pay as you go mobile plans

[maomao]

I'm thinking of getting a mobile to have in case of an emergency. Does anyone have a a pay-as-you-go phone plan that they would recommend? And is it truly "pay as you go," or do you lose unused minutes at the end of the month?

TIA for sorting me out!

I had a tmobile which i only used for emergencys and 20 quid would last forever with a few texts here and there. Moved to those new fandagled three phones and 20 quids lasted 2 weeks

I have Orange PAYG and my children have Virgin and T Mobile. They all seem pretty much the same, rate wise, and no, you don't lose unused minutes at all. I top them up using my Nat West card at a cashpoint which is really easy. For us the best thing about PAYG is that you don't have to worry so much about the phone being lost or stolen as you'll only lose the credit you've put on and no one can run up huge amounts of money that you're liable for (which happened to my husband who has a monthly contract phone). Our phones are also all the cheapest and most basic (all under £50) but fine for emergencies. Unfortunately the children are now teenagers and ashamed of their uncool phones, but tough!

Thanks for your replies! I'm glad to know that you don't lose unused minutes. I suspect I shall go for the most basic of phones, then.

Charliecat, I'd heard that 3 was an expensive network....

Rafaella, I think PAYG should be added to the MN acronym list!

If theres a BOGOF offer send me the spare please

I'm with O2. I put £10 in it and it lasts for ages. I don't use it very often just a few text messages now and again.

Message withdrawn

I have Virgin PAYG, and so does DS2 which means we can text each other for 3p; he has a topup card but mine is on direct debit, which means PAYG rates but I get an itemised bill each month (very handy when one of the kids surreptitiously used mine when they had no credit - they don't try that any more!) and they take the call charges by DD. It's very useful for going abroad as the phone doesn't have to be massively topped up before you go.

thanks, everyone --- this is very helpful!

Depends on where you are and where else you might need it, maomao - we originally signed up to Orange because it provided the best coverage in 2000. That has probably changed since then of course!
Been very happy with it - pleasant, friendly help when we've needed it, good value for money.

That's a really good point, Marina, thanks for bringing that up!

Also, I suppose if I were smart, I would get a tri-band phone so that I could use it in the States, but I simply don't want to go to that expense.

I don't know if tri-band are necessarily more expensive, maomao, but in any case they don't all work in the US - I know of a couple of people who got one specially and then it didn't!

So it would be worth your looking into it and checking both prices and US capability.

Information about phones for USA - there are dual-band ones with "GSM1900 capability" apparently. It lists loads.

Awww, thanks very much, Janh! Will check out the link.

Hi again, maomao - I think I misunderstood that page, it's for buying a UK phone to use in the US with a US SIM card.

Just googled a bit more and found a forum (reviewcentre ) which included this message -

"First Off to have a triband phone to work in the usa you will need a sim chrd all GSM Carriers in the USA require that you have a sim card to use the phone. If you are coming to the US and you want something without a sim card and To work in Europe and in the USA which by the way there is none due to the USA used a differant type od wireless system That the just now changeing to GSM and the World phone are aviable. you may want to look at a TDMA phone or maybe just go to Ebay and by a phone that is tri-band and unlocked and by a prepaid card by Cingluar, Tmobile or in the near Future AttWireless which has the Largest GSm Network that I Use and I have a 7210. THat is the suggestion from USA person living in the USA"

which may or may not help you (I just get the idea that using a non-US phone in the US is complicated). Anyway it was from April 2003.

I think you'd be best deciding which UK network you want and then talking to them about getting a phone to use in the US. (Or else just buying a US SIM card to use in your UK phone when you're over there?)

Thanks so much for going to all the trouble, JanH! I suspect getting a US simcard to use in the States will be the way to go. Or else just borrow someone's phone when I'm there visiting!

I really can't thank you enough for doing research for me!

You're welcome!