I have been trying to work out who provides the cheapest PAYG mobile for calling all types of numbers ie. same network, other networks, and landlines. Unless anyone else can tell me differently, I think the answer is Tesco Mobile. However this is on the proviso that you are willing to top up £15 a month.

If you sign up to their automatic on-line top up at http://www.tescomobile.com/topup.aspx for £15 a month to be credited to your mobile, you will only be charged £13.50, (a 10% saving), also by crediting this amount to your mobile all calls to all networks and to landlines are 10p a minute. texts 5p. Now because you are saving 10% on your top ups, this effectively makes the call cost just 9p a minute. On top of this you also get your Clubcard points, which if you convert them to clubcard deals are worth 4%. This brings the cost of each call down to about 8.6p a minute. Needless to say, we now use the Tesco mobile network, but would change it we could find a better PAYG deal.

Which PAYG phone is cheapest will depend on exactly how you use it. I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all solution. If Tesco works for you, given the volume and type of calls you make, stick with it. I do think, however, if you have to pay £13.50 every month, it's no longer a PAYG phone by definition.

I use Virgin because I rarely use my phone, and there are no strings attached or hidden extra charges. I only have to use the phone once every six months and that's it.

Easymobile has very cheap headline prices, but there are so many hidden charges on top of this (whole-minute charging, monthly service charge if you don't use your phone, etc.)

Of course, the cheapest solution is to not use a mobile at all as they are all a rip-off compared to landlines.

You make some very valid points, as it is how often you use the phone that determines which is the best tariff. I didn't use my phone very much to start with and found the Tesco Value Tariff to be very good. This is similar to the Easy Mobile Tariff but does not have the hidden charges.

On the Tesco £15 a month tariff, if you build up too much credit you can cancel the monthly direct debit until you have used up the credit and then reinstate it. However calls charges during this time will be the equivalent of 17.2p per minute but will still be 8.6p a minutes to your 3 favourite numbers.

I have just had a look at the Virgin tariffs, which are not too bad, apart from the 35p per minute call charge to other mobile networks - that is really steep compared with Tesco's 8.6p or even the 17.2p if it is not one of you favourite numbers.

Another advantage of the Virgin Payg Tariff is the Free Voicemail. :)

Virgin charge 15p a minute to call 0844/0870/ and 0871 so you can reduce the cost of your x-net mobile calls to 15p a minute by using one of the many 0844/0871 dial through access numbers. ;)
See:  http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/ukcallchecker/

I am surprised you dont have a T-Plus mobile. :) Lol.

T+ for mobile!!!!! You must be kidding!!!! All calls may be 8p per minute but you still have to may a line rental of £8 a month. As I mentioned in my first post Tesco works out at 8.6p per minute and you do not have to pay £8 per month for the mere privilege of being on their tariff. T+ really don't have any competitive products any more.

It's possible to use an O2 SIM with int'l option and a calling card to make 300 minutes a month of calls for just over £12.

For lower users, the initial bonus credit offer on an easyMobile SIM would take quite a while to use

4PetesSake wrote on Sep 15^th, 2006 at 9:11pm:

T+ for mobile!!!!! You must be kidding!!!! All calls may be 8p per minute but you still have to may a line rental of £8 a month. As I mentioned in my first post Tesco works out at 8.6p per minute and you do not have to pay £8 per month for the mere privilege of being on their tariff. T+ really don't have any competitive products any more.

Yes i am fully aware of that.I was only suggesting it in a light hearted way because i had read with interest your post about T-Plus on another site.

When I saw that your - tounge in cheek- suggestion about T+ mobile, I guessed that you had probably seen my scathing piece on them on MSE. So far, not many other distrubutors have jumped to defend T+ so perhaps they are also disillusioned with their products.

Another sleeping distributor appears here

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=265517

Sorry i am going off thread. :)

For PAYG I find Easymobile to be the best. But hey ho and all that. ;)

darkstar wrote on Sep 17^th, 2006 at 5:48pm:

For PAYG I find Easymobile to be the best. But hey ho and all that. ;)

Have you overlooked, its hidden charges eg the 75p a month low user charge,and the fact that its min call charge goes up to 15p on the 1/10/2006.

wrote on Sep 18^th, 2006 at 7:32am:

darkstar wrote on Sep 17th, 2006 at 5:48pm: For PAYG I find Easymobile to be the best. But hey ho and all that. ;) Have you overlooked, its hidden charges eg the 75p a month low user charge,and the fact that its min call charge goes up to 15p on the 1/10/2006.

Nope. But my calls tend to be long calls anyway and I do spend more than  a fiver a month on the thing so Im sure I will live.
But given that once a month they do a 'lucky day' where they dont charge for calls or texts and it balances out for me.

darkstar wrote on Sep 18^th, 2006 at 10:15pm:

Nope. But my calls tend to be long calls anyway and I do spend more than  a fiver a month on the thing so Im sure I will live. But given that once a month they do a 'lucky day' where they dont charge for calls or texts and it balances out for me.

