Mobile Phone Tariffs

[rondeau]

Can anyone recommend a cheap and reliable mobile phone network for someone who only wants to phone, text, and send the occasional picture? With Asda at the moment but would prefer not to switch to EE when they change over in April.

[gingejbee]

Tesco Mobile....always recommended by Which? (and me!)

[chas2008]

im on EE £10.33 per month, 250mins phone calls, 500mins EE to EE, 2,500 texts, 250gb, not come close to reaching any of the limits.
I think im right in saying many deals dont include free picture messages, hence its done via the internet facebook/flickr etc.

[Old_Geezer]

Just wondering what the problem with EE is.

[rondeau]

Thanks for responses. I've looked at Tesco and think I'll go with it.
Old-geezer, I was put off EE by the list of cons at ...

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/ee-rated-worst-mobile-network-in-2013-50013100/

[cupotee2]

I have Tesco PAYG.
Pop a tenner on and they treble it.
If you don't use all of the free £20 credit you loose it but your still left with your original tenner credit. I find a tenner lasts me a good 2 months when I start again with a new £10 credit that is trebled..

[black_cat51]

i have tesco and am very satisfied. i don't get picture messages though, but tend to use FB or whatsapp

[BlueToffee]

Imagine my horror to find Mrs BT's monthly bill had doubled in December. I called into Carphone warehouse to discuss said increase.

Discovered her tariff of £1 a month only includes 25 minutes of calls, I thought it was 50, and 50 text messages.

She's been forgiven for over use !!

[Sputnik]

Really, your best bet is 3's network. Their PAYG tariff is 1p per text, 2p/min per call & 3p per MB data.

[mccfluff]

I'd go with tesco as well, but check the charge for pics

[Sputnik]

Actually, apologies - I got that all a*se about face. I should have said 1p per MB, 2p per text & 3p per min call time (that's to any UK landline or mobile).

Can all those advocating Tesco PAYG, please explain to me how their price plan is better than 3's?

Tesco only beat 3 on the picture messaging (25p as against 31p).

[mccfluff]

3's coverage is rubbish (imo)

[Sputnik]

It's funny, but in my experience it's actually better than Vodaphone's. In reality, there will always be dead spots on any network - anyone's perception of whether coverage is better/worse is going to be influenced by where they live or travel to.

[Sputnik]

.............and the make/model of phone.

[alavahalf]

My spare phone is on the cheapest network there is ... bar none.
I very rarely text and I dont use more that 200 minutes worth of voice calls a month. My employer gives me a phone I can use nearly all the time so I use there credit/contract.
My spare phone is on the Ovivo freedom plan. http://www.ovivomobile.com/
Initial layout is £20 .... this gives me a new sim card and £15 of credit.
The £15 of credit gives me 200 minutes and 300 texts every month.
Every month thereafter I get 200 minutes and 300 texts added to my account ... at no cost !
As long as you dont exceed this allowance your minutes ant texts are free every month.
So since joining Ovivo my phone has cost me nothing other than the initial £20 and I still have £15 credit.
Ovivo use the Vodaphone network and the customer service is second to none.
If you are a low user (less than 200 minutes per month) there really is'nt another choice to make.
So where's the catch you say ... there isn't one. All you need is any sim free
smart phone... forgot to mention you also get 500mb of data free on the freedom plan.
If you use the data, every now and then you get an advert on your browser to watch. Be like me and dont use the data and you dont have to watch it.

I've now got two of these sims and 2 smart phones this gives me 400 free minutes a month ... I have no use for a landline other than for broadband.

[gingejbee]

What Sputnik doesn't seem to understand is that cheapest price does not necessarily mean good value. For example, cheap price with poor service is definitely NOT good value. That's why Which? takes many things into account (including price) before recommending service providers.

[Sputnik]

A bit presumptuous, gingejbee? As it happens, I have spent a minimum of 6 months on almost all UK mobile phone service providers, and stayed in a variety of locations such as S Wales, SE Enland, Southern England & NE England. My personal experience is that 3 have provided the best service & coverage. The fact that that they have the cheapest 3G PAYG tariff for a combination of texts, calls & data is a bonus, but can't be disputed.

Alvahalf is correct about ovivomobile (it's actually cheaper than 3) but the trade-off here is that every time you wish to use data you are bombarded with ads which is a complete wind-up.

[EDDIE51]

Gif Gaf are good and cheap , I am going to change to them as soon as I have used up my current credit. 500 mins for £10 a month plus free calls to other gif gaf numbers.

[EDDIE51]

Giffgaff rates here
http://giffgaff.com/goodybags
They use the O2 network so if you are O2 you just need to put in a giffgaff sim and activate it.

[gingejbee]

Sputnik: the reason I presumed is your "please explain how their price plan is better than 3's"....suggesting that price was your overall concern. Up to that time (13.11 Wed 29th) your only reference was price...you hadn't mentioned coverage, reliability, customer service....hence, my "presumption".