Any tips to get a good SIM only deal?

[a_hcir]

I'm a new-ish contact customer, my wife also wants to join o2 on a SIM only contract. Looking at the prices on the o2 website and all the usual suspects like CPW, SIM only on o2 seems rather expensive, especially compared to our old network. I'm going to try calling o2 tomorrow and asking if they do any deals on second contracts, but does anyone else have any tips for getting a good deal? She'd probably want at least 600+ minutes and a jiggerbyte of data a month.

[Anonymous]

Fyi Virgin use the t mobile network.

[Anonymous]

Also have to say I have never known o2 match other network tariffs.

[a_hcir]

Yep, virgin are great with SIM only deals, and they are really prepared to haggle for business, which is why we've both been with them for years and always felt smug when people have told how much they spend on their contracts. Sadly, as I mentioned, any network that piggybacks onto EE (Orange, T mobile) are now useless for us now they have turned off masts near our workplaces that they consider redundant. O2 and voda are our only viable options, and we wouldn't touch voda with a bargepole because our experience with their customer service has been shocking.

I'd like to get the missus set up on o2. So far my impression has been good - good signal, reasonable uk based customer service etc, a bit disappointing that o2 reps aren't proactive these forums (in virgin and vodas forums, CSRs trawl threads and respond to most topics in addition to other customers). But if they won't attempt to match at least Tesco's £10/12 month deal listed earlier, we may have to give them a try as we know the signal will be good...

Thanks for everyone's help!

[Anonymous]

If memory serves me right, if you get two contracts with TescoMobile you may also get their friends and family deal which gives you some extras. It's on their website but you do have to have two or more numbers with them.

[Anonymous]

Also consider cash back sites like Quidco or TopCashBack as sometimes cash back on sim only deals can be significant.

But you MUST click through their websites and not go direct to o2 website otherwise it doesn't work.

I recent saw cash back of £90 I think it was (equiv to £7.50 per month over 12 month contract for some sim only tariffs).

Worth a look if you prefer to go direct with network (o2)

[a_hcir]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Also have to say I have never known o2 match other network tariffs.

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And never a truer word did anyone say...  Just got off the phone with o2, and they flatly refused to price match or better Tesco Mobile's £10/12 month SIM only contract offer.  Seems barking mad, in my experience from other networks there is usually some room for negotiation, but they very polite CSR was adamant that the SIM only tarrifs are non-negotiable, even though they are just not competitive even with MVNO's on their network. 

Oh well, nothing ventured....

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Sorry to hear you didn't get anywhere but it was the reason I left o2 some years ago for then Vodafone who offered better deals with handsets back then than o2 did as sim only.

Given your price range I would suggest either o2 via acash back site or Tesco Mobile (I don't think you will get any cash back for Tesco via quidco or topcashback) but the deals are cheap enough.

Also if you do go that way and have more than one mobile number to transfer that you remember 1. Their friends and family offer, 2. To use your tesco club card as they sometimes triple the points and 3. If you intend to keep your number to request your pac code from your current provider.

Also if you are not currently on o2 them get a free sim and check the signal in your area and your frequently visited areas. PLEASE DO NOT RELY ON THE ONLINE O2 COVERAGE CHECKER.

[a_hcir]

Sound advice, piperdog, thanks.

[Anonymous]

You are most welcome. I hope you get sorted.