As I said, there isn't one tariff that's cheapest and best suited to everyone. For anyone who uses the phone quite a bit, easyMobile might be more suitable. I hardly use my phone, so Virgin is more suitable for me. Unfortunately, choosing the most suitable tariff is far from simple as there are so many hidden details and the workings of each tariff are different.

One of the most important things to bear in mind is charges for calls to other networks. Mobile providers are quick to advertise calls from whatever rate, but quite often this only applies to calls to landlines and mobiles on the same network. Virgin's pre-pay tariff, for example, charges 35p/min at all times to other networks.

The advantage of Virgin is that calls to non-geographical numbers - including 0871 - are only 15p/min. That means you can use dial-through numbers to call mobiles on other networks. The price of these calls used to be hard to find out, but recently (since the new rules?) they've added it to the info on their website.

Anyway, I don't agree that calls to other networks are "one of the most important things to bear in mind" for everyone. Again, this will depend on what each individual intends to use the phone for. I personally would never dial any mobile from my mobile, and almost never from a landline. Having said that, I must admit to keeping the latest 0871 number programmed into the "calling card" feature of my phone in case I need to call a mobile urgently.

jrawle wrote on Sep 19^th, 2006 at 4:03pm:

Anyway, I don't agree that calls to other networks are "one of the most important things to bear in mind" for everyone. Again, this will depend on what each individual intends to use the phone for. ...

They are for those who ring other mobiles from their mobile. My point is that what purports to be a 'cheap' tariff charges what is an extortionate rate for calls to (using the law of averages) approxiamately 3 out of 4 mobile phone calls.

jrawle wrote on Sep 19^th, 2006 at 10:47am:

As I said, there isn't one tariff that's cheapest and best suited to everyone. For anyone who uses the phone quite a bit, easyMobile might be more suitable. I hardly use my phone, so Virgin is more suitable for me. Unfortunately, choosing the most suitable tariff is far from simple as there are so many hidden details and the workings of each tariff are different.

I agree, there isn't one network/tariff thats cheapest for everything.  Each network/tariff has its good points and bad points and like you said it depends on personal usage.

I mostly text and make the odd call from mobiles so I use o2 where I get 300texts and 150off-peak xnet mins for topping up by £15 a month and still get my credit to spend as well.  This tariff never lasted long and new customers can't get this tariff.

Most people I ring are on o2 anyhow as most of them are on the free texts/mins like I am.  For those that aren't on the same network then I pay 40p/min if outside my inclusive mins or peak time.

Personally, I think Virgin tariff and that of o2's are very similar except o2 do free texts or mins whereas Virgin don't give anything for free - although virgin do charge 5p/min cheaper for calling xnet mobiles than o2.  As you said it depends on usage and if I had to ring virgin mobiles a lot then I'd reluctantly have to move to Virgin.

o2 also charge 15p/min like virgin do for NGN except 0871.  I did notice, however, some 0870 numbers on Virgin are charged at 50p/min (see their small print) which I assume these numbers are being used as dial-through providers for which Virgin have caught on to and have increased their prices accordingly as does all the mobile networks when they find out.

darkstar wrote on Sep 17^th, 2006 at 5:48pm:

For PAYG I find Easymobile to be the best. But hey ho and all that. ;)

Remember that EasyMobile have/are introducing a one minute minimum call charge which once their current offer ends, that means you are paying 15p minimum per call so if you get someones answermachine/voicemail, or they answer but are too busy to speak to you then that's just cost you 15p.

EasyMobile with this 15p minimum call charge has to be the most expensive minimum call charge on all UK networks - that along with their charges for not using the phone as much as what they want - make EasyMobile, in my opinion, not a very good choice at all.

TescoMobile charge 15p for their calls (although they do other tariffs which maybe more suited) and don't have any of these hidden charges and a masive 15p minimum call charge.

bbb_uk wrote on Sep 19^th, 2006 at 5:30pm:

I mostly text and make the odd call from mobiles so I use o2 where I get 300texts and 150off-peak xnet mins for topping up by £15 a month and still get my credit to spend as well.  This tariff never lasted long and new customers can't get this tariff.

Is that o2 Genie? Those SIM cards are still available from some online stores and on eBay (just in case anyone reading this is interested).


bbb_uk wrote on Sep 19^th, 2006 at 5:30pm:

o2 also charge 15p/min like virgin do for NGN except 0871.  I did notice, however, some 0870 numbers on Virgin are charged at 50p/min (see their small print) which I assume these numbers are being used as dial-through providers for which Virgin have caught on to and have increased their prices accordingly as does all the mobile networks when they find out.

