[magwitch]

No not Virgin but virgin As in new to the whole thing and feeling like the only person left in the land that has managed to live without one for all this time...

But I want one now. In fact, I want two - one for me and one for my son so that I know where he is and he can call me when he's out and about if needs be.

Can anyone give me some advice on the best place to start investigating? I just want something pretty basic, don't intend to use it loads. Oh, and I also go abroad fairly often (Europe mostly) and would want to use it then occasionally.

Should I go for a pay-as-you-go or is there some set-up where you can get free calls (for son & me)?

Any advice gratefull received as I am feeling very bamboozled by all the different tariffs, providers, 'special offers' etc etc

[Steven L Hunter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by magwitch

No not Virgin but virgin As in new to the whole thing and feeling like the only person left in the land that has managed to live without one for all this time...

But I want one now. In fact, I want two - one for me and one for my son so that I know where he is and he can call me when he's out and about if needs be.

Can anyone give me some advice on the best place to start investigating? I just want something pretty basic, don't intend to use it loads. Oh, and I also go abroad fairly often (Europe mostly) and would want to use it then occasionally.

Should I go for a pay-as-you-go or is there some set-up where you can get free calls (for son & me)?

Any advice gratefull received as I am feeling very bamboozled by all the different tariffs, providers, 'special offers' etc etc

Are you talking about getting Virgin Mobile for you and your son, if so check out www.virginmobile.co.uk and they do have a service where you get inclusive minutes its called bundles look on the site for more info (the will be under "airtime bundles"
Hope this helps

[gazmilne]

Just avoid T-Mobile in Edinburgh. Nightmare with reception in alot of places.

[Steven L Hunter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gazmilne

Just avoid T-Mobile in Edinburgh. Nightmare with reception in alot of places.

I never get any problems with reception when in Edinburgh

[the_abyss]

Quote:

Originally Posted by magwitch

Oh, and I also go abroad fairly often (Europe mostly) and would want to use it then occasionally.

Should I go for a pay-as-you-go or is there some set-up where you can get free calls (for son & me)?

Any advice gratefull received as I am feeling very bamboozled by all the different tariffs, providers, 'special offers' etc etc

if you go abroad quite often i would personaly stay away from pay as you go as the making and reciveng of call could be expensive, i would go for a contract phone with someone such as Vodafone, you can get whatever free minutes and have an additional handset (for you son) both handset would share the minutes, most modern phones these days are tri-band so it would be no problem using it overseas

[magwitch]

Thanks everyone - this is all really helpful

One more thing - would you advise going to a store (like phones4you or whatever) and asking their advice? Or am I best to make the effort myself and do it on-line?
I never know whether to trust advice from salespeople in stores..

cheers

[rwgibson99]

I have a lot of sympathy for your situation, and can imagine how oppressively intimidating it could feel for anyone over a certain age trying to get sense out of mobile phone shop sales staff.

Suggestions for you to consider:-
1) Contract phones commit you to spending a certain minimum each month (e.g. £15, £20 or more). These will usually come with a "free" (or heavily discounted) handset. The network will (usually) want direct debit access to your bank account.

You will be expected to know up front how many calls you make, what sort of calls (to landlines, to users on the same network as you, to people on other mobile networks) you make, how many text messages you'll be sending etc. You will have to deal with call centres to change anything, including terminating your contract.

2) Pay As You Go (PAYG) deals are more suitable for light users. You pay upfront for a handset, then pay a higher rate per minute. If you don't make many calls, or keep your calls short and sweet ( e.g. "I'm at the station, can you come and pick me up?")this can work out quite affordable. You have no commitments, and can stop using the service at any time.

3) Some networks work better than others. You may have read on these forums about the 02 system collapsing a few weekends ago. Virgin Mobile have recently taken Orange's Customer Satisfaction award for providing best service to PAYG customers (see the JD Power awards), and their rates are very competitive. Orange are popular with the over 50's.

4) Using the phone abroad can work out cheaper than using foreign payphones, plus you have the advantage of being contactable. It would be worth understanding how the concept of "roaming" works - you pay for your calls to be carried from the UK to whereever you are, and the person calling you pays the normal rate.

My recommendation would be to start on PAYG, and see how you find it. If you find you use it a lot, consider a contract. As for providers, consider Virgin Mobile, or a cheap Orange handset - somewhere like Argos can sell you a Nokia 3510i for £40, which is a simple, functional phone.

Good luck.

[rwgibson99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by magwitch

...would you advise going to a store (like phones4you or whatever) and asking their advice?...

