Do you keep both goodybag + credit on your account?

riikka_gg

Dear all,

Hope you're in decent spirits, circumstances given!

It's Riikka here, one of the product designers at giffgaff. Part of my job is to be curious about why our members do and don't do things, and this is what I'm interested in today:

If you're someone who usually has a goodybag, do you also keep credit on your giffgaff account? WHY or WHY NOT?

Very much appreciated if you have a minute or two to contribute!
Riikka

shabazmoqsud

riikka_gg it varies majority of the time its goodybag with no credit.

the reason for that is if we need to make international calls both me and my wife have second handsets with lycamobile sims

as the international rates are cheaper than giffgaff.

but if there is a need we will have a goodybag with credit added.

ray2

riikka_gg Hi Riikka an iteresting one,i have only ever had a goodybag on my account,i don't remember ever buying or adding credit,any 08 numbers i look for the free or 03 alternative numbers to get in touch,(yes i am a panny pincher 🤣 )

I wander where this is heading,and what will come out of this 😄

figment_uk

riikka_gg

I have a goodybag and a very small amount (£1.51) of credit too.

Reason for the small amount of credit is its been there since switching from PAYG to goodybags when giffgaff increased the rates recently and I am unable to put it towards a goodybag

Reasons not to keep more credit are:

To prevent premium rate texts leeching credit (this still happens despite the PSA rules requiring confirmation, as rogue companies ignore this requirement)
To prevent credit being used at giffgaff's exorbitant PAYG rates if I forget to renew my goodybag (I refuse to use recurring)
Credit is non-refundable should I decide to leave

bluemoonbaz

riikka_gg
Really only used goodybags in the past but that may change shortly, sometimes I do have a small amount of credit but only from past top ups

wagstaffes

riikka_gg I'm easily confused, what does 'other' cover?

themzbiker

riikka_gg

i only ever use goodybags but i do top up using a voucher to enable me to buy a goodybag so don't normally have credit on my phone

charlixsparkles

riikka_gg goodybag and credit. Honestly, the credit is payback from when I asked for it in credit. It is useful when I want to text into 6 music!

netes81

riikka_gg i always have a little credit as well as my goodybag.
This is purely accidental however as its been there since i first registered and had an issue with the dreaded 1p being taken off me and not being able to purchase the full goody bag i originally wanted.
It has,however come in handy recently for txting abroad.

peterdbsc

riikka_gg
I use just Goodybags but have some credit only because:
1) I got some credit from recruitment, shortly after joining giffgaff
2) I wasn't sure under what circumstances I would need credit, so thought it prudent to have some, just in case, but I'd rather not have it.

dtuxcomp

riikka_gg I've been with giffgaff nearly 5 years now, when I first activated my SIM I fell foul of the penny bug where the data connection used some of the airtime before I could buy the goodybag I wanted so I had to buy a lower one. It was all sorted by an agent but ever since I've made sure there's some money left on the airtime balance after I buy a goodybag each month. I use vouchers to top the credit as I don't allow anything online to have access to my bank account, so this way works for me. I just queue the next bag up near the end of the month.

sha_shah1

riikka_gg
I only use my goodybag

mcilwraith

riikka_gg ive always kept a bit of spare credit.
you never know when you might need it

mintedgaffer

riikka_gg

Had goodybags when I first started with giffgaff ten years ago because it was unlimited data for a tenner 😀 When this stopped 😕 I sourced a better deal elsewhere, kept sim active with occasional use since so as not to lose number

I later ported my original O2 number of several years over to a second sim to use in a phablet which was later blocked by giffgaff😠...using the phablet as it was intended that is, not the sim, credit still on it, also used occasionally to keep from losing it or the number which is now my second oldest number still active

The sim active in this account was setup as a spare for someone else to use, they never did, so kept as spare, never really shared the number with anyone outside family so its been handy to keep around. Have lost a bit of credit due to forgetting and turning data on or swapping phones with data enabled but also used credit occasionally to keep active

Would be nice if excess credit could be used for play store purchases like I have on O2 or 3 over the years, maybe even transfer to another sim or paypal but for now its good where it is as an emergency backup

wedgington

riikka_gg goodybag only here. No need for credit at all as I've got no friends 🤣

jackjohnjoseph

riikka_gg I always have some credit in case I have to make a call that's not included in my goodybag. I don't really know why I do this as I've never had to make any chargeable calls but as I was a boy scout I like to be prepared

traelkom

riikka_gg because, credit would be easy to be spent on scam messages as such and 333 like numbers..

thunderdragon

riikka_gg If you're someone who usually has a goodybag, do you also keep credit on your giffgaff account? Why?

Hey @riikka_gg! 😇
I'm one of the "I always take a GoodyBag but also keep a small amount of credit too" users. The cash credit is normally used for:

Covering supplementary charges for making/receiving calls/texts whilst roaming overseas,
Covering for out-of-Goodybag (OOB) service charges i.e. MMS and 101,
Residual balances from top-up/GoodyBag practice as noted below.

