Very basic mobile phone advice needed.

woof woof

woof woof

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Since I left work I've become a bit of a technophobe and I know next to nothing about phones. My current phone is an old hand me down Samsung and it's been good enough but very recently I've run into a problem. It's a PAYG and the service provider must have changed their rules as twice now I've gone to use it and found there's no credit on it. They used to do this if there were no chargeable calls or texts in something like 3 months but I think they must have shortened the time as it happened at the end of July when they emptied my balance and again yesterday and I lost another £20. Other annoyances are that the screen is invisible outdoors and the time between it ringing and going to voicemail is too short and I don't get time to get it out of my pocket when it rings.

So, I think it's time to buy a new one. I want one as basic and cheap as possible :D and will probably buy off Amazon or Tesco. I do have some wants though and here they are...

Not too big to fit in a pocket. Some people have massive ones more like tablets, I don't want one of those.
Have a reasonably bright display which you can actually see outdoors.
And also I'd like to be able to use the internet when out and about as we've just had cameras fitted at home and I'd like to be able to check them if away from home for any length of time.

It will not be used for social media, game playing or anything like that.

Also people have mentioned that you can get cheap deals these days and so avoid PAYG and losing all my money. I think that'd be nice as I hate them taking all my money because I haven't used it recently. So does anyone know of any cheap deals?

Suggestions for phones and deals and how and where I can get them will be very very welcome. Mrs WW might want a subscription deal too but I think she has phones already.
 
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I’m not an expert on tech either so can’t advise on which phone to get but I would recommend a sim only contract and buy your own phone a simple to use one shouldn’t be that expensive
 
1p mobile is good for PAYG.
1p/min
1p/text
1p/Mb

You do have to top up a minimum of £10 every 3 months, so around £3/ month

They piggy back off the EE network so coverage is pretty good, even in Wales
 
lindsay said:
Whatever phone you get, I recommend a GiffGaff SIM only deal, £6/month gets you all you would need by the sound opf it - look them up
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FWIW

I used to have a GiffGaff PAYG and found that PlusNet had a good SIM only contract for members but have seen of late an offer, only to all new customers, of 7GB data with unlimited texts & calls for £6 per month.

One key factor for me was the Roam like @Home that covered the Channel Islands:)

PS PlusNet uses the EE network and GiffGaff uses O2
 
I think a relatively cheap relatively low tech phone from Amazon or Tesco and a sim only deal is the way to go, I mention Tesco as they have a manned mobile phone desk there and they'll talk to you.
 
Any recommendations for phones between £100-£200. I think Mrs WW's Samsung was somewhere in that price range and it sems to do everything. She has an Apple too.
 
ecoleman said:
1p mobile is good for PAYG.
1p/min
1p/text
1p/Mb

You do have to top up a minimum of £10 every 3 months, so around £3/ month

They piggy back off the EE network so coverage is pretty good, even in Wales
Click to expand...
IMO as an ex PAYG user you have to work out the amount you are using, in the case of perhaps a very low usage user whether you have used up your £10 or not you will need to pay another £10.....so could theoretically accumulate a larger credit that never gets used up???

Having said that 1p Mobile is staggeringly low cost!

NB looked at in individual service isolation.....
1000 minutes
1000 texts
1000MB (1GB) data

Obviously every mobile user will be different in regard to the number & length of calls, the frequency and number of texts and just how much internet access and whether it includes watching videos for any length of time???
 
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I'm on PAYG with EE and I just pay for the calls. The last time I topped up was May 2021 when I added £10 to the phone and I have currently still got £7.86 left. I think that calls work out at about 15p per minutes. Between 27 April 2022 and today 7 September 2022 it has cost me 90p.
 
K
woof woof said:
Any recommendations for phones between £100-£200. I think Mrs WW's Samsung was somewhere in that price range and it sems to do everything. She has an Apple too.
Click to expand...
Have a look on backmarket they sell refurbished phones of all makes with warranty at very good prices
 
If you have BT Broadband their mobile deal is very good.
They do a family deal which makes it even cheaper for two phones.

