Mobile phone

[mwatsonxx]

Hi, I've just been cut off by my payg phone provide for non usage. So I need to get a new one, but it seems these days you can only get monthly contracts.

All I want is a phone I can keep in the car for emergency use, no monthly fees or contracts. It must be on the EE network.

 

[Brigadier]

Presuming you were happy with your old arrangement....

you state that they cut you off for non-usage; wouldn't the simplest solution be for you to just make a 'phone call to anyone, every now and again, so as to not "get cut off for non-usage"?

 

[Iamchamps]

You can walk into an EE shop and ask for a pay as you go only sim I think the minimum credit you have to put on it is £5 or £10. Then like above once a month call someone, even your own home just to stop it being deactivated.

 

[Brigadier]

As I thought, no-one is likely to allow you access to their network without you spending something with them.....

https://www.cable.co.uk/guides/payg-sims-no-monthly-top-up-long-expiry/

 

[mwatsonxx]

Thanks for the interest guys, I'll pop down the EE shop, my neighbours are on O2 so I'll try them as well.

 

[securespark]

The first thing to decide is which providers are good in your area.

There are essentially 4 networks in the UK now.
EE, which includes legacy T Mobile and Orange accounts.
O2
Vodafone and
3.

Each network has what are called MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) that "piggy-back" off the networks.
Eg. Virgin and Asda Mobile piggy-back off EE.
Tesco Mobile piggy-back off O2.
Talk Mobile piggy-back off Vodafone.
ID mobile piggy-back off 3.

There are plenty of other MVNOs.

They generally have much cheaper charges than the networks.
The exception is 3, who offer what they call a 321 SIM. 3p per minute calls, 2p per text, 1p per MB of data.
Every network has a limit on the number of chargeable event-free days before being disconnected. Usually 180 days, but it depends on the network.
Just send a text every so often.
Whatever you do, be wary of some non-contract SIM cards that are set up so your top-up expires at the end of 30 days. You need a SIM like 3's PAYG or Asda PAYG, where your top up will last indefinitely, as long as you make a chargeable call or send a text every so often.

 

[securespark]

Sorry. Missed that it must be on EE.
Doh!
In that case, Asda PAYG will do you.

Get a free SIM card here.

https://mobile.asda.com/orders/new

 

[333rocky333]

I have a spare phone that i took on holiday every 12 months, was with orange then EE on Payg, every year it got cut off and I phoned them on my EE work phone and they always reconnected it. and with any credit.
Was told to turn it on just so it connected to the network occasionally, but i always forgot.

This year as usual it was cut off, phoned EE and they said they now cannot reconnect it, put through to someone higher up and told now after 8 months non use, the number is wiped off the system, mine was despite it having over 10 pound credit and they said searching the number it no longer existed.
Ironically they then text my other phone to rate there customer service.

 

[Iamchamps]

As per a post I made on here regarding landline numbers there is a limited amount of numbers if you imagine how many people have mobiles the amount of numbers could run out. Recycling by disconnecting unused numbers is what they have to do.

 

[EFLImpudence]

As per a post I made on here regarding landline numbers there is a limited amount of numbers if you imagine how many people have mobiles the amount of numbers could run out.

While they will not all be used, there are 1 billion numbers beginning with 07.

 

[DaveHerns]

I had an Asda PAYG Sim in my spare phone and lost it.... Got a 3 PAYG SIM from Tescos and can't get a signal indoors. Asda was good, will get another.

 

[JohnD]

I have a PAYG SIM in my car, it's hands free and connects when the car is started up. Friends know the number and occasionally call or text me on it when they know I'm driving, e.g. to see how traffic is or give directions. I make hardly any calls on it but this keeps it live.

My Australian friend has a UK phone and I have trained him not to throw the SIM away each year. It stays live between annual trips.

 

[securespark]

This year as usual it was cut off, phoned EE and they said they now cannot reconnect

My situation was slightly different, but Orange were equally unhelpful.
I was on contract with Orange and wanted to change to PAYG. The woman dealing with me told me that unless I told her why I wanted to change (none of her business), she was not prepared to swap me.
So I told her in no uncertain terms to stuff her precious contract and that I was moving to another mobile company.
She didn't change her tack.

 

[securespark]

Just found this:
https://anywheresim.com/#mobile-you-can-rely-on

A SIM that connects to any of the UK networks ( EE, Voda, O2 or 3) depending on the signals your mobile can find. So in theory, you should be good wherever you go.

 

[Mottie]

Just found this:
https://anywheresim.com/#mobile-you-can-rely-on

A SIM that connects to any of the UK networks ( EE, Voda, O2 or 3) depending on the signals your mobile can find. So in theory, you should be good wherever you go.

The problem with those sims is that they expire after a certain amount of time. The £10 one lasts only 1 month and the £60 one lasts 12 months (with other denominations/times in between) and if you don't use your credit up within that time (or top it up), it gets wiped!
Similar to the very first PAYG mobiles from One 2 One. I bought the wife one, she hardly used it but to preserve credit she topped it up each month. One month she forgot to top up and they wiped £80 of credit of it.