Which is the cheapest Pay-As-You-Go tariff for calls to other mobile networks?

stevenoon · 10-01-2007, 21:58

Hi,

Can anyone please tell me the cheapest Pay-As-You-Go tariff for calls to other networks ?

I don't spend very much on top-up's at the moment - probably about £5 to £10 a month on average and mostly call my parents on Virgin and my brother on O2 using my own mobile.

Do Virgin offer a reasonable tariff for calls to other networks or a optional add-on bundle ? Tried to find out on their website but has been down all day.

I currently have Virgin and O2 SIM cards but don't mind changing networks if necessary.

Cheers for any help.

Steve.

Mr Cable · 10-01-2007, 22:35

The Tesco Mobile Value tariff offers 15p Cross Network calls.

Most networks offer discounts if you purchase X amount of credit each month but not Tesco Value. It appears to offer the cheapest cross-network calls with no minimum spend. No Picture Messaging or 'net mind.

The STANDARD Tesco Mobile tariff has 20p Calls, but you can nominate 3 numbers and get them 1/2 price; 10p per minute (& 5p per text) regardless of network.

Carphone Warehouses' 'Fresh Mobile' offers a similar tariff to Tesco Value but they don't offer a straight forward Topping Up system.

Go with the Tesco.

Jac Naylor · 10-01-2007, 23:33

T-Mobile is 12p a minute to all networks on Pay & Go Everyone.

Mr Cable · 11-01-2007, 03:24

D'oh! How'd I forget them! Good One Jac!

11-01-2007, 11:01

Tesco Extra tariff is 10p a min xnet and 5p a text xnet

Jac Naylor · 11-01-2007, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryanwilliams479

Tesco Extra tariff is 10p a min xnet and 5p a text xnet

...When you top up £15 per month. The OP only spends between £5 up to £10, so it's not worth it.

12p per minute on T-Mobile with £5 topups seems the best choice, IMO.

11-01-2007, 18:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jac Naylor

...When you top up £15 per month. The OP only spends between £5 up to £10, so it's not worth it.

12p per minute on T-Mobile with £5 topups seems the best choice, IMO.

Good point.

stevenoon · 11-01-2007, 18:50

Thanks everyone for the advice.

Today I have bought a Nokia 6230i from Argos for £79.99. This is the phone that I really wanted has I've had a 6230 for about 6 months (which was at least second-hand when I received it and is now on its last legs).

I am really happy with my 6230, hence my decision to buy a 6230i and Argos was the cheapest place to get it from locally but it's locked to O2 - so I'll look into getting it unlocked and then decide which network to use.

Tesco sounds okay - but I might feel a bit uneasy about them after what happened to EasyMobile.

Been with Virgin for a few years - and might look into one of their "bundles" to reduce cross-network call costs - but worried about what will happen to them now they are owned by NTL.

I did look at Orange mostly has they were my first network a few years ago and they have good reliability around here - but I don't think they offer cheap cross-network calls - and I've heard bad things about their customer services recently.

I couldn't really tell if Vodafone offer cheap cross-network calls.

I like the idea of "bundles" now and the idea of buying X number of minutes from credit - so the phone works like I'm on a contract, i.e. X number of minutes remaining so I don't have to worry about what network I'm calling.

Thanks again for all the advice - I just need to decide I think between Virgin and O2 (both with a calls bundle) or T-Mobile's "Everyone" tariff - but I can't help but think there's a catch to that.

Cheers,

Steve.

ilovekrys · 11-01-2007, 23:51

i would either go with t-moblie for 12p mer minute
or vodafone for the 1st 3 minutes its 30p then its 10p per minute to all networks and spend over £2.50 per week and get free weekend txts or £5.00 prt week and free calls as well

FB1969 · 12-01-2007, 12:02

I've been with Tesco Mobile since November 2005 with no problems, and I can't see them going the same way as Easy.

The standard tariff gives ypu half price to 3 favourite numbers, normal cost is 20p/min and 10p/text - so for the favourites its only 10p/min and 5p/text. The value tariff is 15p/min and 5p/text.

They use the O2 network, so an O2 phone may work with their simcard straightaway. Simcards online are currently half price.

bluechang · 15-01-2007, 11:58

whatever you do don't go with fresh!!

i went with them, and lasted 48 hours. they allow your credit to slip into a negative balance - this is because they are a virtual network - running on the t mobile network i think

15-01-2007, 12:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by lovethechang

whatever you do don't go with fresh!!

Seconded. I've never been with Fresh myself but heard nothing but bad things about them

Mr Cable · 15-01-2007, 20:56

My Mum used to be with Tesco, Couldn't fault 'em.

hector0007 · 29-01-2007, 18:19

I have been with tesco for a years years and they have been very good, however i think i will be jumping ship to T-mobile.

There PAYG tarriff is very good at 12p any time/ any network.

I don't have any loyalty to any network, just go for the cheapest and which suits you best.

