We've not had one of these threads for a while and there's a lot of new tariffs and shiz flying around, I though it worth asking for some advice as my contract is ending this month.

I'm currently paying O2 £20 a month, I'm not even sure what I'm getting for that money, but what I do know is I rarely call people (a few hours a month max), I text mainly my girlfriend but also use apps to message a lot, I don't really use t'internet on my phone (but might consider it with 4G - though my Samsung S3 doesn't support it). So basically I'm not a heavy user and I'm thinking of going PAYG and buying myself a better phone in the not too distant future.

Any advice for someone with my circumstances/usage, advice on best PAYG deals or tariffs?

Cheers

I'm on a £16/month O2 sim only plan

get loads of free calls, internet, texts etc..

enough so that I never use too much and pay more

data is well worth it... just so you don;t get hammered when you turn it on once in a while for google maps, or to message vai app when you're away from wifi

didn't think I'd use it much at all, but I'd miss it if I didn't have it

Virgin media do a good sim only deal
http://store.virginmedia.com/virgin-media-mobile/sim-only/pay-monthly-sim.html
no contract tie in.

I am on o2 & the signal is poor around here. They are rolling out 4G, but has completely left their 3g service suffer & don't give a f**k.

My 3G is sh*te too with o2.

Thanks guys, I'll look at both those options later.

Quote from: Eggtastico on June 07, 2015, 21:59:28 PM
Virgin media do a good sim only deal
http://store.virginmedia.com/virgin-media-mobile/sim-only/pay-monthly-sim.html
no contract tie in.

Another vote for the above, been using them for years.

"0800 and 0808 numbers

Freephone numbers starting 0800 or 0808 are already free to call from your Virgin Media home phone. From July 1st 2015 they'll also be free for consumers to call from mobile phones."

Nice.

Quote from: matt5cott on June 08, 2015, 12:00:58 PM

Quote from: Eggtastico on June 07, 2015, 21:59:28 PM
Virgin media do a good sim only deal
http://store.virginmedia.com/virgin-media-mobile/sim-only/pay-monthly-sim.html
no contract tie in.

Another vote for the above, been using them for years.

"0800 and 0808 numbers

Freephone numbers starting 0800 or 0808 are already free to call from your Virgin Media home phone. From July 1st 2015 they'll also be free for consumers to call from mobile phones."

Nice.

for £5 a month extra, they also include 084 numbers

0800 and 0808 will be free on all networks from 1st of July, ofcom are regulating all "non geographic" calls

O2 is majorly sh*t these days, i barely get a signal even in populated areas, i am tempted to jump ship soon too

Quote from: XEntity on June 08, 2015, 22:35:18 PM
0800 and 0808 will be free on all networks from 1st of July, ofcom are regulating all "non geographic" calls

yup, but not 084 or 087
o2 are actually increasing their prices for the service charge from 21p to 25p, but have worded it in a way not to say it's an increase.
I have exercised my rights to cancel my contract.

Quote from: Eggtastico on June 09, 2015, 08:40:44 AM

Quote from: XEntity on June 08, 2015, 22:35:18 PM
0800 and 0808 will be free on all networks from 1st of July, ofcom are regulating all "non geographic" calls

yup, but not 084 or 087
o2 are actually increasing their prices for the service charge from 21p to 25p, but have worded it in a way not to say it's an increase.
I have exercised my rights to cancel my contract.

So 084, 087 and 09 are being regulated, just not being provided for free, the service charge and access charge are being split, service charge is the element the party you are calling takes, access charge is what the operator takes, as this is being forced across all UK operators and the amount they can charge for the access charge is enforced by regulation you may* have issues cancelling your contract because of it... Would be interested how you get on with it though...

Quote from: XEntity on June 09, 2015, 20:25:19 PM

Quote from: Eggtastico on June 09, 2015, 08:40:44 AM

Quote from: XEntity on June 08, 2015, 22:35:18 PM
0800 and 0808 will be free on all networks from 1st of July, ofcom are regulating all "non geographic" calls

yup, but not 084 or 087
o2 are actually increasing their prices for the service charge from 21p to 25p, but have worded it in a way not to say it's an increase.
I have exercised my rights to cancel my contract.

So 084, 087 and 09 are being regulated, just not being provided for free, the service charge and access charge are being split, service charge is the element the party you are calling takes, access charge is what the operator takes, as this is being forced across all UK operators and the amount they can charge for the access charge is enforced by regulation you may* have issues cancelling your contract because of it... Would be interested how you get on with it though...

This are their current service charge prices
http://www.o2.co.uk/help/everything-else/special-numbers

& on the 1st July it changes to 25p - except for the 080 numbers that are going to be free.
This is over a 20% increase in price. I got a letter confirming my right to cancel if I pay the handset element of my contract up.

Nice good to know! Shame I can't exit my contract and resign to the same contract with a new handset :-)

Been sim only for years, it's like £10/m on 02 which is what I'd pay on payg except I don't need to worry about topping up. I buy phones off eBay when I need a new handset.

o2 are utter sh*tes though, I asked for a replacement sim and they took ages to sort it out and sneaked me onto a brand new 12 month contract.

Turns out I was wrong, I phoned o2 and I've actually got another year on my contract, it was 24 months not 12.

It's currently 500 mins, unlimited texts and 500mb data for £18, but they can't downgrade me and I'm positive I'm not getting anywhere near that much use. Oh well.

Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on June 13, 2015, 13:48:03 PM
Turns out I was wrong, I phoned o2 and I've actually got another year on my contract, it was 24 months not 12.

It's currently 500 mins, unlimited texts and 500mb data for £18, but they can't downgrade me and I'm positive I'm not getting anywhere near that much use. Oh well.

I think that's cheap. I'm sure I pay like 40 quid for not much more (2gb?)