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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why is data so expensive??

28 replies

RedNailsAndRedDress · 09/12/2016 14:01

It should be possible to get an iPhone SE (very old phone now) with 5gb data, for less than £30. And yet you can't!

AIBU to think that mobile phone contracts are actually getting more, not less, expensive?

And as for this newfangled "RPI price rise every March" what a load of.... Hmm

OP posts:
YelloDraw · 09/12/2016 14:10
  1. Buy yourself whatever phone you want to.
  2. Get a GiffGaff SIM. £18/month for 6BG data.
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 09/12/2016 14:11

www.giffgaff.com/mobile-phones/apple/apple-iphone-se/phone-plans

£33 pm but 6 gigs?

SaltyBitch · 09/12/2016 14:17

What is the £30 covering though?

On Virgin, I was paying 30ish a month to buy the handset and my contract, but now I've paid the handset off, my minutes, texts and data is only 9 quid.

Its the handset that is expensive.

QuestionableMouse · 09/12/2016 14:17

Don't bt mobile have some decent deals?

Hellmouth · 09/12/2016 14:19

Isn't the iPhone SE only about a year old? It basically replaced the 5, so it's not very old. . .

They are getting more expensive, but only because the phone's are imo

IndigoSister · 09/12/2016 14:19

iPhone SE was only released in March this year so not exactly old.

I bought a refurbished one for about £365 earlier this year and have a pay as you go SIM from giffgaff (£18pm for 6GB). Works out at about £30pm over 2 years.

carnationlilyrose · 09/12/2016 14:19

It's the handset, not the data. I have 8gb for £12 with Vodafone, sim only deal.

Original poster
RedNailsAndRedDress · 09/12/2016 14:20

Hmm, what network do giffgaff use? Are they any good?

OP posts:
baconandeggies · 09/12/2016 14:21

It's the iPhone - rip off packages.

xyzandabc · 09/12/2016 14:21

I buy the phone and then £10 a month gets me 2G of data with giffgaff, plus 500minjtws and unlimited texts.

19lottie82 · 09/12/2016 14:21

iphone SE isn't an old phone, as others have said you're paying for the phone, not the data.

Buy a handset outright then get a plusnet sim with with 1500 mins, unlimited texts and 4gb data for £10 a month.

Yes, you're right, contracts are getting more expensive, that's because the prices of handsets are going up.

baconandeggies · 09/12/2016 14:22

I pay £10 pm for a free Android smartphone and that includes all the data, calls etc I need (admittedly it's only 1GB but I don't use much mobile data)

talkshowhost97 · 09/12/2016 14:23

The SE isn't old! It's basically identical to the 6 but in the more compact body of the 5.

And like everyone has said, that's the cost, they are still over £400 new and unlocked. Then get data on a SIM only deal.

xyzandabc · 09/12/2016 14:23

Sorry, missed the bit about needing 5G of data but definitely check out giffgaff sim only bundles, see if they do what you need.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 09/12/2016 14:24

Hmm, what network do giffgaff use? Are they any good?

O2. I've never had any issues, but I'm near a big city.

wasonthelist · 09/12/2016 14:24

Something about our regulatory and competition framework (possibly to do with the way the 3g and 4g licences were sold) has made our data very very expensive. I have work colleagues in France who have much more generous data allowances for much lower costs.

Yes, companies have us by the grillocks because they all charge basically similar prices and jack up the prices as much as they can without being too out of line with the others.

If you are looking at monthly costs though - part of that as pp said is paying for your iphone and it's almost always a bad deal compared with buying a phone yourself.

19lottie82 · 09/12/2016 14:48

There's plenty of small players coming in with better deals .

As I said I just got a 30 day contract sim with plusnet. £10 a month for 4gb (4g data) 1500 mins and unlimited texts.

Tenshidarkangel · 09/12/2016 15:48

Used to work for Vodafone (Don't now! Grin)

Your contract contains the price of the phone which inflates it and Apple phones are one of the most expensive. If you look at SIMO contracts they're a lot cheaper because they don't contain this cost or consider an Android if you're after a contract.

Best advice, buy a unlocked phone of your choice and get a SIMO deal. Most only last a year which gives you flexibility to move earlier than if you were on a contract. Phone prices are on the up and with that, the price of a contract.

Original poster
RedNailsAndRedDress · 09/12/2016 16:10

So why are phone prices on the up? Usually with technology, advances in the technology leads to lower prices. Why are neeer phones therefore costing so much more?

OP posts:
Original poster
RedNailsAndRedDress · 09/12/2016 16:10

*newer

OP posts:
SaltyBitch · 09/12/2016 16:13

Because the newer phones are actually fairly advanced computers, whereas the machines we had 10 years ago were pimped out calculators.

CozumelFox · 09/12/2016 16:18

I do £7.50 a month on giffgaff, and am very careful about where I use data, putting a load of data savings blockers on it, and rooting the handset to ensure no bloatware.

lurkinghusband · 09/12/2016 16:19

So why are phone prices on the up?

They're imported.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 09/12/2016 16:20

I pay £8 per month on BT (£5 discount for having broadband). I get 3GB of data, 500 mins and unlimited texts. Don't use too much data as can use free BT wifi when out.

I had a Tesco mobile contract but came to an end and just use my iPhone 6+ with a BT SIM. Was very impressed with how quickly BT got the SIM out to me. I had a PAC code from Tesco and my number was ported in 24 hours

DollyMcDolly · 09/12/2016 16:25

I got a good deal with EE. £20ish a month with about 15GB. Unlimited texts and calls as well.