Non monthly pay as you go - where did it go?

[Anonymous]

I have been living in Portugal, visiting UK and working in Oman and I had three PAYG SIM cards. I kept the cards topped up with credit and used whichever I needed. I have often been away from UK for months, but still had credit on the O2 card. I got to UK last month and my O2 SIM card had died. No problem, I'll get another - or not!

I got a new card at a phone shop - after explaining exactly what I wanted and put on £10 credit. The credit changed to £0 and I found that I had a 'bundle' of credited time and texts. I did not use the phone at all and after a month I lost the credit - money, time and text.

Since then I have been trying to get to a simple PAYG tariff. Add credit - use it per call when I like - it does NOT expire. I can buy this type of card in the post office in Portugal, but in UK it is as if the existence of this type of card has been erased from everyone's memory. I get blank looks and told that there is no problem with topping up when I like, but it will only last for 30 days, or I must pay a minimum every month, use it or not.

That is NOT pay as you go. That is pay monthly. Does PAYG exist anymore in UK?

[MI5]

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@Anonymous wrote:
From my reading of the webpage, if I top up my credit on BIGTALK - say £10 - I get an allowance for that month, but it resets to zero at the end of the month. How can I still have credit after the end of the month, unless I top up again?

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I've answered the question already.

The top up remains as credit unless you use it for calls, texts etc.

[Cleoriff]

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@MI5 wrote:
From here https://www.o2.co.uk/freesim/
Choose sim type and click through to "select" then "order sim".

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Well how flaming stupid is that..??

So to conclude. in the info about the tariffs. there is nothing of that nature showing

To get that info...you have to go into free sims...

What a complicated nonsensical process...

But thanks for explaining.....

[Anonymous]

I agree it's not marketed very well, but if you look at the actual allowances being offered on the Big Talker, they'd be poor value for money if you weren't able to keep the credit as well.

[MI5]

They certainly would be.
It's only o2 to o2 texts that you get included too.

[Anonymous]

As far as I can see if I have £10 credit at the end of the month it will automatically be used as a 'big bundle' for the next month. And every other month for multiples of £10 - if I have the minimum option. Not a lot of use for me if I am not in UK. If it is less than £10 I get to keep the credit and can use it for standard rate calls next time I am in UK. Why the hell can't I just keep whatever credit I have without O2 taking it off me? Just add the option for £0 top up per month and let me decide.

[Cleoriff]

You could do that on the old Basic tariff. Until 3 months ago you could get this. no longer available now sadly....

[Anonymous]

I am just amazed that something so simple and available over the counter anywhere else I have been in the world has vanished in the UK.

[MI5]

You have to top up with new credit. You can't use the same top up to buy allowances every month.

[Anonymous]

I do not want 'allowances', bundles or bolt-ons. I just want to pay for a phone service - per minute and not have my credit stolen from me if I don't use the phone for a while.

[MI5]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I do not want 'allowances', bundles or bolt-ons. I just want to pay for a phone service - per minute and not have my credit stolen from me if I don't use the phone for a while.

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Which is exactly what you get with big talker but if you don't want the bonus data and texts just get a giffgaff sim and top up with credit only, however, whichever network you go with any PAYG sim will need to be used at least once every 6 months to keep it active.