10-01-2007, 21:58	#1
stevenoon Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,617	Which is the cheapest Pay-As-You-Go tariff for calls to other mobile networks? Hi, Can anyone please tell me the cheapest Pay-As-You-Go tariff for calls to other networks ? I don't spend very much on top-up's at the moment - probably about £5 to £10 a month on average and mostly call my parents on Virgin and my brother on O2 using my own mobile. Do Virgin offer a reasonable tariff for calls to other networks or a optional add-on bundle ? Tried to find out on their website but has been down all day. I currently have Virgin and O2 SIM cards but don't mind changing networks if necessary. Cheers for any help. Steve.

10-01-2007, 22:35	#2
Mr Cable Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 2,868	The Tesco Mobile Value tariff offers 15p Cross Network calls. Most networks offer discounts if you purchase X amount of credit each month but not Tesco Value. It appears to offer the cheapest cross-network calls with no minimum spend. No Picture Messaging or 'net mind. The STANDARD Tesco Mobile tariff has 20p Calls, but you can nominate 3 numbers and get them 1/2 price; 10p per minute (& 5p per text) regardless of network. Carphone Warehouses' 'Fresh Mobile' offers a similar tariff to Tesco Value but they don't offer a straight forward Topping Up system. Go with the Tesco. Last edited by Mr Cable : 10-01-2007 at 22:49.

12-01-2007, 12:02	#10
FB1969 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: hiding on the backstreets Posts: 1,237	I've been with Tesco Mobile since November 2005 with no problems, and I can't see them going the same way as Easy. The standard tariff gives ypu half price to 3 favourite numbers, normal cost is 20p/min and 10p/text - so for the favourites its only 10p/min and 5p/text. The value tariff is 15p/min and 5p/text. They use the O2 network, so an O2 phone may work with their simcard straightaway. Simcards online are currently half price. Last edited by FB1969 : 12-01-2007 at 12:16.

10-01-2007, 23:33	#3
Jac Naylor Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: AAU Today. Posts: 251	T-Mobile is 12p a minute to all networks on Pay & Go Everyone.

11-01-2007, 03:24	#4
Mr Cable Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 2,868	D'oh! How'd I forget them! Good One Jac!

11-01-2007, 11:01	#5
RYPW Posts: n/a	Tesco Extra tariff is 10p a min xnet and 5p a text xnet

11-01-2007, 17:35	#6
Jac Naylor Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: AAU Today. Posts: 251	Quote: Originally Posted by ryanwilliams479 Tesco Extra tariff is 10p a min xnet and 5p a text xnet ...When you top up £15 per month. The OP only spends between £5 up to £10, so it's not worth it. 12p per minute on T-Mobile with £5 topups seems the best choice, IMO.

11-01-2007, 18:27	#7
RYPW Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally Posted by Jac Naylor ...When you top up £15 per month. The OP only spends between £5 up to £10, so it's not worth it. 12p per minute on T-Mobile with £5 topups seems the best choice, IMO. Good point.

11-01-2007, 18:50	#8
stevenoon Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 1,617	Thanks everyone for the advice. Today I have bought a Nokia 6230i from Argos for £79.99. This is the phone that I really wanted has I've had a 6230 for about 6 months (which was at least second-hand when I received it and is now on its last legs). I am really happy with my 6230, hence my decision to buy a 6230i and Argos was the cheapest place to get it from locally but it's locked to O2 - so I'll look into getting it unlocked and then decide which network to use. Tesco sounds okay - but I might feel a bit uneasy about them after what happened to EasyMobile. Been with Virgin for a few years - and might look into one of their "bundles" to reduce cross-network call costs - but worried about what will happen to them now they are owned by NTL. I did look at Orange mostly has they were my first network a few years ago and they have good reliability around here - but I don't think they offer cheap cross-network calls - and I've heard bad things about their customer services recently. I couldn't really tell if Vodafone offer cheap cross-network calls. I like the idea of "bundles" now and the idea of buying X number of minutes from credit - so the phone works like I'm on a contract, i.e. X number of minutes remaining so I don't have to worry about what network I'm calling. Thanks again for all the advice - I just need to decide I think between Virgin and O2 (both with a calls bundle) or T-Mobile's "Everyone" tariff - but I can't help but think there's a catch to that. Cheers, Steve.

11-01-2007, 23:51	#9
ilovekrys Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,601	i would either go with t-moblie for 12p mer minute or vodafone for the 1st 3 minutes its 30p then its 10p per minute to all networks and spend over £2.50 per week and get free weekend txts or £5.00 prt week and free calls as well

15-01-2007, 11:58	#11
bluechang Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,836	whatever you do don't go with fresh!! i went with them, and lasted 48 hours. they allow your credit to slip into a negative balance - this is because they are a virtual network - running on the t mobile network i think

15-01-2007, 12:02	#12
RYPW Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally Posted by lovethechang whatever you do don't go with fresh!! Seconded. I've never been with Fresh myself but heard nothing but bad things about them

15-01-2007, 20:56	#13
Mr Cable Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 2,868	My Mum used to be with Tesco, Couldn't fault 'em.

29-01-2007, 18:19	#14
hector0007 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 36	I have been with tesco for a years years and they have been very good, however i think i will be jumping ship to T-mobile. There PAYG tarriff is very good at 12p any time/ any network. I don't have any loyalty to any network, just go for the cheapest and which suits you best.

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Which is the cheapest Pay-As-You-Go tariff for calls to other mobile networks?