If O2 ever stop their classic PAYG tariff I'll be sigining up for it.
 
L320Rio said:
I'm on PAYG with EE and I just pay for the calls. The last time I topped up was May 2021 when I added £10 to the phone and I have currently still got £7.86 left. I think that calls work out at about 15p per minutes. Between 27 April 2022 and today 7 September 2022 it has cost me 90p.
Click to expand...

I think I'm with them. It used to be T Mobile but I think I remember EE appearing on the screen too, I'll check... but if I am on the same network as you I must be on a different plan as I have to put money on and just lately it's started disappearing and so far I'm £40 down with just a few short calls made. If that's how it's going to continue I need to switch plans or providers or g to a £6 a month deal as that's much cheaper than the current costs.
 
tijuana taxi said:
If you have BT Broadband their mobile deal is very good.
They do a family deal which makes it even cheaper for two phones.

If O2 ever stop their classic PAYG tariff I'll be sigining up for it.
Click to expand...

We're on Virgin.
 
giffgaff have a 1gb goody bag for £6. Is that the one?

Best SIM only deals | giffgaff

Compare our best SIM only deals. Contract. Pay as you go. Monthly Rolling. Flexible plans. Unlimited minutes and text. No credit check.
www.giffgaff.com www.giffgaff.com

Just need a recommendation for a phone now :D
 
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troutfisher said:
K

Have a look on backmarket they sell refurbished phones of all makes with warranty at very good prices
Click to expand...

They have this one which seems too cheap to be true...

Samsung Tocco Lite S5230 - Black - Unlocked | Back Market

Refurbished Old school mobile phones Samsung Samsung Tocco Lite S5230 - Black - Unlocked ✌ Up to 70% cheaper than new! ✅ Fast, free delivery ✅ Cheap Samsung Tocco Lite S5230 ✅ 12 month warranty ✅ 30-day returns
www.backmarket.co.uk

I've just looked on Amazon and Samsung's seem to start at under £100 but I have no idea what's worth buying and what should be avoided. Any pointers would be appreciated. Or maybe another make? Also, what will allow me to access the internet away from home? Is it the phone or the sim and deal?
 
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Fuji Dave said:
Any of the Samsung minis are good, plus I have had one of those Tocco Lite ones and they are good. Sim deal should give you internet too.
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My sister and her hubby change phones more often than I change clothes :D They just do it on a whim but sadly they're not talking to me as I had the temerity to ask if she'd come once a fortnight to give me a break. She said she wants "several months notice" before she comes the 10 minutes by car distance. So, I can't ask them :D
 
Fuji Dave said:
I have changed phones a few times too, now on Samsung Ultra S22.
Click to expand...

Ouch! At that price I'll need to write a very nice letter to Father Christmas :D

Remembering that I know nothing about phones... What does a £1,000 phone do that a £100-£200 one doesn't?
 
woof woof said:
giffgaff have a 1gb goody bag for £6. Is that the one?

Best SIM only deals | giffgaff

Compare our best SIM only deals. Contract. Pay as you go. Monthly Rolling. Flexible plans. Unlimited minutes and text. No credit check.
www.giffgaff.com www.giffgaff.com

Just need a recommendation for a phone now :D
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If you are looking for "as much data as £6 can buy you" do have a look at PlusNet as I described above ,;)

PS their current, expiring soon, offer is 5GB @ £6

30 Day SIM Only Deals - Rolling Contract | Plusnet Mobile

Want one of the Cheapest 30 Days Sim Only Deals with great 4G cover and Smart Cap? Switch to Plusnet Mobile now and get more calls, text and data for less!
www.plus.net www.plus.net
 
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Box Brownie said:
If you are looking for "as much data as £6 can buy you" do have a look at PlusNet as I described above ,;)

PS their current, expiring soon, offer is 5GB @ £6

30 Day SIM Only Deals - Rolling Contract | Plusnet Mobile

Want one of the Cheapest 30 Days Sim Only Deals with great 4G cover and Smart Cap? Switch to Plusnet Mobile now and get more calls, text and data for less!
www.plus.net www.plus.net
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Yup. That looks like the one to go for.

