again.
So... any better contenders for a receive-only service provider?
You could try Vodafone PAYG 1:
https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/pay-a ... ans/payg-1
Incoming calls and texts are free, but you pay £1 for every day that you use data, or make calls or texts. You have unlimited call time and texts on those days. It costs £1 every 180 days to keep your number. It is not as user friendly as 1p mobile, but it is cheap (until they put the price up).
-
- Lemon Half
- Posts: 5843
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 11:22 am
- Has thanked: 4199 times
- Been thanked: 2603 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
James wrote:Hi
Revivifying this thread I started due to a change in circumstance.
I took Geoff100's advice and went to 1p mobile. At the time it was £10 to top up for 120 days, so c£30 pa. But it is now changing to £10 for 90 days so c£40 pa, which is more than I want to pay just to receive the odd call now and again.
So... any better contenders for a receive-only service provider?
Another vote for giffgaff.
No fixed cost. Just payg. And a reliable service.
V8
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 481
- Joined: May 11th, 2017, 8:33 pm
- Has thanked: 91 times
- Been thanked: 207 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
As I stated in August 2023 Tesco's SIM only deal "Tesco PAYG doesn't have any time limits on credit (which is why I use them). Operates on O2 network.
Info about swapping to Tesco mobile here https://www.tescomobile.com/help/gettin ... -switching
Info about swapping to Tesco mobile here https://www.tescomobile.com/help/gettin ... -switching
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 2057
- Joined: September 2nd, 2019, 10:23 am
- Has thanked: 173 times
- Been thanked: 568 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
There are lots of cheapish contracts too but even the fiver a month ones might be too much for you.
Lebara often do 6 months for a couple of quid then a fiver. You can just keep porting to whatever floats your boat.
Lebara often do 6 months for a couple of quid then a fiver. You can just keep porting to whatever floats your boat.
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4767
- Joined: November 14th, 2016, 7:33 pm
- Has thanked: 178 times
- Been thanked: 1379 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
Maroochydore wrote:As I stated in August 2023 Tesco's SIM only deal "Tesco PAYG doesn't have any time limits on credit (which is why I use them). Operates on O2 network.
Info about swapping to Tesco mobile here https://www.tescomobile.com/help/gettin ... -switching
Your link does not work. Tesco says that its PAYG credit lasts only one month:
https://www.tescomobile.com/no-contract-sim
I cannot find a Tesco PAYG where the credit does not expire.
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 829
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 6:29 pm
- Has thanked: 152 times
- Been thanked: 208 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
One other possibility, though they don't seem all that well regarded, would be:
https://talkhome.co.uk/sim-only-deals/payg/110
It is a little strange in that the scheme needs to be 'reactivated' every 30 days, otherwise it reverts to their standard rates. I believe though that you can set it up to automatically reactivate every 30 days with a 1p direct debit.
https://talkhome.co.uk/sim-only-deals/payg/110
It is a little strange in that the scheme needs to be 'reactivated' every 30 days, otherwise it reverts to their standard rates. I believe though that you can set it up to automatically reactivate every 30 days with a 1p direct debit.
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 292
- Joined: November 5th, 2016, 1:50 am
- Has thanked: 752 times
- Been thanked: 130 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
Stompa wrote:One other possibility, though they don't seem all that well regarded, would be:
https://talkhome.co.uk/sim-only-deals/payg/110
It is a little strange in that the scheme needs to be 'reactivated' every 30 days, otherwise it reverts to their standard rates. I believe though that you can set it up to automatically reactivate every 30 days with a 1p direct debit.
I was interested in this, but I'm not sure you have the details correct.
It appears that you pay 1p to activate a PAYG plan. The PAYG plan then reactivates every month for zero cost.
This is a PAYG plan that automatically recurs every 30 days. There is a one-time charge of 1p (£0.01) upon subscription. All recurrences thereafter are free of cost.
No mention of when/if credit expires.
It appears that the minimum topup is possibly £2.50.
I have submitted a couple of enquiries:
- does credit expire?
- what is the minimum topup amount.
Depending response to these questions, this could be a useful solution for anyone wanting to have a spare SIM on a different network (EE).
