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Possible new tariff from Three
Orbitalzone
14-09-2015
Not sure if it's already been mentioned but I got a Three questionaire today and one of the ideas they're asking seems quite interesting:


You will now be shown some information about a new SIM-only mobile tariff idea, where you can either continue to use your current handset or buy a new one separately. Please take time to look at it in detail and fully understand it. After seeing this idea you will be asked a few short questions about it - please answer as best as you can.

333
Frustrated with having to pay a fixed amount each month even when you don't use all of your plan allowances for your phone?
With Three's new plan you can always be connected to those important to you plus you get a great rate of just 3p per minute, 3p per text and 3p per MB.
Here's how it works: • You simply pay 3p per minute, 3p per text and 3p per MB that you use, and pay at the end of each month for what you've used. • No wasted allowances. • Just pay for exactly what you use. • Hassle free as no topping up required. • Your plan doesn't let you get out of control - there is an automatic spend block at £50. If you go over, you simply give us a call to pay a bit off this and you can continue using it.
Three's 333 giving you the flexibility to only pay for what you use, without the fear of a high bill.


This was part of a 15 min questionaire so don't take this to mean this tariff exists (at the moment!)

I didn't screenshot the questions that followed but they were asking if the 3p price was too high, too low or what would be acceptable etc.
Pencil
14-09-2015
Couldn't you just top up a PAYG phone with £50 and pay:

3p per minute
2p per text
1p per MB

... and get 150MB of free internet?
Orbitalzone
14-09-2015
Originally Posted by Pencil:
“Couldn't you just top up a PAYG phone with £50 and pay:

3p per minute
2p per text
1p per MB

... and get 150MB of free internet?”

Yes but this is aimed at getting PAYG customers onto contracts
moox
14-09-2015
That sounds like their old SIM Zero contract but with lower rates?

(it is/was a contract with no monthly fee and no minimum term, you just get billed for usage - better than PAYG in that you don't need to topup and that the SIM won't expire for inactivity)
d123
14-09-2015
I also had that survey, I said it was a stupid idea making it more expensive than PAYG.
booie
14-09-2015
I think a tariff like that is a good idea but could be abit costly.
if when you reached 100 minutes texts or data you got your next 100 free so your first £3 got you double of each that would make it better.
Also if you could set your own credit limit to something lower than £50 starting at £5 it would be a great tariff for kids without having to go topup every month.
Its a shame other networks dont try thinking outside the box when it comes to creating new tariffs. Although giffgaff has had some interesting tariffs over the years with its goody bags.
RedOrDead36
14-09-2015
I'll stick to PAYG 321 thanks. 333 my arse.
moox
14-09-2015
Originally Posted by d123:
“I also had that survey, I said it was a stupid idea making it more expensive than PAYG.”

Either it's a sign of things to come for PAYG or it's a deliberate increase to account for any additional costs of being on contract - credit checks, direct debits, etc

It's still cheaper than basically everything except their own PAYG tariff, and may still be useful for the very light user who doesn't want to worry about topping up or being cut off
Chrysalis
14-09-2015
pay per use is often a ripoff on data as they will ultimately charge more knowing you will never poy for what you dont use.

So e.g. 2 gig usage a month at 3p per meg will cost you about £61. Rather pay a fraction of that knowing I wont always use it but a much more reaosnable price.
d123
14-09-2015
Originally Posted by moox:
“It's still cheaper than basically everything except their own PAYG tariff, and may still be useful for the very light user who doesn't want to worry about topping up or being cut off”

It's actually one of the most expensive ways to run a contract. Even a Giffgaff goody bag set to recur would be a better deal for children.

£7.50 a month buys 250 minutes, unlimited text, 500MB data, just the minutes and data would cost £22.50 a month on the stupid 333 idea.
moox
14-09-2015
Originally Posted by Chrysalis:
“pay per use is often a ripoff on data as they will ultimately charge more knowing you will never poy for what you dont use.

So e.g. 2 gig usage a month at 3p per meg will cost you about £61. Rather pay a fraction of that knowing I wont always use it but a much more reaosnable price.”

If you were a heavy enough user to be going 2GB/month you probably wouldn't be signing up to a contract like this.

I suspect this would be aimed at the ultra low user, like PAYG without an addon already is

Originally Posted by d123:
“It's actually one of the most expensive ways to run a contract. Even a Giffgaff goody bag set to recur would be a better deal for children.

£7.50 a month buys 250 minutes, unlimited text, 500MB data, just the minutes and data would cost £22.50 a month on the stupid 333 idea.”

What if you don't need that, though? As in the person who wants a phone for an emergency, but doesn't want the hassle of making regular phone calls to keep the SIM active? Or if you make a handful of phone calls, texts or no/low data usage per month?

If you need 250 minutes, unlimited text, 500MB data then get a traditional contract or PAYG addon.

There's nothing wrong with choice, even if 3 brought this to market - you'd still be able to do as you do now.
d123
14-09-2015
Originally Posted by moox:
“
What if you don't need that, though? As in the person who wants a phone for an emergency, but doesn't want the hassle of making regular phone calls to keep the SIM active? Or if you make a handful of phone calls, texts or no/low data usage per month?
.”

Then I would suggest you use 3-2-1 and get the data at 1/3 the price. You only need to make 1 call or 1 text or one data session every 6 months to keep the PAYG active...
moox
14-09-2015
Originally Posted by d123:
“Then I would suggest you use 3-2-1 and get the data at 1/3 the price. You only need to make 1 call or 1 text or one data session every 6 months to keep the PAYG active...”

Not everyone cares enough to remember to do that. Again, if the price of data is so important, you'd probably be going for a different tariff anyway

With a contract like this you can just forget about the phone until you need to use it
d123
14-09-2015
Originally Posted by moox:
“Not everyone cares enough to remember to do that. Again, if the price of data is so important, you'd probably be going for a different tariff anyway

With a contract like this you can just forget about the phone until you need to use it”

So in essence, a "stupid tax"?
swb1964
15-09-2015
Originally Posted by Orbitalzone:
“Yes but this is aimed at getting PAYG customers onto contracts ”

By tripling the price of data? Great idea!
SkipTracer
15-09-2015
Originally Posted by Pencil:
“Couldn't you just top up a PAYG phone with £50 and pay:

3p per minute
2p per text
1p per MB

... and get 150MB of free internet?”

...or line up 10 x £5 (= £50) online top-up’s and 1500 Mb free.
Orbitalzone
15-09-2015
Originally Posted by swb1964:
“By tripling the price of data? Great idea!”

Yeah, it's all about the money
jonmorris
16-09-2015
The cynic in me wonders if this is indeed a sign of a future change to the PAYG tariff, in line with other changes and price hikes.

If that goes, or the prices increase, then the 333 tariff might start to look more appealing.

I do think with new contract tariff data allowances, we will eventually see AYCE handset data axed too. It may well be 8, 12, 20GB and possibly more - for a much higher cost in line with competitors.
finbaar
16-09-2015
Originally Posted by moox:
“Not everyone cares enough to remember to do that. Again, if the price of data is so important, you'd probably be going for a different tariff anyway

With a contract like this you can just forget about the phone until you need to use it”

The market for such a - thing would be very very small indeed.
moox
16-09-2015
Originally Posted by finbaar:
“The market for such a - thing would be very very small indeed.”

That will be why they'll conduct market research like when they think about doing anything else. Let's wait and see if they decide to launch it.

It's not as if it would be horrifically costly to offer a new plan.
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