The Virtual Pub

Come Inside... => The Snug => Topic started by: GROWLER on July 25, 2007, 11:21:16 AM

Title: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: GROWLER on July 25, 2007, 11:21:16 AM
The market is absolutely flooded with retailers claiming to have the 'best deal' EVER. ::)

Let's cut the bull shit ey. Who can recommend what by personal experience is the best.
It's going to be used in the main for 'receiving calls only' for my new business.

Aslong as it doesn't involve network provider 3, who I'm with on my current phone....total utter shite coverage, and going in September thankfully...then that'll be fine.
Thanks in anticipation. cloud9:
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Snoopy on July 25, 2007, 11:40:56 AM
Mine is with Orange ~ crap signal in some parts of North Wales but brilliant in the Home Counties
Mrs S is with T Mobile ~ good signal from our house and most of N Wales ~ bit iffy in parts of East Anglia
Miss S is with Virgin (a parental hint you might surmise) ~ gets a good signal most places.
None work from inside B&Q or Sainsburys. Mine will work in Asda but not in Morrisons.
Pricewise they are all much of a muchness.
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Grumpmeister on July 25, 2007, 11:43:00 AM
Do you talk or text more Growler. the O2 payg set up gives you 300 texts a month on top of the credit for a ten pound top up. I've got one in my XDA, makes sending messages quick and easy.
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Uncle Mort on July 25, 2007, 11:54:38 AM
Having a fair amount of experience from running the company's mobile phones I would recommend Vodafone for airtime as they have by far the best coverage. You're less likely to miss a call.

As you will be using it for incoming their Pay As You Talk plan would be fine.

I've just bought this phone from Argos for my lad.

Samsung C300 (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5474181.htm)

Excellent basic phone.
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Misunderstood on July 25, 2007, 11:56:07 AM
I don't know if it is still available or not but...  I had a credit account with Orange and after the expiry of the obligatorily year they offered me a "We will match the best you can find" deal.

I selected the Virgin tariff as it was a 'No rent' deal and as I keep the phone for mainly incoming calls and the ubiquitous emergency call with the result of having constant availability of the phone for about a pound or two a month.

I have been on it ever since.

It is no use to people that like to keep up with all the new phones obviously.   
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: GROWLER on July 25, 2007, 12:00:37 PM
Do you talk or text more Growler. the O2 payg set up gives you 300 texts a month on top of the credit for a ten pound top up. I've got one in my XDA, makes sending messages quick and easy.
TEXTING? CATERGORICALLY NO! evil:

Just be for incoming calls, only I appreciate that some providers like to see you dialling out occassionaly or they cut you off. ::)
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Darwins Selection on July 25, 2007, 01:13:46 PM
Mrs S is with T Mobile ~ good signal from our house and most of N Wales ~ bit iffy in parts of East Anglia
Miss S is with Virgin (a parental hint you might surmise) ~ gets a good signal most places.
Aren't T-mobile and Virgin the same network, just a branding game?
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Snoopy on July 25, 2007, 01:19:39 PM
Mrs S is with T Mobile ~ good signal from our house and most of N Wales ~ bit iffy in parts of East Anglia
Miss S is with Virgin (a parental hint you might surmise) ~ gets a good signal most places.
Aren't T-mobile and Virgin the same network, just a branding game?

 shrugs: I just pays for 'em all. Don't ask me how they work.  shrugs:
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Grumpmeister on July 25, 2007, 02:28:54 PM
Dont thnk so, surely the monopolies commission would step in if they were trading styles of the same company. They may use the same network technology (PCN in memory serves) but they will be seperate groups.
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Pastis on July 25, 2007, 02:40:18 PM
T-mobile used to be One 2 One; perhaps that's the confusion. I have a PAYG with Virgin and an account with T-mobile; they're definitely separate.
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Snoopy on July 25, 2007, 02:44:34 PM
I suspect that there is truth in all this in as much as the providers do share common services ~ just like BT have to share their lines with other providers. Virgin/Sainsbury/Tesco all use the same basic services that they negotiate a fee for. they then sell on to us punters. The more "subscribers" they bring to a service the cheaper per minute rate they can negotiate and the more profit they make.
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Barman on July 25, 2007, 02:45:51 PM
I use this lot. (http://www.cyta.com.cy/)

I get a fantastic signal everywhere and the calls are as cheap as chips plus there are no fixed contracts and I can transfer my SIM to any other ?phone I choose.

Recommended Growler.  happy088
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Berek on July 25, 2007, 02:48:36 PM
I use Orange, just stick ?5 on it every 3 months, no free texts and not ONE phone call or pestering me in 7 years, if you are just using it to recieve calls ( which is basically what I do ), then go the same route as me.
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Snoopy on July 25, 2007, 02:51:15 PM
I use this lot. (http://www.cyta.com.cy/)

I get a fantastic signal everywhere and the calls are as cheap as chips plus there are no fixed contracts and I can transfer my SIM to any other ?phone I choose.

Recommended Growler.  happy088

'sall Greek to me ~ hang on I just noticed a little round Union Flag in the corner. Clicked on it and it's all in English ~ I think  confused:
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: GROWLER on July 26, 2007, 03:39:39 PM
Having a fair amount of experience from running the company's mobile phones I would recommend Vodafone for airtime as they have by far the best coverage. You're less likely to miss a call.

As you will be using it for incoming their Pay As You Talk plan would be fine.

I've just bought this phone from Argos for my lad.

Samsung C300 (http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5474181.htm)

Excellent basic phone.

Is that a pay as you go plan from Argos, or is that just for the phone?
Title: Re: Best 'pay as you go' phone deals anyone?
Post by: Snoopy on July 26, 2007, 03:49:27 PM
You buy the 'phone at that price from Argos ~ it comes preloaded for Vodaphone Pay as You Go. All you need to do is activate it and buy some airtime. Then you are ready to receive calls and if necessary make some.
You may find it worthwhile, if you are likely to drop it in the swamp or something and thus have to buy another phone which would mean that people trying to contact the published number would get no response, to buy yourself a number that can be diverted to any phone. I have one for my mobile so that if I change phones I simply have to redirect to the new number. nobody knows this is happening and it does not cost them anymore. they are simply paying whatever their provider charges for a call to a  mobile. I can also divert calls to my home number and nobody is any the wiser 'cept me and I don't have to give out my home number to anyone. Some people call them "Tracker Numbers" others refer to them as "Personal Numbers". Works for me. Low set up costs (mine cost a tenner several years ago) and no ongoing charges.