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Basic PAYG question
Isambard Brunel
29-01-2007
This may be a silly question but I haven't looked into the fine details of PAYG phones since the late 90s so... Does credit still expire on today's phones?

Back then, you bought a £20 scratch card, entered the number and activated the credit and after 30 days it expired, so any of that £20 you hadn't used was lost.

Is still the case (or something similar) or can you put credit onto them and just leave it there for as long as you like?

I want to get one for someone who'll probably use i once in a blue moon (if at all, hence the need for PAYG rather than a contract) but they won't be able to get their head around topping it up and stuff so it has to 'just work' at any time.

Also, are PAYG networks all much of a muchness or are some better than others? In the old days there were just 2 companies doing it, and only 4 networks in total whereas now everyone offers PAYG and there are a load of network brands (though they all use the main 4 networks really).

In fact, the only thing I do know that's up to date is to avoid '3' like the plague!
vanyablue
29-01-2007
I think most networks keep your credit indefinitely now, BUT they all need a chargeable call or text every so often , or they cut the sim card off and then you lose all the credit. The figure of 60 days comes to mind. You can read the small print online.
iDan
29-01-2007
Originally Posted by vanyablue:
“I think most networks keep your credit indefinitely now, BUT they all need a chargeable call or text every so often , or they cut the sim card off and then you lose all the credit. The figure of 60 days comes to mind. You can read the small print online.”

180 days on Vodafone.
Ethereal.
29-01-2007
O2 (previously BT Cellent) require you to make a call once every six months to keep your number and credit active.
prking
29-01-2007
There is also the problem of charging the phone regularly.
I believe that some PAYG tariffs will stay connected if a call or text is received, so you could keep the phone active by calling them periodically.
With an etop-up card, you can top up for them remotely as well.
Isambard Brunel
04-02-2007
Thanks to everyone for the information. I think I'll get the T-Mobile Everyone tariff because the cheap calls are more important than cheap text messages. I doubt they'll ever send a text message! Calls would have to last 7 minutes on Virgin before they worked out cheaper than T-Mobile. As far as I can tell, T-Mobile is just 12p to any number at any time, while texts are 10p. I don't think there are any hidden catches and that price doesn't only apply for the first 3 months or anything like that.

I'm also looking at the Alcatel E265 (£30 in Argos) and the Nokia 1600 (£25). Are they any good and which is better?

Not knowing much about PAYG, if I buy one of these phones how do I get on the tariff I want? T-Mobile seem to offer 3 of them but it's the 'Everyone' tarrif I'm after, not 'Mates Rates' or 'Text Appeal'.

And what happens about recieving calls? Are you unable to recieve them until you phone up the provider and give them your name and address etc or does it just work out of the box, with your new phone number printed inside? I'm not keen on the idea of handing over any private details to Argos staff since they recently tried to rip me off with a dodgy TV aerial!

I've heard that the Carphone Warehouse are better people to deal with than Argos but unfortunately they don't do Alcatel.
Last edited by Isambard Brunel : 04-02-2007 at 22:37
mellowyellow
05-02-2007
T-Mobile pre-pay are set to the everyone tarrif when you buy them & work straight out of the box from Argos
FB1969
05-02-2007
Based on my experience Argos will sell you the phone and probably tell you it is excluded from the 16 day return policy. Carphone Warehouse will take all your details, attempt to sell you TalkTalk and in a year's time you will get calls on your mobile asking for you by name and trying to sell you a new phone etc etc
RYPW
05-02-2007
Originally Posted by Isambard Brunel:
“Thanks to everyone for the information. I think I'll get the T-Mobile Everyone tariff because the cheap calls are more important than cheap text messages. I doubt they'll ever send a text message! Calls would have to last 7 minutes on Virgin before they worked out cheaper than T-Mobile. As far as I can tell, T-Mobile is just 12p to any number at any time, while texts are 10p. I don't think there are any hidden catches and that price doesn't only apply for the first 3 months or anything like that.

I'm also looking at the Alcatel E265 (£30 in Argos) and the Nokia 1600 (£25). Are they any good and which is better?

Not knowing much about PAYG, if I buy one of these phones how do I get on the tariff I want? T-Mobile seem to offer 3 of them but it's the 'Everyone' tarrif I'm after, not 'Mates Rates' or 'Text Appeal'.

And what happens about recieving calls? Are you unable to recieve them until you phone up the provider and give them your name and address etc or does it just work out of the box, with your new phone number printed inside? I'm not keen on the idea of handing over any private details to Argos staff since they recently tried to rip me off with a dodgy TV aerial!

I've heard that the Carphone Warehouse are better people to deal with than Argos but unfortunately they don't do Alcatel.”

As said above T-Mobile should already be on the Everyone tariff (mine was) but IF its not just put credit on the phone then call 146 FREE from the phone and follow the instructions to change your tariff (aka price plan)
nodnol
05-02-2007
Originally Posted by Isambard Brunel:
“In fact, the only thing I do know that's up to date is to avoid '3' like the plague!”

Nothing wrong with Three. Improved massively since its inception. Try it, you might be suprised.
The only thing is, is on threepay, your credit will expire after 30 days on the high priced airtime vouchers the ones that come bundled with minutes, £25 and above.
The £10, £15, £20 vouchers have no expiry on them.
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