1p mobile- what's the catch?

[Throbbing Angel]

<snip> and they took any spare credit up to <snip> Irritating.

On the plus side, their web portal was great, fully itemised history etc.

Indeed. It is irritating. My Da isn't aware so it only bothers me

Their website is good, I agree.

My post was more of an FYI than anything just in case. Dunno if I can be bothered posting it across other 1p mobile related threads.

And - you get similar itemisation goodness from the Lebara app - if anyone needs/wants to know or is thinking of making a move and values this kind of thing.

 

[Derek S-H]

Just wanted to bump this Thread.

Am copying and pasting an online query from elsewhere as it's pretty much relevant to me, too:

"I only want to make to occasional call or send the occasional text, and I mean really occasional, maybe 1 call every couple of months and even less texts, I don't really want to pay £10 a month just for that, that seems to be the cheapest deal available.

I remember years ago I had a pay as you go phone and I only paid for what I used, £10 would last 12 months or more, what happened? is it really £10 a month even if I don't use it?"

Like the above query, my phone mostly lives in a drawer, it's not central to my existence and I only bought it because music venues stopped printing physical gig tickets, it's all e-tickets now.

Any links would be most appreciated. Oh, and I'm also currently with 1p Mobile (EE) and they've just changed their plan to £10 every 60 days; I'm lucky if I spend £1 a month.

spudulike - would you still recommend RWG? Their customer service seems to be absolutely appalling according to Google Reviews with some people saying to actively avoid them, so it would be good to hear from someone who might have an opposing viewpoint.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Just wanted to bump this Thread.

Am copying and pasting an online query from elsewhere as it's pretty much relevant to me, too:

"I only want to make to occasional call or send the occasional text, and I mean really occasional, maybe 1 call every couple of months and even less texts, I don't really want to pay £10 a month just for that, that seems to be the cheapest deal available.

I remember years ago I had a pay as you go phone and I only paid for what I used, £10 would last 12 months or more, what happened? is it really £10 a month even if I don't use it?"

Like the above query, my phone mostly lives in a drawer, it's not central to my existence and I only bought it because music venues stopped printing physical gig tickets, it's all e-tickets now.

Any links would be most appreciated. Oh, and I'm also currently with 1p Mobile (EE) and they've just changed their plan to £10 every 60 days; I'm lucky if I spend £1 a month.

spudulike - would you still recommend RWG? Their customer service seems to be absolutely appalling according to Google Reviews with some people saying to actively avoid them, so it would be good to hear from someone who might have an opposing viewpoint.

Now I've never used or heard of them, but I had a quick look at money saving expert and was amazed to find you can get a monthly SIM for £2.74 with Talk Home. They use EE, but my understanding is that only 1p mobile gets access to all of EEs frequencies. I think that's only a big thing if your like me a pick EE as they are one of the better ones in the middle of nowhere.

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/mobile-phones/sim-only/cheap-sim-only-deals/

Talk Home review: is the EE-based network any good?

We look at the coverage, speeds and benefits you get when you join Talk Home Mobile, to see if the network's right for you.

www.simsherpa.com

 

[DrunkJournalist]

Just wanted to bump this Thread.

Am copying and pasting an online query from elsewhere as it's pretty much relevant to me, too:

"I only want to make to occasional call or send the occasional text, and I mean really occasional, maybe 1 call every couple of months and even less texts, I don't really want to pay £10 a month just for that, that seems to be the cheapest deal available.

I remember years ago I had a pay as you go phone and I only paid for what I used, £10 would last 12 months or more, what happened? is it really £10 a month even if I don't use it?"

Like the above query, my phone mostly lives in a drawer, it's not central to my existence and I only bought it because music venues stopped printing physical gig tickets, it's all e-tickets now.

Any links would be most appreciated. Oh, and I'm also currently with 1p Mobile (EE) and they've just changed their plan to £10 every 60 days; I'm lucky if I spend £1 a month.

spudulike - would you still recommend RWG? Their customer service seems to be absolutely appalling according to Google Reviews with some people saying to actively avoid them, so it would be good to hear from someone who might have an opposing viewpoint.

Sounds like you would be better off on Giffgaff, where you just have to make a call or text every six months to keep it going.