And something I've just thought of. Is there any way to keep my existing phone number that I've had since I got my first mobile phone? Ah, I see on plusnet that I might be able to.

So, now I need to know what I need to get on the internet away from home and what phone to buy :D
 
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woof woof said:
Yup. That looks like the one to go for.

And something I've just thought of. Is there any way to keep my existing phone number that I've had since I got my first mobile phone? Ah, I see on plusnet that I might be able to.

So, now I need to know what I need to get on the internet away from home and what phone to buy :D
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You can for sure transfer your number........that is exactly what I did with my old GiffGaff number.

IIRC you have to get the PAC number from your current provider, you enter it as part of your PlusNet online SIM application.......the SIM you get once activated in the phone, the old number is 'applied' to the new SIM within a couple of hours or quicker.
 
Box Brownie said:
You can for sure transfer your number........that is exactly what I did with my old GiffGaff number.

IIRC you have to get the PAC number from your current provider, you enter it as part of your PlusNet online SIM application.......the SIM you get once activated in the phone, the old number is 'applied' to the new SIM within a couple of hours or quicker.
Click to expand...

Yup. I've just read about the pac and how to get one, thanks.
 
woof woof said:
Yup. I've just read about the pac and how to get one, thanks.
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:) I hope you can find phone to suit your needs & requirements.

PS When I upgraded my phone (bought a new one) I was trying initially to find one the same or only a little bigger than the old one but I could not find one that I was 'right for me' so settled on a larger model of the same brand ~ c'est la vie !
 
You do NOT have to buy these monthly data packs. On 3 you can just top up and use your credit as and when.

From 3: You can do both, if you prefer not to buy a data pack, then you can you your credit as it goes. 35p per megabite, 15p per minutes and 10p per text
 
If your happy with the phone you have you don't need to change it just get it unlocked, then you can use any network, Uswitch have some good deals depending on your need, minutes texts and data, starting at around £4 for limited minutes, texts and data and around £5 for unlimited minutes and texts and 5g of data.
Like you since leaving the working world behind I have no need of the latest shinny phone and have an old hand me down galaxy S6 which does everything I need,
 
me n the missus on plusnet £10/month for like £30GB of data and unlimited everything else , also 3 months roaming built in which we need for the Greek House.
they use EE and its solid as for phones , consider moving t a smart phone , you don't have to use the functions if you dont want to but there are some cracking deals look at Xiomi
 
L320Rio said:
You do NOT have to buy these monthly data packs. On 3 you can just top up and use your credit as and when.

From 3: You can do both, if you prefer not to buy a data pack, then you can you your credit as it goes. 35p per megabite, 15p per minutes and 10p per text
Click to expand...
True and the current costs were a significant hike IIRC in April this year!
 
L320Rio said:
You do NOT have to buy these monthly data packs. On 3 you can just top up and use your credit as and when.

From 3: You can do both, if you prefer not to buy a data pack, then you can you your credit as it goes. 35p per megabite, 15p per minutes and 10p per text
Click to expand...

I honestly don't know which is going to work out cheapest. At the mo the mobile is only really used when we go out but today when we were out I had to make a call. At home we're on Virgin and the phone is expensive so if I go for a pack costing £6 I think it's going to work out quite well as I'll be able to use the phone pretty much instead of the landline at home, which is expensive.

I'll have to have a think.
 
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tarric said:
If your happy with the phone you have you don't need to change it just get it unlocked, then you can use any network, Uswitch have some good deals depending on your need, minutes texts and data, starting at around £4 for limited minutes, texts and data and around £5 for unlimited minutes and texts and 5g of data.
Like you since leaving the working world behind I have no need of the latest shinny phone and have an old hand me down galaxy S6 which does everything I need,
Click to expand...

