FabSwingers.com forum: No such thing as a free lunch....or a PAYG phone it seems....!

By *risky_Mare OP Woman
over a year ago

...Up on the Downs

Thinking of buying an entry level phone for a reluctant ageing ancestor...two questions:

Anyone know if the really cheap phone brands like Alcatel, Huawei, LG are any good??

Anyone know of a PAYG tariff that actually is PAYG - ie does not expire after 30 days?? If you have to top up every month it's more like a monthly contract!!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

my son has a LG leon which is great for the money, however he is on a contract that I pay monthly

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I think giffgaff do a good deal.. not sure.

As for phone if it's for an elderly person, I bought one for the old fella across the road that has a large button on the back which phones my house, then my mobile, then 3 other peeps in the village when pushed (like an emergency button)

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Thought most were..if you put 10quid on but dont spend it on any bundles then it lasts as long as the phone does.

My daughter has a vodaphone one that she tops up 10quid as and when and as she is connected to wifi 99% of the time it lasts ages.

The bundles do run out after 30 day's though x

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By *uzy444Woman
over a year ago

in the suffolk countryside

tesco mobile, im on triple credit payg and after a month i only lose what 'free credit' i haven't used.. my 'real money' balance doesn't change

hate contracts, had it now for years

cheap phones work as well as expensive ones imo..i keep my phone and comp seperate..

i am a dinosaur who dislikes being constantly available and 'plugged in'..suits me just fine xx good luck x

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By *unandbuckCouple
over a year ago

Sheffield

The PAYG top-ups try to suck you into doing it monthly. You do get extras for doing that, and it's cheaper if you use it tons.

We top the kids phones up £20, they only ever text and not much at that, and that will last months. If you left the phone unused for 6 months they delete the credit I think.

For an old relative PAYG will work out very cheap.

Careful with the phones if they are too tiny, the keys are very small. Maybe a bigger touch screen easier to see and hit the keys??

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Steer clear of the acatel one touch, the buttons are too small, and even when locked, the number 9 button still operates, I had one for a week while my phone was being repaired and I pocket dialed 999 twice, it was free with a £10 top up, might be ok for a fab phone though

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have an LG as my iphone (a work phone) is broke. The LG's camera is a bag of wank. It does soft focus pics which look fecking awful.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The best PAYG tariff I know is 3. It is 3 pence a minute 2 pence per message and 1p per megabit for internet and it does not expire.jon

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By *eggie0111Man
over a year ago

Croydon

Virgin mobile are great for PAYG. You top up and the credit stays. Once left mine unused for a year after losing the phone. When I contacted Virgin the replacement sim came with the £20, on it.

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By *risky_Mare OP Woman
over a year ago

...Up on the Downs

"I think giffgaff do a good deal.. not sure.

He has one of those anyway, lol! Sadly giff-gaff is no good here, I can't receive texts downstairs on it!!!

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By *risky_Mare OP Woman
over a year ago

...Up on the Downs

"I have an LG as my iphone (a work phone) is broke. The LG's camera is a bag of wank. It does soft focus pics which look fecking awful."

Ah won't bother with that then, he wants to take pics!

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By *elvet RopeMan
over a year ago

by the big field

If its for an elderly relative, look at the Doro phones. Designed for the more mature user, they usually have extra large buttons and display, the panic button mentioned earlier, extra loud earpieces and i think they do models that work witht he induction coils in hearing aids if that relevant.

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By *risky_Mare OP Woman
over a year ago

...Up on the Downs

"If its for an elderly relative, look at the Doro phones. Designed for the more mature user, they usually have extra large buttons and display, the panic button mentioned earlier, extra loud earpieces and i think they do models that work witht he induction coils in hearing aids if that relevant. "

That might be a good idea, thanks, they look good!

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By *ooking for bbwsCouple
over a year ago

secret garden chilling, always something to do in the garden

"I have an LG as my iphone (a work phone) is broke. The LG's camera is a bag of wank. It does soft focus pics which look fecking awful.

Ah won't bother with that then, he wants to take pics!"
my phone galaxy Samsung core prime, is right size for my hand does most I want ie.. games (freecell,) camera great ( can transfer pic to laptop,tv via a lead comes with phone) just watch out for a few hidden things not sure if it comes up with a paug phone! Mrs

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My 82 year old friend has one- will look at the make of it and let you know- it does everything but has bigger buttons etc xx

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By *orkie321bWoman
over a year ago

Nottingham

If he wants a smart phone try Aldi. I bought mine from there for £60 and it is unlocked for any network. Comes with a 3 year guarantee which is standard for all their electrical goods, most manufacturers only do a 1 year guarantee.

All of the big networks have a coverage checker online to see if the signal is good in your area. I'm on Tesco who use the O2 network.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I keep my old (2003) Orange PAYG flip-fone for emergencies.

50p/min and 50p/txt is taking the piss a bit, because I rarely top up, but it has come in handy a few times.

Only have to make 1 call every 6 months, to keep the account active.

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By *risky_Mare OP Woman
over a year ago

...Up on the Downs

"If he wants a smart phone try Aldi. I bought mine from there for £60 and it is unlocked for any network. Comes with a 3 year guarantee which is standard for all their electrical goods, most manufacturers only do a 1 year guarantee.

All of the big networks have a coverage checker online to see if the signal is good in your area. I'm on Tesco who use the O2 network."

And yet none of them give me a good signal downstairs in my own house!! We're on top of a hill surrounded by masts - go figure!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Huawai are very good, I believe they mostly make 3/4G dongles - I used to have one and it was very reliable.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

get them a 4s and go on giffgaff

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By *ooking for bbwsCouple
over a year ago

secret garden chilling, always something to do in the garden

"I keep my old (2003) Orange PAYG flip-fone for emergencies.

50p/min and 50p/txt is taking the piss a bit, because I rarely top up, but it has come in handy a few times.

Only have to make 1 call every 6 months, to keep the account active."

my mum as an orange phone, where she as 5 txs per day which our free, an that was from 10years or more ago, don't think there is any pay as u go any more! (Unfortunately) as next year or if i can sooner, leave as fed up with as! But love my phone as said earlier

mrs

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By *elvet RopeMan
over a year ago

by the big field

" We're on top of a hill surrounded by masts - go figure!"

Signal umbrella!

if you're too close to the mast, the signal is degraded as it doesn't really transmit or receive too much directly below the mast, but connect by reflection from what i can vaguely still remember about RF from so so so long ago

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By *risky_Mare OP Woman
over a year ago

...Up on the Downs

" We're on top of a hill surrounded by masts - go figure!

Signal umbrella!

Aha!! Very frustrating nonetheless!

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By *amissCouple
over a year ago

chelmsford

Hubby has a cheap Alcatel payg phone. I have a Samsung with crap reception, so I find myself using his all the time

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By *abioMan
over a year ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

rather than PAYG because of the expense of calls and having to top it up sometimes as an emergency phone it is better looking at some sort of "12 month contract" bundle deal.....

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By *risky_Mare OP Woman
over a year ago

...Up on the Downs

Thank you so much for this suggestion - I bought one from Amazon (30 days to return) and it seems perfect!! It might not be the fastest phone out there, but the software is so simple to use, and apart from having the panic button on the back that texts and phones relatives and gives his location data, it also has a remote assistance feature so we can go on his phone and adjust any settings he needs help with!!

I love it - fingers crossed he will too lol!!

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