 

[spudulike]

"I only want to make to occasional call or send the occasional text, and I mean really occasional, maybe 1 call every couple of months and even less texts, I don't really want to pay £10 a month just for that, that seems to be the cheapest deal available.


spudulike - would you still recommend RWG? Their customer service seems to be absolutely appalling according to Google Reviews with some people saying to actively avoid them, so it would be good to hear from someone who might have an opposing viewpoint.

Absolutely - order a SIM, select £1 credit. That is enough for 20 mins of calls/text mixture at 5p/min and 5p/text. That should last you five years.

You could get £5 credit before the end of November as they will double the credit. That's 2.5p/min etc. Their credit never expires. They have run these double-credit offers every six months but that may not happen in future.

I recently ported/PACed in a number - no issues. We've had a couple of support emails over the years and one support call - all fixed/answered in a reasonable time.

A couple of months ago I committed the house phone again and paid £45 (10% off offer) for two years prepaid 250 mins, 250 SMS and 2GB data per month.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Sounds like you would be better off on Giffgaff, where you just have to make a call or text every six months to keep it going.

Absolutely - order a SIM, select £1 credit. That is enough for 20 mins of calls/text mixture at 5p/min and 5p/text. That should last you five years.

You could get £5 credit before the end of November as they will double the credit. That's 2.5p/min etc. Their credit never expires. They have run these double-credit offers every six months but that may not happen in future.

I recently ported/PACed in a number - no issues. We've had a couple of support emails over the years and one support call - all fixed/answered in a reasonable time.

A couple of months ago I committed the house phone again and paid £45 (10% off offer) for two years prepaid 250 mins, 250 SMS and 2GB data per month.

Goodness. They both sound so cheap, I'm half tempted to get an e sim with one (or both) so in an Emergency that's not quite 999 level where I can't get reception with EE I could switch over.

 

[Derek S-H]

Okay everyone, I am not a Luddite nor technophobe (I have separate Home Cinema and Hi-Fi systems which I connected up myself!), but mobile phones completely passed me by.

I get that they are like having a PC in your pocket and you can easily run your life with one, but I've never liked the effect they have on people in the public space - from walking off cliffs to taking selfies on train tracks to standing on the cycle path mindlessly scrolling - I never wanted to be a Smartphone zombie.

So this phone, which I got about 18 months' ago, is my first. With that in mind, 1p Mobile was/is my first ever provider and I don't know how to switch. I checked my account and I currently have £6.17 in credit until December 28th. My questions:

1. What happens on December 29th? Will my £6.17 be carried over and £10 automatically be added as a top-up?
2. Or will I lose that £6.17, the account reset to zero and £10 added on?
3. The mini SIM card in my phone is from 1p - does it still belong to them (a bit like a router) and I have to return it if I leave?
4. What is the best way to leave them? It does say this on their site:

"If you wish to close your account you can do so simply by not topping up any more or you can request to close your account right now by clicking on the "close account" button."

I have disabled auto top-ups, so I presume I have to top-up manually now if I wish to stay with them?

5. Is it good practice to switch whilst your account is still active i.e. I am still with 1p and continue using their SIM, but switch to RWG and swop them over once their SIM arrives?
6. I want to keep my existing mobile number, can I do so?

If anyone could reply using bullet points like I have, I'd be very grateful!

 

[farmerbarleymow]

I get that they are like having a PC in your pocket and you can easily run your life with one, but I've never liked the effect they have on people in the public space - from walking off cliffs to taking selfies on train tracks to standing on the cycle path mindlessly scrolling - I never wanted to be a Smartphone zombie.

Horses for courses, but smartphones are really useful for lots of things. I also get annoyed with the idiots that walk down the street engrossed in the thing - it wouldn't cross my mind to ever do that.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Okay everyone, I am not a Luddite nor technophobe (I have separate Home Cinema and Hi-Fi systems which I connected up myself!), but mobile phones completely passed me by.

I get that they are like having a PC in your pocket and you can easily run your life with one, but I've never liked the effect they have on people in the public space - from walking off cliffs to taking selfies on train tracks to standing on the cycle path mindlessly scrolling - I never wanted to be a Smartphone zombie.