I think we all have a civic duty to avoid Phones 4U, and not just because of their terrible marketing campaigns. I can't be alone in making V-signs at the tv every time that annoying bloke comes on.

My experience with the High Street is that all shops are staffed by 20 year olds paid on commission, who would sell you their grandmother if they made their monthly bonus.

Buy a magazine, try a Carphone Whorehouse magazine, read forums like this and MoneySavingExpert, and don't commit to spending too much - these things are designed to make you spend more and more.

[magwitch]

rwgibson99 , I feel about 105 now......

Thanks a lot for all the information, it's much appreciated.
I think you're right - I'll go with payg to start off with.



a lady of 'a certain age' hee hee

[Steven L Hunter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by magwitch

rwgibson99 , I feel about 105 now......

Thanks a lot for all the information, it's much appreciated.
I think you're right - I'll go with payg to start off with.



a lady of 'a certain age' hee hee

Good Luck

[rwgibson99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by magwitch

...a lady of 'a certain age' hee hee

What, over 16?!

I bet teenagers come out of some of these places feeling old.

---

Last edited by rwgibson99 : 14-11-2004 at 20:10. Reason: correcting a spelling mistake

[magwitch]

Just wanted to pop back and say THANKS again for all the good advice!
I ended up buying a couple of mobiles on e-bay which I'm initially quite pleased with but.....now I am trying to decide which network to go with.

Any chance of some more advice for an elderly mobile phone virgin?

I've tried my best to research everything but it's just about had me in
I want pay as you go with no minimum top-up. Virgin seem the best priced but they use T-mobile which does indeed have poor reception in Edinburgh, as some of you said; o2 seem q expensive; Vodafone seems ok but nowhere on their website can I find a definition of 'evening' - do they mean after 6pm??

I also need to get one of the phones unlocked but I will not be lazy and will carefully read that 'unlocking' thread before asking qs on that subject.

thanks again for any tips

[chrispolo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by magwitch

Thanks everyone - this is all really helpful

One more thing - would you advise going to a store (like phones4you or whatever) and asking their advice? Or am I best to make the effort myself and do it on-line?
I never know whether to trust advice from salespeople in stores..

cheers

when u get your phones don't get them from the link stores as i have had nothing but problems with them since i got my phone from them

[magwitch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chrispolo

when u get your phones don't get them from the link stores as i have had nothing but problems with them since i got my phone from them

No worries, I did my civic duty according to rwgibson99 and avoided these shops - went e-bay instead, which may be even worse, I suppose, but I just couldn't help myself.

Any thoughts on the best network? I'm sure there must be threads here but I can only see one page (had to do a search by my username to find this thread)

jeez, I must sound like a right old duffer...

[Steven L Hunter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by magwitch

No worries, I did my civic duty according to rwgibson99 and avoided these shops - went e-bay instead, which may be even worse, I suppose, but I just couldn't help myself.

Any thoughts on the best network? I'm sure there must be threads here but I can only see one page (had to do a search by my username to find this thread)

jeez, I must sound like a right old duffer...

I would still say Virgin Mobile are the best and T-Mobile does not have bad coverage in Edinburgh, which part do you stay in? The West or the East of Edinburgh?

[Stormwatch]

virgin mobile or orange, both of which have £5.00 top ups if you don`t want to spend loads on top ups and the top ups will last until you have used then. Also if you son is on virgin as well you will get cheaper text messages between the two of you (3p per message) compared to 12p

[magwitch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevenGray16

I would still say Virgin Mobile are the best and T-Mobile does not have bad coverage in Edinburgh, which part do you stay in? The West or the East of Edinburgh?

South central. But a number of people have said to me that T-mobile is not good in Edinburgh and Virgin use them, don;t they?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JETHRO TULL

virgin mobile or orange, both of which have £5.00 top ups if you don`t want to spend loads on top ups and the top ups will last until you have used then. Also if you son is on virgin as well you will get cheaper text messages between the two of you (3p per message) compared to 12p

yes, it seemed to me`that Virgin were the best re. cost, just the coverage issue.

Thanks guys.

[Steven L Hunter]

Quote:

Originally Posted by magwitch

South central. But a number of people have said to me that T-mobile is not good in Edinburgh and Virgin use them, don;t they?


yes, it seemed to me`that Virgin were the best re. cost, just the coverage issue.

Thanks guys.

I'm not so sure there but i think that in central Edinburgh you get good coverage as i was there today!