Although I generally buy my GoodyBags directly using a credit card, sometimes I'll top-up instead (Using the same card) so that after purchasing my GoodyBag from credit I still have residual balance left over for OOB cash orders. Using only the £6.00 GoodyBag (I use a separate giffgaff account/device for data) this generally means topping-up £10.00, buying my GB from credit and the change adding £4.00 to the cash balance already there. 📱 💷 👍️

As others have said, I keep the cash balance deliberately low - Normally under £5.00 - To limit losses in the event of falling victim to a PayForBrexit💩🇬🇧 scam. The only time it'd go higher is if I was taking a trip somewhere I'd be party to roaming charges for a considerable amount of time and unlikely to have access to topping-up in the meantime. ✈️ 🇦🇺 👍️

Having some cash credit can also cover for unexpected charges, including one recent case where calling an accommodation provider turned out to be an 0870 call rather than falling inside my GoodyBag like I had reasonably expected and intended, even though the number they're using is constructed to look like an 0300 number when glanced at before calling! 🤔 💸

With the present situation I'm suspending raising a case over this for the moment (The call was to postpone a pre-paid hostel reservation because of the epidemic) but because the call resulted directly from the Covid-19 situation and was unavoidable, I am intending to reclaim all charges levied in that respect as the call reasonably fits in-GoodyBag. 👨‍⚖️
+++ 🚄 ThunderDragon 🤘 +++

claire1uk

riikka_gg
I don't make many calls and a goody bag is more than enough for my use.
It's the data I use the most on my goody bag. It's my safety net, just incase my Virgin internet goes down for any reason at home. Gives me peace of mind as I'm on the internet alot.

jesi23

riikka_gg

I fall into the OTHER category as I have several SIMs but only one active account in the Community, and do some strange things.

My behaviour depends on which SIM you are talking about.

My iPad: neither unless I won’t have access to WiFi, except for about three months before payout date in order to qualify for Payback; this is my main account (jesi23); no point in having lots of credit as cannot make calls or send texts, so credit gets swallowed by data when Goodybag runs out. (I never recur Goodybags).
feature phone: topup £10 to qualify for 93days giffgaff-to-giffgaff; possibly buy £6 Goodybag from AirtimeCredit when giffgaff-to-gg expires. Use credit for international calls
smartphone: Goodybag and sometimes credit but not always. Use HotSpot for other devices; Internet for online radio playing. Also sometimes have access to other WiFi options. Do not recur Goodybags, so might have a break between payments/bundles.

My husband has a recurring Goodybag but keeps a little credit for ‘out of allowance’ expenses: the last credit applied was the £10 bonus for attending 10th Birthday Party.

_{_🤡}

formulaone

riikka_gg

I alway's have an active goodybag (and a queued one, if I don't have the recurring goodybag feature turned on) in addition to (usually) having around at least £100.00 in phone credit (ie; to cover any chargeable calls/texts or premium rate numbers.) 🙂

cemor32

riikka_gg I always have my goodybag but keep a little credit in case I send MMS. It's a good idea to keep some credit, in case you need it.

finlaybj

riikka_gg
Normally operate with a goodybag (plus one queued one) and some credit in the background for emergencies or international call.

jaymailsays

riikka_gg
Goodybags only cover standard calls and texts.
I need credit for calls to Channel Islands, IoM, international calls, roaming and the very odd vote to a tv show.

There are quite a few 07 numbers not included.

[/numbers, for detailed listing 074060, 074061, 074062, 074063, 074064, 074065, 074066, 074068, 074069, 074171, 074172, 074176, 074177, 074179, 074181, 074185, 074186, 074188, 074390, 074391, 074410, 074411, 074412, 074414, 074415, 074417, 074418, 074515, 074516, 074517, 074574, 074577, 074578, 074579, 074582, 074583, 074584, 074588, 074653, 074655, 075200, 075201, 075203, 075204, 075205, 075207, 075208, 075209, 075370, 075373, 075375, 075376, 075377, 075590, 075591, 075592, 075593, 075595, 075597, 075598, 075599, 075710, 075718, 075890, 075891, 075892, 075893, 075898, 075899, 077001, 077442, 077443, 077444, 077445, 077446, 077447, 077448, 077449, 077530, 077552, 077553, 077554, 077555, 078220, 078221, 078222, 078224, 078225, 078226, 078227, 078229, 078644, 078727, 078730, 078744, 078745, 078922, 078925, 078930, 078931, 078933, 078938, 078939, 079112, 079118, 079245, 079780, 079781, 079784, 079785, 079786, 079787, 079789. hide more info20p per minute
20p per text]
https://www.giffgaff.com/pricing
Corporate numbers starting 055 20p per minute VoIP numbers starting 056 8p per minute Pager numbers starting 076 40p per minute

Speaking clock (123) 15p per call

harrrrrry

dtuxcomp I would much prefer a big toggle switch on the account page to just disable the lot, no idea why that's not mandatory across all networks,

I agree, that's something we should all lobby ofcom to require. Users with goodybags (and users with bundles on other network) shouldn't have to put up with the possibility of unexpected penalty charges afterwards -- they should be able to choose in advance what happens next, and one of those choices should be that the service stops rather than incurring unexpected penalty charges. A competent ofcom would already have insisted on it, and the fact that ofcom allows these unnecessary penalty charges sums up just how "competent" ofcom really is.

