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Three PAYG or Sim only for unlimited data? |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 165
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Three PAYG or Sim only for unlimited data?
Okay - currently have a PAYG on Three and really need to add unlimited data, minutes and texts.
I can get a sim only contract, but that would cost £15 per month on a 12 month or £18 per month on a rolling contract. Or I can stay on PAYG and just top up and pay £15 a month for an AYCE data with an extra 100 minutes. Am I missing something? As assuming the add-ons remain, it is not worth going for a contract. Let me know if my assumption is wrong? I would go for a phone, but already have a G3 and it seems that it is cheaper to buy most phones and do a PAYG or sim only as above. Also nothing that decent on Three for phones, even to get and maybe sell on. Thanks..... |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 14,577
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In a contract you'll be on a fixed deal for the minimum term, if Three review the PAYG prices then you pay the new rates or get the new allowance amount within 30 days.
A binding contract secures you in on pricing and allowance a bit more than a flexible agreement for both parties. It is likely that Three will review the PAYG tariffs this year, I suspect in the first half of the year. |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Grimsby, United Kingdom
Posts: 848
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I've noticed that 4G speeds are faster on contract than on pay as you go
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 11,177
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To buy an unlimited data addon on Three PAYG, do you have to top up a minimum of £30?
I've heard that you have to top up the equivalent of the cost of the addon before you can buy the addon. So does this mean that the initial £15 top up you have to make can only be used for calls/texts and not for buying the addon? |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,290
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Quote:
In a contract you'll be on a fixed deal for the minimum term, if Three review the PAYG prices then you pay the new rates or get the new allowance amount within 30 days.
A binding contract secures you in on pricing and allowance a bit more than a flexible agreement for both parties. It is likely that Three will review the PAYG tariffs this year, I suspect in the first half of the year. Only 1GB of data for your £15 add on would be pitiful. |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: London, UK
Posts: 8,759
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Quote:
To buy an unlimited data addon on Three PAYG, do you have to top up a minimum of £30?
I've heard that you have to top up the equivalent of the cost of the addon before you can buy the addon. So does this mean that the initial £15 top up you have to make can only be used for calls/texts and not for buying the addon? |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,290
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Quote:
No.... you top up £15.... to buy a £15 add on....
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,993
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Quote:
If you've already bought 3 PAYG add ons before three remove AYCE data (there's no guarantee that 3 will definitely remove AYCE data from the All In One 15 and replace it with a pathetic 1GB or 2GB data limit for £15) to cover beyond the date they remove AYCE, you will still be guaranteed to have 3 months of AYCE data.
Only 1GB of data for your £15 add on would be pitiful. There will be no 3 months of AYCE notice period, it'll just be removed and users will have the balance of their current add-on to use and no more. |
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 165
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I am sure that if they remove it from PAYG then people will just get a monthly sim.
However, I suppose my question simply relates to the situation today. As it looks to be better as PAYG I thought I would ask. I am sure it will change soon though. |
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#10 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 3,921
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Top up £15 every 4 weeks and get the ayce add on. They send you a text when you are near the end of the 28 day period. You also need a bit of extra credit (which never runs out) in case you do anything outside of the allowances. I do this and it works well.
I had to go into a Three store on Monday to buy a top up as the online payment was down. They gave me a leaflet with the sim only deals on it and advised me that one of them would be better. I asked why would I tie myself to a 1 year contract for the same money or more money on a 1 month contract AND get less? I suppose that one person in a mobile phone shop might actually be competent and know about the phones and plans they sell but I have never met them they are all (and I really do mean all) effing useless. It is cringe worthy listening them answer questions from normobs. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,290
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Quote:
I doubt the bit in bold, if (when, according to the whispers) Three decide to remove the £15 AYCE add-on it will be with minimal notice, one day it will be available, the next it will gone.