So this phone, which I got about 18 months' ago, is my first. With that in mind, 1p Mobile was/is my first ever provider and I don't know how to switch. I checked my account and I currently have £6.17 in credit until December 28th. My questions:

1. What happens on December 29th? Will my £6.17 be carried over and £10 automatically be added as a top-up?
2. Or will I lose that £6.17, the account reset to zero and £10 added on?
3. The mini SIM card in my phone is from 1p - does it still belong to them (a bit like a router) and I have to return it if I leave?
4. What is the best way to leave them? It does say this on their site:

"If you wish to close your account you can do so simply by not topping up any more or you can request to close your account right now by clicking on the "close account" button."

I have disabled auto top-ups, so I presume I have to top-up manually now if I wish to stay with them?

5. Is it good practice to switch whilst your account is still active i.e. I am still with 1p and continue using their SIM, but switch to RWG and swop them over once their SIM arrives?
6. I want to keep my existing mobile number, can I do so?

If anyone could reply using bullet points like I have, I'd be very grateful!

I can't answer thing like balances and when they expire. I'd want to switch whilst 1p was active, but doubt they close your account the moment you don't top up.

However you don't have to give the SIM back. You can keep your number. When you get a SIM with a different provider it comes with a new number. That's OK. You need to request a PAC code from 1p mobile and give it to the new provider.

UKs cheapest PAYG mobile tariff

1pMobile - great value prepay SIM only deals from PAYG to Unlimited. Switch today - keep your number.

www.1pmobile.com

 

[spudulike]

1. What happens on December 29th? Will my £6.17 be carried over and £10 automatically be added as a top-up?
2. Or will I lose that £6.17, the account reset to zero and £10 added on?

I believe the credit is rolled over, but if you leave you lose any remaining credit. When I left I enabled premium rate texts then made a SMS donation £5 to a charity to get the balance down. As you say below you have disabled auto top-ups, £10 won't be added on.

3. The mini SIM card in my phone is from 1p - does it still belong to them (a bit like a router) and I have to return it if I leave?

It is their SIM but I've never heard of any phone company wanting a SIM back.

4. What is the best way to leave them? It does say this on their site:


"If you wish to close your account you can do so simply by not topping up any more or you can request to close your account right now by clicking on the "close account" button."

I have disabled auto top-ups, so I presume I have to top-up manually now if I wish to stay with them?

5. Is it good practice to switch whilst your account is still active i.e. I am still with 1p and continue using their SIM, but switch to RWG and swop them over once their SIM arrives?

Do not close your account! Get a new SIM from whoever and keep your account active.

6. I want to keep my existing mobile number, can I do so?

Text PAC to 65075, you should get an authorisation code back in a minute. Getting this code does nothing, it will just expire in 30 days if you do nothing. If you don't get a PAC text from 1P, phone/email/chat to get one.
Get your new SIM from your new provider. It will have a fresh number and make sure it works (even with no credit you should be able to receive calls and texts and call freephone numbers).
Give the PAC to your new provider. This will trigger

1. Your phone number will transfer from your old provider to your new provider's SIM
2. Your old provider while terminate your phone contract/close your account
3. It should happen within a working day, some take two
4. You may lose service for a few hours, you may have to power your phone off and on.
5. The fresh number from your new provider will return to a pool to be given out later, you can bin the old SIM

 

[spudulike]

Just a bit of more advanced "FYI" people may not know about...

"PAC dance"

Phone companies often do great deals for new customers only. They won't allow you to PAC your number to a new account with them (internal PAC is technically possible but not implemented). Soooo, some people do a PAC dance

1. Get a new SIM from another company
2. PAC existing number to the new company's SIM
3. Immediately PAC from the new company's SIM back to the original company - as a new customer - and get the great deal

e.g. if not with Three, get a totally free PAYG SIM from them. I did this recently and was able to PAC out of Three without putting any credit on.
Obviously, watch out for any credit balances, payment dates, notice periods on your existing contract to minimise the amount lost when that closes.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

Just a bit of more advanced "FYI" people may not know about...

"PAC dance"

Phone companies often do great deals for new customers only. They won't allow you to PAC your number to a new account with them (internal PAC is technically possible but not implemented). Soooo, some people do a PAC dance

1. Get a new SIM from another company
2. PAC existing number to the new company's SIM
3. Immediately PAC from the new company's SIM back to the original company - as a new customer - and get the great deal

e.g. if not with Three, get a totally free PAYG SIM from them. I did this recently and was able to PAC out of Three without putting any credit on.
Obviously, watch out for any credit balances, payment dates, notice periods on your existing contract to minimise the amount lost when that closes.