At the moment, we probably stand more chance getting ofcom to make this a mandatory requirement than getting giffgaff to implement it voluntarily.

riikka_gg

if your study allows you to influence giffgaff policy in any way, please have a look back at https://community.giffgaff.com/d/33099905-do-you-keep-both-goodybag-credit-on-your-account/43 and strongly suggest giffgaff needs to urgently implement the two options I suggested there.

cloughey

riikka_gg Just keep some credit on it as i tend to use my phone as a backup only due to having a contract phone for work.

digit2

riikka_gg I keep credit because you never know if something not covered by Goodybag will crop up.

bobrobinson

riikka_gg
Hiya. Riikka

In answering your thread as iv just noticed it.
I always have some credit along side my goodybag.
Having credit always comes in handy just incase i want to send a MMS or call a number that is not covered by a goodybag.
All the best and please stay safe and well....
Bob. 👍️

danie00917

riikka_gg yes; a goody bag and some credit for any amexrra charged. Some photos by text messages Etc.

kimchi

riikka_gg usually a bit of both.

katie84741

riikka_gg I have both I receive credit from a reward site which goes on my balance then I use that to buy goody bags

gloriousiam

riikka_gg goody bag only.

dartgirl

riikka_gg Yes both credit as a backup plan B

persco

Myself and the family all keep some credit as well as a goodybag for international calls where other avenues like WhatsApp etc doesn’t help.

riikka_gg

shabazmoqsud
Hey there, thanks for sharing! So you don't feel like keeping credit on your account "just in case"?

riikka_gg

ray2
Thanks! So the reason that you don't have credit is simply that you don't need it, right? Have you always found a free alternative, and if not, what did you do?

riikka_gg

figment_uk
Hi, thanks a lot for sharing, very helpful! And understandable reasons too.

If the obstacles you mentioned were removed, would you want to have credit on your account? I.e. do you see any benefits in having it, if none of those downsides existed?

shabazmoqsud

riikka_gg no not really

all my usage and my wifes usage is covered by goodybag plus we have premium rate numbers etc blocked.

me and my wife use giffgaff as our primary sim so the only time we added credit was when we went on holiday last year in December to Pakistan which has no roaming agreement with UK

ray2

riikka_gg ray2
Thanks! So the reason that you don't have credit is simply that you don't need it, right? Have you always found a free alternative, and if not, what did you do?

As a last resort i would email a company but in the past year it has become less and less as alternative free/03 numbers are becoming more available,i also feel wary of adding credit because it then becomes an easier way of being ripped off

I have seen many members post about money being taken from their airtime credit due to scams,premium calls/txt or subscriptions they didn't sign up for,where as with a goodybag i feel completely safe.

figment_uk

riikka_gg

I wouldn't say that I'd want to have credit just sitting in your bank rather than in my own unless I had a specific reason for it being there.

riikka_gg

bluemoonbaz
Hey there! Do you remember ever needing credit for anything in the past? Premium or international calls, being out of data or in between goodybags?

scrupps

I have a recurring goodybag and just over £5 as credit which will hopefully cover anything not included in the goodybag. To be honest, it has stayed at about £5 for many months - but it’s nice to have a bit there. I don’t like to keep much in credit though as this can be stolen by payforit scams, which giffgaff are not great at stopping, whereas scammers cannot take money from your goodybag.

bluemoonbaz

riikka_gg Do you remember ever needing credit for anything in the past? Premium or international calls, being out of data or in between goodybags?

Hi not really my goodybags have always been my go to in pushing 10yrs and never really needed credit .

suppers_ready

When I first joined you needed credit to buy and queue goodybags, no such thing as recurring at that time, so I suspect my remaining credit is a throwback to that time.

That said, I would always keep some credit to cover unforeseen events. Always best to have an option in a crisis.

jeank

suppers_ready
Yes I agree .. same for me😃👍

riikka_gg

wagstaffes
Ha ha anything you like I guess 😄 Maybe someone has a mostly empty emergency SIM they keep in the drawer, or someone's usage varies so much that they find it difficult to pick other options in the poll? (I think it's just good practice to include an "other" option unless you're a 100% sure that you've covered everything anyone might want to reply)

team_leader

I always have credit on account always, usually have a goodybag but go without when I don't need any mins @riikka_gg

riikka_gg

team_leader
Hello there, thanks for sharing! May I ask what kinds of things you tend to use that credit for?

wagstaffes

riikka_gg I might tick other then, and keep you guessing 😆