There will be no 3 months of AYCE notice period, it'll just be removed and users will have the balance of their current add-on to use and no more. There's no good just topping up £15 the day before it runs out and then buy the add on at midnight. |
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Beverley, East Yorkshire
Posts: 14
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I have gone onto the 3 payg as from yesterday, was paying £18 on a rolling contract for the one plan. I had to ring them yesterday to remove the voicemail again and the csa went on about it being cheaper going back on contract. I was put through to the sales team and went through the procedure again. I said why would I go back on contract paying more than I would with the £15 ayce data add on which would also give me extra minutes with payg. He informed me that the powers that be have now realised this and that this particular add on will no longer be available as from the end of February.
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,290
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Quote:
I am sure that if they remove it from PAYG then people will just get a monthly sim.
However, I suppose my question simply relates to the situation today. As it looks to be better as PAYG I thought I would ask. I am sure it will change soon though. |
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,290
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Quote:
I have gone onto the 3 payg as from yesterday, was paying £18 on a rolling contract for the one plan. I had to ring them yesterday to remove the voicemail again and the csa went on about it being cheaper going back on contract. I was put through to the sales team and went through the procedure again. I said why would I go back on contract paying more than I would with the £15 ayce data add on which would also give me extra minutes with payg. He informed me that the powers that be have now realised this and that this particular add on will no longer be available as from the end of February.
Extra minutes on the £15 option is really worthless for me. I don't even make 100 minutes worth of calls each month. Surely they could still offer the AYCE data but for £22 or £25 rather than hack the data from AYCE to 1GB on the £15 option albeit 200 minutes cslls. |
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#15 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Beverley, East Yorkshire
Posts: 14
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Quote:
I'm covered until March at the moment with PAYG. If I buy another 3 adds ons this month I will be covered with 3 further months AYCE until about 9th or 10th June.
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 165
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Quote:
If you have purchased 4 add-ons with AYCE data with 3 of them queued covering you April to July and 3 suddenly decide to ditch it in May, the fact that it says AYCE data (x 3 queued) on My3 balance there's nothing they can do to stop you stilll using AYCE data until July.
There's no good just topping up £15 the day before it runs out and then buy the add on at midnight. |
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#17 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 165
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Quote:
He informed me that the powers that be have now realised this and that this particular add on will no longer be available as from the end of February.
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 165
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Quote:
But you can't pay cash with the sim only. You need a credit card.
I use a credit card. Do not use cash. |
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#19 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,290
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Quote:
Top up £15 every 4 weeks and get the ayce add on. They send you a text when you are near the end of the 28 day period. You also need a bit of extra credit (which never runs out) in case you do anything outside of the allowances. I do this and it works well.
I had to go into a Three store on Monday to buy a top up as the online payment was down. They gave me a leaflet with the sim only deals on it and advised me that one of them would be better. I asked why would I tie myself to a 1 year contract for the same money or more money on a 1 month contract AND get less? I suppose that one person in a mobile phone shop might actually be competent and know about the phones and plans they sell but I have never met them they are all (and I really do mean all) effing useless. It is cringe worthy listening them answer questions from normobs. The £15 One month sim only with AYCE data too similar to the PAYG All In One 15 that if you pay by card you may as well do the rolling one month sim only so they'll just simply remove that as well? I certainly don't want to tie myself to a 12 month or 24 month contract either. In any case the removal of PAYG from the All In One 15 and likewise the rolling one month sim only for £15 is not official yet re: the three website. Add-ons last (at least) 30 days with PAYG, not 28. Because one-add on started on 1st September, and 2nd February is when the current add-on runs out. |
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#20 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,290
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Quote:
Can't say I understand what you mean?
I use a credit card. Do not use cash. But I would not be able to pay by cash on a sim only plan. Exactly what I was saying. |
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,290
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When phoning 444 to top up and buy an add-on for PAYG, it's a man rather than a woman and now, and they've also changed the menu, so now after selecting purchasing an add-on you have to press 2 now, not 1 for the All In One 15 with the AYCE data.