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 829
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 6:29 pm
- Has thanked: 152 times
- Been thanked: 208 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
elkay wrote:Stompa wrote:One other possibility, though they don't seem all that well regarded, would be:
https://talkhome.co.uk/sim-only-deals/payg/110
It is a little strange in that the scheme needs to be 'reactivated' every 30 days, otherwise it reverts to their standard rates. I believe though that you can set it up to automatically reactivate every 30 days with a 1p direct debit.
I was interested in this, but I'm not sure you have the details correct.
It appears that you pay 1p to activate a PAYG plan. The PAYG plan then reactivates every month for zero cost.
This is a PAYG plan that automatically recurs every 30 days. There is a one-time charge of 1p (£0.01) upon subscription. All recurrences thereafter are free of cost.
No mention of when/if credit expires.
It appears that the minimum topup is possibly £2.50.
I have submitted a couple of enquiries:
- does credit expire?
- what is the minimum topup amount.
Depending response to these questions, this could be a useful solution for anyone wanting to have a spare SIM on a different network (EE).
Yes, I know that's what it says, but that's not what happened for me. I think I did pay 1p to activate the plan, and my subsequent manual reactivation was indeed free. However, when I attempted to manually reactivate for the second time they wanted 1p, which was taken from my balance. I was also offered the option of setting up automatic reactivation, but that had to be done by credit card (or Paypal I think). You couldn't have automatic reactivation where the 1p was taken from your balance, goodness knows why not.
My initial topup was indeed £2.50, but having just checked the minimum I'm now offered is £5.
There is a long thread about TalkHome here:
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/thread ... ome.39594/
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 296
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 3:12 pm
- Has thanked: 69 times
- Been thanked: 112 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
Thanks for the replies.
Tesco appears to require a minimum top up of £10, which only lasts 28 days from what I can ascertain, but happy to be proved wrong.
Giffgaff seems to have a minimum top of of £10 but it doesn't expire, just requires one text to be sent every six months.
Calls/texts are more expensive on Giffgaff, I'm not planning to use it for that, so overall cost of ownership will be cheaper for just keeping the number live.
Tesco appears to require a minimum top up of £10, which only lasts 28 days from what I can ascertain, but happy to be proved wrong.
Giffgaff seems to have a minimum top of of £10 but it doesn't expire, just requires one text to be sent every six months.
Calls/texts are more expensive on Giffgaff, I'm not planning to use it for that, so overall cost of ownership will be cheaper for just keeping the number live.
-
- Lemon Slice
- Posts: 403
- Joined: November 11th, 2016, 11:35 am
- Has thanked: 26 times
- Been thanked: 97 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
I don't recollect ever seeing RWG mentioned in these pages but they offer PAYG with non-expiring credit charging voice at 5p per minute, SMS at 5p plus data at 1p per MB. Various 'teaser' & in-advance plans are on short-term offer from time to time which may suit some users better than PAYG.
I've had no problems whatsoever with PAYG over last 18+ months (including roaming in EU) and am still using the initial credit I loaded onto it. Free SIM is available pre-loaded with £1 credit for testing purposes:
https://www.rwgmobile.wales
Cheers!
(usual disclaimer applies)
I've had no problems whatsoever with PAYG over last 18+ months (including roaming in EU) and am still using the initial credit I loaded onto it. Free SIM is available pre-loaded with £1 credit for testing purposes:
https://www.rwgmobile.wales
Cheers!
(usual disclaimer applies)
-
- Lemon Quarter
- Posts: 4491
- Joined: November 4th, 2016, 2:25 pm
- Has thanked: 648 times
- Been thanked: 1266 times
Re: Pre pay for dummies
^^ Interesting, runs on the Now network which is an EE MVNO.
£2.50 a month deal...
https://nowmobile.co.uk/sim-only-deals/payg/123
£2.50 a month deal...
https://nowmobile.co.uk/sim-only-deals/payg/123
Terms & Conditions
This is a PAYG plan valid for 30 days and includes enhanced 5G connectivity in the UK without throttling or capping.
Cancel anytime - no refunds, the remaining balance on the plan will be available for the remaining duration after which it will expire.
Free roaming applicable to the select EU countries only - please refer to our acceptable usage policy for details.
Useful information: Acceptable Usage Policy | Terms & Conditions
Return to “Technology - Computers, TV, Phones etc.”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 33 guests