giffgaff to increase PAYG rates from 26th February 2020 - Alternatives available

wagstaffes

giffgaff are increasing their basic PAYG rates to 25p per minute and 10p per text, data now confirmed to be unchanged at 5p per MB.
https://community.giffgaff.com/d/33064069-we-re-adding-more-to-some-goodybags-in-february

I would just like to remind those who operate their SIM on a basic PAYG basis, and, who will be adversely affected by this increase, that there are still lower cost alternatives available.

1pMobile charge only 1p per minute, text, and, MB data, and, operate on EE's network. Minimum top up requirement is £10 every 120 days (4 months) i.e. £30 per year, otherwise you lose your number. UK based customer support, fully itemised usage, and, excellent feedback ratings. Can buy data boosts from £6. Can currently use same 1p tariff abroad in 46 EU destinations. I use 1p Mobile myself. Cashback is possible via Quidco/Topcashback, or, I can let you have a referral code for £5 free credit.
P.s. 1pMobile have now set up a dedicated page on their website with relevant information, https://www.1pmobile.com/giffgaff/

Three PAYG charge 3p per minute, 2p per text, and, 1p per MB data. Does not work with 2G devices. Once SIM is activated you can top up by just £5 online. Use phone, chargeable, at least once every 180 days to keep SIM active. Can currently use 321 tariff abroad in over 70 destinations, including, USA, Australia, and, New Zealand. Add-ons of mins/texts/data starting at £10 can also be purchased, should you ever need one e.g. travelling where there is no WiFi.

Asda Mobile charge 8p per minute, 4p per text and 5p per MB data. They operate on EE's network. And, taken from their FAQs, "As long as you use your phone at least once every 180 days your credit will never expire and your account will always remain open." You can also buy bundles if you need to, and, you can currently Roam in 50 EU destinations on this tariff.

Tesco Mobile Lite tariff charge 8p per minute, 4p per text and 10p per MB data. They operate on O2's network. I have confirmed with their chat service that you just buy a normal payg SIM and then switch to the Lite tariff, info here, https://www.tescomobile.com/help-and-support/pay-as-you-go/getting-started/pay-as-you-go-lite-call-charges. You need to use your phone at least once every 6 months to keep your SIM active. Can currently use in 48 European destinations at same tariff.

The Phone Co-op Mobile never heard of these before. They operate on EE's network and charge 8p per minute, 4p per text and 10p per MB data. However, charges for calls/texts to other Co-op mobile customers are half price at 4p/minute and 2p/text. Bundles are also available starting from £5.

And, although O2 have withdrawn their Classic PAYG 321 tariff for new users, you can still purchase SIM cards/SIM cards preloaded with credit on eBay, on this tariff. Just double check with the seller that it's definitely the Classic PAYG tariff before you purchase.

Please feel free to add more.

Thank you to andy69 who has suggested
"Another cheaper alternative is to get a Tesco calling card and use a 0800 access number."

And autobox who has suggested a Three data reward SIM which gives the 321 tariff and 200mb data every month. Minimum top up is £2. If you travel abroad you can use the normal 321 tariff in over 70 destinations, including USA, Australia, and, New Zealand. You can also buy a data add-on with this SIM. Read about it here https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/three-data-reward-sim
You can order a Three data SIM for free, here, https://www.three.co.uk/free_sim_mbb/order

P.S.
There is some useful information on comparison of rates, keeping your SIM active, and top up methods, available on this website,
https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/compare-pay-as-you-go-networks
https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/payg-inactivity-account-termination-and-credit-expiry
https://kenstechtips.com/index.php/payg-top-ups

ma2013

wagstaffes
Thanks for the info, my parents use PAYG.... I think we're going to have to switch networks for them. 😔

bullphit

wagstaffes some good options available

rickvigorous

Too bad

team_leader

Any idea what the charge per MB data will be after 26th Feb @wagstaffes as can't see it mentioned.

wagstaffes

team_leader it hasn't been specified as a change so I assume it will remain at 5p per MB.

Edit - now confirmed to be unchanged at 5p/MB

team_leader

After seeing the PAYG price increases it seems odd that the MB price hasn't doubled to 10p @wagstaffes

wagstaffes

team_leader maybe they have avoided doing this because it would also would affect a lot of goodybag customers who go over their data allowance? 5p per MB is already expensive at £50 per GB, raising it to 10p/MB I.e. £100 per GB would be shocking.

kath72

Moved my son to three payg after the last payg price hike. Great service And as a bonus when he was in usa I added a £10 package and he could ‘roam like home’

no one should stay on giffgaff for payg. I suspect those who do are sending 2 texts a year and earning payback to fund a service elsewhere or mostly using the sim for free giffgaff calls.

wagstaffes

kath72 if they are just sending a couple of texts a year I can't really see them bothering to complain about it on here.
But, there are still plenty of PAYG customers who are genuinely low users, particularly the elderly, who might also be nervous about switching to another provider too.
It seems clear that giffgaff, for whatever reason, want everyone on goodybags, and, I can see free giffgaff to giffgaff calls/ texts being ditched next, now that all the goodybags have unlimited minutes/texts.
Everyone should look at their own circumstances, and, not be afraid to switch, it really easy nowadays.

kath72

wagstaffes pw6049
the ones sending 2 texts a year to qualify for payback aren’t the ones complaining 😉

it’s the genuine low users who will need to do as giffgaff clearly want them to and leave and, as you say wagstaffes many of them are the elderly, poor or vulnerable.

