Cheap sim for very limited use..?

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stevewestern

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Youngest daughter is in need of a very basic phone and sim for 'just-in-case' use, so I imagine she will be sending a few texts, maybe a couple of calls but no way is she going to be needing to top up £10 a month which seems to be the basic deals that o2 and the like are offering.

Does no-one still offer a top-up that just lasts until used rather than limited to 30 days ?
 
I'd try giffgaff. It's all online. As far as I remember credit lasts until you use it but you'd have to do something that used credit every few months to keep the sim active.
 
Yes my wife is on Vodaphone and she just tops up when she needs too. AFAIK you can do this for all phones. I think it is the data that seems to have a limit.
 
Just beware that most networks you will loose your credit if you do not make a call in a 30 day period. Something to be aware of if the phone is just for emergencies.

Three does not do this. Your credit stays regardless of calls.
 
Ah, I guess I misread it then - a quick look at giffgaff and o2 led me to think that everything was limited to 30 days.
Thanks Suz and munch !
 
I use 3's 321 sim. Really good value. 3p a minute any time any network, 2p a text and 1p a meg of data. Top up when you like.
 
ecoleman said:
Just beware that most networks you will loose your credit if you do not make a call in a 30 day period. Something to be aware of if the phone is just for emergencies.

Three does not do this. Your credit stays regardless of calls.
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They don't, you are probably confusing the 30 day packs many networks offer with the credit expiry for non use. The period for non use is 6 months on all the networks, including Three. Use is normally described as making a call, sending a text, using data or topping up. Giffgaff adds receiving at least 4 incoming calls to their list of chargeable actions.

@stevewestern
The best choices have been mentioned, if you have a 3G capable phone and receive a decent signal from them, the Three '3-2-1' plan is unbeatable for a low user. If you are in an area of poor Three signal or have a more basic handset then Giffgaff is a good option as it operates on 02 and will work on any phone even basic 2G only handsets.
 
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I use a Giffgaff SIM on a £5 a month 'Goodybag' package for my phone and just have a SIM for my iPad that I charge if and when I need it for data (very rarely). For calls and texts the £5 lasts me but data is very limited and I get warned when I have used 80% (you can get more) and the SIM for my iPad does not expire even if I don't top it up for months.
 
I'm doing a lot of 'liking' here - loads of very helpful replies and I think we will go for a Giffgaff SIM as we are all on the o2 network which does work fairly well down here in our part of Cornwall.
 
A happy Giffgaff user here.......... Another benefit of being on Giffgaff is that provided you top up a minimum of £10 every 3 months, calls from one Giffgaff user to another Giffgaff phone are Free (up to an hour then redial) - my brother and I use this system to call our parents daily; who we bought Giffgaff Sims for, they just receive our calls and do not need to top up every 3 months, this is ideal for our situation.
 
I have a payg sim in my old Orange/EE phone, put twenty quid on it years ago and it's still good to go.
 
Steep said:
I have a payg sim in my old Orange/EE phone, put twenty quid on it years ago and it's still good to go.
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Orange are quite lax, I also still have an old Orange "Out Here" sim which is probably around 15 years old, and it still works. The only thing is if you don't use it in the 6 months time period their terms specify you would have no comeback if they did deactivate the sim.
 
Don't forget to tell the little lady that she can also ALWAYS call 999 or 112 from her phone even if she has zero credit, and if her own network signal is poor, that call will be picked up and carried by another network.
 
viv1969 said:
Don't forget to tell the little lady that she can also ALWAYS call 999 or 112 from her phone even if she has zero credit, and if her own network signal is poor, that call will be picked up and carried by another network.
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Thanks Ruth - I will.
Not sure about her being a little lady mind, more of a little madam at times, but then she is so like her mother......

JP august 15 by stevewestern on Talk Photography
 
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Virgin media do some crackin sims on a rolling 30day.
you say low calls now but might go up.
 
If you have decided on Giffgaff and usage does increase they offer 30 day packs that they call goody bags.


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