Just a warning for those on PAYG who knew before now what to press on their telephone keypad without needing to hear all the menu options all the way through because pressing 1 for purchasing an add-on will only deduct the All In One 10 which only have 500mb of data to use within 30 days. Three are really pushing their 3-2-1 and All In One 10 ahead of their All In One 15. You only get a maximum of 1500MB of data for £15 with 3-2-1 and you get just 1000 MB of data for £15 when you combine All In One 10 together with 3-2-1. |
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 188
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Quote:
Okay - currently have a PAYG on Three and really need to add unlimited data, minutes and texts.
I can get a sim only contract, but that would cost £15 per month on a 12 month or £18 per month on a rolling contract. Or I can stay on PAYG and just top up and pay £15 a month for an AYCE data with an extra 100 minutes. Am I missing something? As assuming the add-ons remain, it is not worth going for a contract. Let me know if my assumption is wrong? Thanks..... Jeff |
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 62
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In part response to Fmbandscans mention about speed priority on contract over PAYG.
Does anybody have proof of this? Is contract a higher priority level than PAYG, if not it should be - Secondly, I was in the same situation, using the all in one 15 but then decided to get a 12M SIM only contract £15 a month, Ult'd txt's, data and 200 mins. It does seem a little daft that you get 100 more mins for £15 on PAYG then on contract? then again, you get cheaper 0845/0870 calls, Ult'd texts and tethering. And also, not a major pain, but having to top up, then buy the add-on, then get a little extra credit for unexpected calls, bit of a pain compared to the usual contract DD. I also did this because I heard rumours (on here no less!) about the AYCE going from the £15 add-on on PAYG, so as a kind of way of ensuring I keep it and for £15 it is still good. Then in December this year, if Three have improved their 4G coverage and continue to offer a good service I will stick with them for another year, as long as they have AYCE on handset data then all is good
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,290
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Quote:
In part response to Fmbandscans mention about speed priority on contract over PAYG.
Does anybody have proof of this? Is contract a higher priority level than PAYG, if not it should be - Secondly, I was in the same situation, using the all in one 15 but then decided to get a 12M SIM only contract £15 a month, Ult'd txt's, data and 200 mins. It does seem a little daft that you get 100 more mins for £15 on PAYG then on contract? then again, you get cheaper 0845/0870 calls, Ult'd texts and tethering. And also, not a major pain, but having to top up, then buy the add-on, then get a little extra credit for unexpected calls, bit of a pain compared to the usual contract DD. I also did this because I heard rumours (on here no less!) about the AYCE going from the £15 add-on on PAYG, so as a kind of way of ensuring I keep it and for £15 it is still good. Then in December this year, if Three have improved their 4G coverage and continue to offer a good service I will stick with them for another year, as long as they have AYCE on handset data then all is good ![]() In terms of 0845 and 0870 Ijust go to the Say No to 0870 website when I'm quoted an 0843, 0844, 0845, 0870 or 0871 and find out the alternative 01, 02 or 03 number which I call. These companies don't know you are calling the 01, 02 or 03 numbers and they just think you are calling the premium rate number. Premium rate 084 and 087 numbers really fleece the callers. |
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#25 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,290
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It's a pain that you're only allowed 30 minutes to edit a post on here.
What I was meaning was when you've bought AYCE data add-ons before they officially announce they are ditching AYCE data from PAYG they can't cancel them. Hope they don't as it's still invaluable and gives you piece of mind in that your watching of a YouTube video clip or radio listening on TuneIn won't suddenly stop because you've reached 1GB or 2GB data usage 20 or 25 days into the 30 day period, say either is suddenly the limit on PAYG. Just hope it doesn't ever happen. 1GB or even 2GB data limit (fear it's more likely to be 1GB based on the fact that their All In One 10 add on only allows you a pitiful 500mb to use for 30 days) as the maximum of any three PAYG add-on would be flabbergastingly appalling. It would be terrible to suddenly go from having AYCE data one day to only having 1GB the next day and the 29 days after that for the same £15. Three would be making a huge mistake ditching AYCE data on PAYG and allowing only 1GB or 2GB of data instead. |
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