Best 'pay as you go' provider

[gbbird]

All,
I am considering changing my PAYG provider. I have been with Virgin Mobile for ages, but i was wondering what the other network providers have on offer i.e ability to take your old number with you, cost of calls, texts, ease of topping up, any catches around losing credit, choice of decent handsets etc.

Cheers

[p4cks]

AFAIK none of them will allow you to take your number to them

[cheapoman]

I'd recommend O2 simplicity.

£19.57 for 600 minutes / 1200 texts / any bolt on (I have the web bolt on worth £7.50 a month) . . . best thing is it's a 30 day rolling contract so no lock in.

SIM only, but I already had a nice phone.

http://shop.o2.co.uk/sim-only-simplicity

I was topping up £10 a month, so it's not that much more but I get to use my phone much more now.

[Nolar Dog]

Another vote for O2 Simplicity although it's not a PAYG technically.

If you've got a decent handset this is the one to go for. You can port your number to it to.

[Big_Dan]

Asda. (Yeah, I know) 8p anytime any network / minute calls and 4p a text.

Sits on the Vodafone network, so coverage is OK and you can use a Vodafone PAYG handset if you like.

[gbbird]

p4cks said:

AFAIK none of them will allow you to take your number to them

I think they all do this now - apparently PAYG customers have the same rights as contract customers, so your operator has to give you the code to do this if you ask for it

[Don]

I'm with Orange. Really good. I get Blackberry Internet Service for £5 a month. No contract.

[pokethepope]

p4cks said:

AFAIK none of them will allow you to take your number to them

Nonsense. They all do, for free.

OP i think you'll find, as has been said above, the sim only 'contract' deals will be the best for you.

[A - W]

02 PAYG with your02numbers. £5 a month for 1000 mins/texts to ten 02 numbers.

[VxDuncan]

gbbird said:

p4cks said:

AFAIK none of them will allow you to take your number to them

I think they all do this now - apparently PAYG customers have the same rights as contract customers, so your operator has to give you the code to do this if you ask for it

Yup. On PAYG from Asda. Really cheap, far better coverage (for me at least) than Orange, and taken my old number over. Call centre staff really helpfully during the changeover too.

Shame the same can't be said of orange who "forgot" to send my PAC out twice hence getting a couple of extra weeks out of me. Gits.