I'd never thought of that. It would have been useful to me years ago, I think the deals were much more competitive vs buying outright and I was far more network loyal as I worked in really remote places and it was very important to be on EE.

Now it's just a preference to be on EE (which 1p mobile is great for) and I've just bought a new phone outright.

 

[spudulike]

I'd never thought of that. It would have been useful to me years ago

I found out about that on ISPreview forums where I went to learn about using 4G and 5G routers for Internet rather than broadband. Also introduced me to ultra-cheap prepaid Scancom data SIMS on Amazon.

 

[Derek S-H]

Do not close your account! Get a new SIM from whoever and keep your account active.

Thank you very much for your fulsome and detailed reply - very helpful.

However, I didn't understand the above - why would I want to have two mobile phone providers? Especially as my phone only has space for one SIM?

Or did you mean don't close my account before I get a new SIM and sign up with a new provider?

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Thank you very much for your fulsome and detailed reply - very helpful.

However, I didn't understand the above - why would I want to have two mobile phone providers? Especially as my phone only has space for one SIM?

Or did you mean don't close my account before I get a new SIM and sign up with a new provider?

That's right, especially if you want to keep your old number.

 

[spudulike]

Or did you mean don't close my account before I get a new SIM and sign up with a new provider?

You don't close your account. It gets done for you if, and only if, you use the PAC. It should work out in this order:

1. Get a PAC from 1P Mobile - at this point you have one phone number, the one you want to keep
2. Buy a SIM from your new phone company with whatever PAYG or contract you want - let's assume you are moving to RWG
3. You receive a SIM from RWG make sure it works in your phone. You now have two phone numbers - a new number (from RWG) and your important number with 1P Mobile
4. Get rid of as much credit as you can from 1P Mobile using a charity donation SMS
5. Give the PAC to RWG
6. During the next working day or so your 1P Mobile SIM will die. Put the RWG SIM in your phone and wait. There may be some loss of service but then the RWG SIM will be set with the number from 1P Mobile that you want to keep
7. All done, you have one number again. The temp number from RWG is for them to reallocate.

So you don't need a temporary phone number to come with the new SIM but that's the way they all work.

Last point - have a good look at the phone number on the new SIM. When I started on a PAC dance recently I got a free SIM from Three. The number on the SIM was so good (easily memorable, worth a few hundred pounds) I decided to use it to replace my main number and spent half a day notifying contacts and changing accounts!

 

[Derek S-H]

Thank you, spudulike, you've been super helpful for a complete mobile newbie!

I think I will switch to RWG because they seem more suited to my needs. The phone was only a cheapie from Amazon, but again perfect for what I use it for.

Even though it mostly lives in a drawer, it's still a useful device to have and I do use it at least once a month, so my account shouldn't ever get closed down.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

This is an FYI
My RWG SIM stopped making calls/sending texts this week because of the 90 day rule, which I hadn't picked up on. They reckon they've switched it back on but it's still not doing anything outbound.

 

[spudulike]

This is an FYI
My RWG SIM stopped making calls/sending texts this week because of the 90 day rule, which I hadn't picked up on. They reckon they've switched it back on but it's still not doing anything outbound.

Ouch! Hope your outbound gets sorted. Though that cut off is standard. I don't know if any phone companies send warning texts?

I've set up a repeating monthly calendar alert to remind me - our RWG phones get used, my iD Mobile may not (mostly bus app data) and our spare Tesco Mobile is powered off and an SMS warning won't get picked up. Doing it monthly triggers me to make sure the spare phone is working - no point rushing out of the house with it when needed to find it has no charge.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Ouch! Hope your outbound gets sorted. Though that cut off is standard. I don't know if any phone companies send warning texts?

I've set up a repeating monthly calendar alert to remind me - our RWG phones get used, my iD Mobile may not (mostly bus app data) and our spare Tesco Mobile is powered off and an SMS warning won't get picked up. Doing it monthly triggers me to make sure the spare phone is working - no point rushing out of the house with it when needed to find it has no charge.

Aye, this is our spare/emergency phone which lives in the glove box in the car. So wouldn't have seen a text anyway

I probably need to set up a reminder too.

I'll try it again in a while and see if it lives!