The problem is that my phone is old and crappy and today I got a txt message from EE saying that in January I have to change my deal and possibly my phone too so I'll need to do something. The phone I have is a hand me down from a family member and the screen is pretty much invisible outside and internet is extremely slow so it really isn't good enough to use more than very occasionally and it's certainly not capable of being used to check the security cameras at home.

Mrs WW is more into phones than me so I had an idea, I think I'll get her a new one and I'll have her current Samsung and we'll probably get a £6 deal for both.
 
Can someone explain the data side of things as I have no idea about it. I might want to check the security cameras at home online so I wonder what gb will I need for that?

Oh dear... The deal at plusnet has gone from £6 to £8 since yesterday. I see Vodafone do a 4gb one for £6 but it's only for 12 month then I suppose they'll put it up.

Are there any networks which are better or any to avoid?

Lebara have a good deal for £4.95, O2 for £6.
 
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I decided to keep my old Samsung S10+ for another year, I'll probably upgrade next year, I got a sim only contract from 3, unlimited minutes and text, 12gb of data for £7 a month.

I've had Samsung phones for the last decade, I really like there phones, the menus and cameras are really good.
 
Nikon photographer said:
I decided to keep my old Samsung S10+ for another year, I'll probably upgrade next year, I got a sim only contract from 3, unlimited minutes and text, 12gb of data for £7 a month.

I've had Samsung phones for the last decade, I really like there phones, the menus and cameras are really good.
Click to expand...

That looks good.

Can someone explain GB data pls as I have no idea how much I need.
 
Nikon photographer said:
www.three.co.uk

Internet and apps | Support | Three

The internet and apps hub gives helpful links to the most frequently asked questions as well as hints and tips.
www.three.co.uk
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It's very difficult to know as I don't know the implications of looking at the security cameras at home on a phone. The first the calc said Unlimited and when I tweaked the sliders it said 30GB. I had thought I didn't need many GB's but it looks like I might need Unlimited.
 
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Alan

If its a quick look at the security cameras then you won't need much at all, if its more like continuous use then you'll need a lot of bandwidth. Personally I'd just go for a relatively low Gb allowance in todays terms (5GB or less) and see how you get on. Its really unlikely you would use all this.

Added to the fact that if you can connect the phone to a wifi hotspot (ie you are in a cafe, Sainsbury's etc) then you can view the cameras without eating your data allowance!!

Don't overthink it, just find a phone and use one of the packages suggested within this thread, you'll be fine.
 
Mr Perceptive said:
Alan

If its a quick look at the security cameras then you won't need much at all, if its more like continuous use then you'll need a lot of bandwidth. Personally I'd just go for a relatively low Gb allowance in todays terms (5GB or less) and see how you get on. Its really unlikely you would use all this.

Added to the fact that if you can connect the phone to a wifi hotspot (ie you are in a cafe, Sainsbury's etc) then you can view the cameras without eating your data allowance!!

Don't overthink it, just find a phone and use one of the packages suggested within this thread, you'll be fine.
Click to expand...

Great stuff. That's what I needed to know. You'd never guess I spent decades "in computers" would you? :D

Looking at the plans the difference between single digit GB and 30 might be as little as £2 a month so I might just be cautious and get a bigger allowance just for emergencies sake.

I'll see Mrs WW and see when she wants to get a new phone and once she's sorted I can have her old one and find a deal for us both.

Thanks all. I think I know what I'm doing now :D Mrs WW tried to tell me some stuff earlier about going online walking down the street and I got my own back by telling her the differences between Minolta Rokkor MC and MD lenses :D
 
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woof woof said:
That looks good.

Can someone explain GB data pls as I have no idea how much I need.
Click to expand...
It all depends on how and where you connect to the internet if you use other peoples Wi-Fi i.e., cafe, bars, restaurants e.g., then you're not using your allowance so will not need a large amount of data.
 
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