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Original poster

Can someone tell me about SIM only deals please?!

28 replies

ItWasJustifiedHeWasACunt · 09/08/2022 20:22

Been with my phone company for ages... but a year left in contract and the phone is knackered. Barely works at all. I now have to pay them £300 to get out of the contract and get a new phone 😡 they won't fix it as not insured.

Whole thing is too expensive anyway, so I want a SIM only deal and I'll just buy a handset for £100 ish. But where do I need to buy the handset? Can it just be anything? I only use watsapp, download a few apps and browse the Internet from time to time I'm not bothered about cameras or all the other things smartphones do.

Can anyone help? If I have a Virgin SIM only deal can I buy a Vodafone handset etc? Nokia? Tesco?! Help!!

OP posts:
StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 09/08/2022 20:23

I'd buy an unlocked refurbed phone from CEX or Music Magpie (both very reliable sites) and then get a £10/month sim from GiffGaff.

GreenLunchBox · 09/08/2022 20:25

You can get a sim only deal with unlimited minutes and texts and 5Gb data for £5 a month

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 09/08/2022 20:25

But if you have a phone that's tied to a network just bring it to one of those high street phone shops, usually called something like Fonez 4 U, and they'll unlock it from the network for a tenner or so.

Cynderella · 09/08/2022 20:26

I bought an unlocked phone online (giffgaff sell them as do many other places - check reviews carefully) and used my GiffGaff sim card. I've never had a contract phone and have always bought second hand with no problems at all. I would start with Giffgaff because they're reputable and it'll give you an idea of what you can get. I have no affiliation with them apart from being a customer.

LulaLandrysClutchbag · 09/08/2022 20:26

I bought my phone for around £150, just a regular handset from John Lewis, then I have a £7.50 a month SIM only deal with Tesco.

I get unlimited calls and texts, not much data but I have Wifi at home so don't need it. Tesco is way better than any of the other deals I've seen but you can buy your handset anywhere, most phones are unlocked these days.

ThreeRingCircus · 09/08/2022 20:39

I have a SIM only deal through GiffGaff, was really easy to set up. Then just buy an unlocked phone from anywhere (GiffGaff, Carphone Warehouse, John Lewis, Music Magpie etc).

TeacupDrama · 09/08/2022 20:43

my DD has SIm only deal with lebara ( vodafone network) £5 for unlimited texts and minutes and 3 GB data, myself and Dh pay 6.50 a month for unlimited minutes texts and 5gb data
I bought my phone and DD's direct from motorola website was about £100 for E6s a couple of years ago

BarbaraofSeville · 09/08/2022 20:55

If you have a year left in your current contract, don't you just want to carry on using that for the next year, as you have to pay for it anyway, so no point paying for a new service now. Start with SIM only next year, as soon as you can cancel the contract.

For the phone, you want one that's unlocked or matches your current network. I like the Motorola G series ones, I've just got rid of a G7 that was 3 years old and was still more or less OK but slowing down a bit. A new one of the newer models (so G8 or G9) would probably be fine and around your budget. Then you just put your current SIM in it, until your contract has run out.

But what do you mean by the phone is broken? Have you dropped it, or has it failed? If you have a year left in the contract does that mean it is only a year old? Unless you've dropped it, I can't see how they won't replace it as it's not fit for purpose and lasted a reasonable amount of time - surely it should last at least until the end of the contract?

www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/consumer-rights-refunds-exchange/

Takingabreakagain · 09/08/2022 20:57

Do you actually need a new SIM only contract? Can you just transfer the SIM you have to the new phone and use that until the end of the contract you already have?

QueSyrahSyrah · 09/08/2022 20:59

Takingabreakagain · 09/08/2022 20:57

Do you actually need a new SIM only contract? Can you just transfer the SIM you have to the new phone and use that until the end of the contract you already have?

This ^

Just buy a cheap handset, get it unlocked if necessary, and put your existing SIM card in it.

TheOceanClub · 09/08/2022 20:59

I have SIM only contract with 3 and an IPhone from Argos.
I pay £16.73 for unlimited data/calls/messages.

Galliano · 09/08/2022 21:00

How much are the repayments on the current contract. You’re paying £25 pcm to get out of it so if the repayments are £35 or less you might as well just stick the sim in another phone.

Lemonblossom · 09/08/2022 21:17

giffgaff is just o2 so will have the save network coverage

abblie · 09/08/2022 21:23

If you have tesco club card they are doing great deals 30gb unlimited text and calls £12 month sim card

User639921 · 09/08/2022 21:24

I would probably replace your phone and carry on with the contract, how much of the contract is the phone. If you want a new phone Motorola are quite a cheap smartphone if you want new, DH always buys them as they are good value for money.

Original poster
ItWasJustifiedHeWasACunt · 09/08/2022 21:25

This is how dense I am with stuff like this 🙈 I didn't realise I could put my current SIM in another phone... I thought (because my contract was with this phone) I had to keep the SIM and phone together. So my Mum has offered to swap phones as she never uses hers. I can do this then right?! Sorry lol!

OP posts:
User639921 · 09/08/2022 21:30

As long as phone company is getting their money for the contract they won't care what phone SIM card is in

AlisonDonut · 09/08/2022 21:30

You can yes, but when you are ready try 1penny mobile.

I bought £30 last year, and you have a year to use it. You just get the SIM and can port your old number over. It is so cheap, I still use it in France and for all my connecting when out and about in Europe and the UK. It is bloody marvellous.

InTheCup · 09/08/2022 21:32

Only if mums phone isn't locked to a certain provider.

Generally, if you buy a phone and sim from EE (for example) the phone is locked to other sim company's (virgin, 02 etc). If you buy a phone from say argos it will be 'unlocked' to any sim you want.

basilmint · 09/08/2022 21:34

Smarty is good for Sim only. You can get £6/£8/£10 a month depending how much data you want. You can also port over your existing number easily with any sim-only phone.

basilmint · 09/08/2022 21:34

Sorry, I meant with any unlocked phone.

User639921 · 09/08/2022 21:37

Unlocked Phones generally come from Apple, Amazon, John Lewis, Argos, eBay and GiffGaff and some online electrical retailers, not sure about Tesco and Asda, they may be locked

EveSix · 09/08/2022 21:44

I buy all my family's phones second hand online from a brilliant company called second-hand-phones.com or similar, based in Barnstaple, Devon. They're under warranty for 12 months and there's a really great selection, most phones are 'unlocked' to any network. DP and I have had our current phones for 5 years +, and I got my DM, DSis and DD's phones in the last few years, all brilliant, next day delivery.
We're all on super value for money SIM only deals with Tesco Mobile.
I couldn't recommend it more.
Second hand technology is a great way to ensure you do not contribute to unsustainable, ecocidal manufacturing practices in the tech industry.

MoreHairyThanScary · 09/08/2022 21:51

If your mums phone is locked to a particular network take it to your local market or phone shop and it can be unlocked for £10 ish.

gogohmm · 09/08/2022 22:08

Buy an unlocked phone, you can use it with any sim. I use giffgaff