Not quite. Those numbers are charged at 50p per call. They are not the ones used for dial-through providers, they are actually numbers that are fixed cost on BT (0871 321 is 5.1p +VAT on BT). Even if it was a dial-through number, 50p per call would be a bargain for having a long chat to a friend on a different network!

Quote:

The advantage of Virgin is that calls to non-geographical numbers - including 0871 - are only 15p/min. That means you can use dial-through numbers to call mobiles on other networks. The price of these calls used to be hard to find out, but recently (since the new rules?) they've added it to the info on their website. Anyway, I don't agree that calls to other networks are "one of the most important things to bear in mind" for everyone. Again, this will depend on what each individual intends to use the phone for. I personally would never dial any mobile from my mobile, and almost never from a landline. Having said that, I must admit to keeping the latest 0871 number programmed into the "calling card" feature of my phone in case I need to call a mobile urgently.

I'm confused, why would you not want to use your landline to call a mobile (5p weekdays, 2p weekends) using 18185 and rather use your mobile and the 0871 numbe at 15p a minute.



~Edited by bbb_uk: Fixed quote

I suppose you could have the best of both worlds by putting  2 T-Mob Payg Sims in a dual sim holder. One on the 12p x-net tariff the other on the 3p text tariff.

4PetesSake wrote on Sep 19^th, 2006 at 10:51pm:

I'm confused, why would you not want to use your landline to call a mobile (5p weekdays, 2p weekends) using 18185 and rather use your mobile and the 0871 number at 15p a minute.

Some people do prefer to use mobiles to ring other mobiles even though it may be cheaper from some landlines.  I'm the same but we have mobile and premium rate numbers blocked.  This way, as we're all on PAYG, i'm reminded how expensive mobiles can be because of how quickly credit can run out.  Whereas, making a lot of calls via Call18185 would be cheaper per minute but by the time the bill comes in (can be few months with these companies) then you only then realise how expensive mobiles actually are to call.  That is, assuming you don't check your bill online every now and then which some people may not.

For those that are ringing mobiles a lot, it maybe to be on a contract or PAYG that has inclusive mins, which could make it cheaper doing it this way rather than a landline.

Again, it really all does depend on individual usage.

jrawle wrote on Sep 19^th, 2006 at 10:33pm:

bbb_uk wrote on Sep 19th, 2006 at 5:30pm: I mostly text and make the odd call from mobiles so I use o2 where I get 300texts and 150off-peak xnet mins for topping up by £15 a month and still get my credit to spend as well.  This tariff never lasted long and new customers can't get this tariff. Is that o2 Genie? Those SIM cards are still available from some online stores and on eBay (just in case anyone reading this is interested).

Yes, they're called o2 Online and have been for years now but before then they were known as o2 Genie.  You can still get the SIM cards from o2 themselves or sometimes they still do free o2 simcard offers but the tariff I'm on was stopped for new customers probably because it was costing o2 more money than they might make back.  The only tariffs available to new customers now are here.


jrawle wrote on Sep 19^th, 2006 at 10:33pm:

bbb_uk wrote on Sep 19th, 2006 at 5:30pm: o2 also charge 15p/min like virgin do for NGN except 0871.  I did notice, however, some 0870 numbers on Virgin are charged at 50p/min (see their small print) which I assume these numbers are being used as dial-through providers for which Virgin have caught on to and have increased their prices accordingly as does all the mobile networks when they find out. Not quite. Those numbers are charged at 50p per call..

My mistake, I scanned the small print and noticed the 50p and assumed it was per min and not per call.  ;)

4PetesSake wrote on Sep 19^th, 2006 at 10:51pm:

I'm confused, why would you not want to use your landline to call a mobile (5p weekdays, 2p weekends) using 18185 and rather use your mobile and the 0871 numbe at 15p a minute.

I quite agree. I'd extend that to ask, why do people use mobiles at all as they are always more expensive than a landline. But clearly people do use them for a variety of reasons. Personally I prefer not to, so I just use a PAYG tariff where I only need to use it once every six months to keep it alive.

I agree. I personally don't top up my Tesco Mobile with £15 a month but I still get the half price calls to my 3 favourite numbers and these are about the only numbers that I dial. Therefore a £10 top up will easily last me a year.

jrawle wrote on Sep 19^th, 2006 at 10:33pm:

bbb_uk wrote on Sep 19th, 2006 at 5:30pm: I mostly text and make the odd call from mobiles so I use o2 where I get 300texts and 150off-peak xnet mins for topping up by £15 a month and still get my credit to spend as well.  This tariff never lasted long and new customers can't get this tariff. Is that o2 Genie? Those SIM cards are still available from some online stores and on eBay (just in case anyone reading this is interested).

Funny you should mention that as I've just received an email from o2 and they are doing free sims again.

See here.

As mentioned in my previous post, their tariff details can be viewed here which lists what they give for free - just for topping-up.