I too would speculate that the free calls will go in the not too distant future ... that’ll get rid of the rest of the low payers who put on £40 a year to keep their free calls.

melswift44p

wagstaffes

pw6049

Those that use credit and come on forum can't see them being bothered about a 10p increase

peterhall0012

kath72 my mother is 78 she wouldn't be bothered about paying 25p pm

pw6049

kath72 the one's who send 2 texts per year to get payback where have you got this from

kath72

peterhall0012 I’m genuinely curious as to why she’s happy paying 25p per minute when she could be paying 3p or 8p on another network.

The only reason I could see is that she’s either using the phone mostly for free calls to other giffgaff users or she’s earning enough payback to cover usage ... or someone else pays the bill ?

haridus

peterhall0012 my mother is 78 she wouldn't be bothered about paying 25p pm

peterhall0012 just asked my mother if she would like to move to another network.she said only if you give her£15 for the unlock code.as here Doro phones locked to O2

Here you go no need to unlock the phone and only 3p per min

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Sealed-O2-Sim-Card-Only-20p-Classic-O2-Pay-As-You-Go-02-3p-2p-1p/323873641211?epid=9031178764&hash=item4b685f92fb:g:0yUAAOSwqcNdb32t

😉

andrewmf

peterhall0012 My mother is 79 (although I'm not sure that's relevant), and she's VERY bothered that a company she's only recently joined is increasing their rates by a HUUUUUUUUUUGGGE 67% (call rates) and by an even bigger 100% (texts).

It's a big "F.U." from giffgaff to their customers.

peterhall0012

kath72 just asked my mother if she would like to move to another network.she said only if you give her£15 for the unlock code.as here Doro phones locked to O2

uvbmike

Another backward step from giffgaff. Driving away light users who will now be better off with just about any other low cost provider.

The crazy thing is that giffgaff aren't even that competitive with GoodyBags any more.

anmerkungen

uvbmike I think that is the plan - get rid of PAYG customers. Doubling the rates shows contempt for PAYG.

kath72

peterhall0012
its free to unlock an 02 phone
https://www.o2.co.uk/help/phones-sims-and-devices/unlocking-an-o2-mobile-to-use-on-a-different-network

however she sounds like my mother who continues to get gas and electric from different providers and pay by cheque quarterly even though we have shown her she could save £20 per month by switching
some people irrationally seem to like spending more than they have to 🙄

egontoast

peterhall0012 . She could move to Tesco, also runs on O2.

andy69

Another cheaper alternative is to get a Tesco calling card and use a 0800 access number.

bigjack57

andy69 Hi there, yes, or "18185" which has freefone access and very competitive call rates (eg 1.7/min to UK landlines and 10p/min to UK mobiles plus very reasonable international rates)

peterhall0012

haridus my mother has said she is happy with giffgaff and doesn't want to move and can't understand all the fuss over 10p more per minute

uphios

peterhall0012 Get your mum to get in touch with me please! I can supply her with anything she wants at only 4 or 5 times the price she can get it elsewhere.

peterhall0012

kath72 my mother bought the phone from Argos a lot of years ago and it's to old to get unlocked.the £15 unlock code I mentioned to you before mother never told me that was years ago.

m0dcm

peterhall0012 My late Mom was the same, but used a Goodybag as it actually worked out cheaper, and add for the well, elderly and vulnerable that @kath72 keeps mentioning, just the fact I know 11 over 65 that use £10 or more Goodybags and are still happy to carry on using them... Stereotyping isn't my thing, it seems some on here like to do it.
My Dad and 3 others that I've spoken to are all happy with the Unlimited minutes and 2 use the £20 Goodybag as they use video calling rather than phone to chat, it's a little more personal 😉

Anyway, I'm crawling back under my tin roof ready for the flak... Ration card and book are all stamped to 😂

Dave

kath72

solvbb

Putting things another way, if a low user is going to go over 24 minutes per month on calls a goodybag is now cheaper.

PAYG is only cheaper if you use it less than 24 minutes / month

exactly ... use it for 25 minutes and pay £6 at giffgaff or move to Three and pay 75p .... or Tesco mobile and pay £2 or 1p mobile and pay 25p hmmm choices choices 😂😂😂