Okay folks, the time has come for me to end my existing contract with Orange and go for a cheaper, SIM only deal (I have a decent Nexus 4 handset).

 

I'm not a big user of either talk time or text messages, but even though I'm connected to Wifi at home, my data usage is creeping up each month - I'm also planning on using the "cloud" a little more in the future so either a very high, or ideally unlimited data allowance would be ideal.

 

So far I've narrowed it down to two options:

 

Virgin do an unlimited everything package for £15 a month on a rolling contract - benefits being that they piggyback off my existing network so I know the coverage will be good and it is on a 30 day contract so I can leave whenever I want. Disadvantage being that I've heard that they regularly throttle back the download speeds for all customers and their "unlimited" data is subject to 3.5Gb limits a month whereby they drop you to 354kbs for the remainder of that month.

 

Three do their "one" plan which is truly unlimited data (with tethering capability), 2000 minutes talktime (plus 5000 minutes 3 to 3 a month), 5000 texts for £15 a months on a 12 month contract (£18 on a rolling contract). Downside is that I am still unsure on their overall coverage.

 

 

Has anyone had experience of both? I know that location can make a big difference, and I'm planning on getting a 3 PAYG SIM to try it out locally for a couple of weeks, but experience of others nationally (with rough locations) would be appreciated. I'm fairly sure that 3 will offer the better data speeds, however fast internet is not a lot of use if it's only available in a handful of locations!

 

I know this has been asked before, but a brief search reveals that it was about 12 months ago when this was last asked and a lot can happen in 12 months (especially with stories of 3G speeds being throttled by EE to allow for their 4G services to expand).

 

I'm not interested in 4G services at the moment either.

 

Many thanks in advance.

I recently switched from a Three sim-only plan to the same from Virgin. I don't need a lot of data (had 1Gb on Three and now 500Mb on Virgin) but Three's coverage was really poor every time we went on holiday (we like out of the way places). I've not noticed anywhere that coverage is significantly worse with Virgin, or that speeds are significantly lower, but haven't had it long enough to give any conclusive results. All I can say is that my daughter (already on Virgin) usually seemed to get coverage when I didn't.

Have a look at Giff Gaff also - on the o2 network - very reasonable pricing and 30 day contract. Ive been on it for about six months and im just sorting out one for the Mrs also.

I've discounted anything that runs on either the Vodafone or O2 networks as their data speeds are very slow (and don't work at all when I'm at work).

Dont use three. They are a terrible company for any form of customer service. No matter how great the deal was you couldnt pay me to ever use 3 again.

Dont use three. They are a terrible company for any form of customer service. No matter how great the deal was you couldnt pay me to ever use 3 again.

 

What were the issues that you had with them?

i changed dad over onto a Three 1-2-3 PAYG sim a few month back - 1p / meg for data, 2p/txt & 3p/min... he so far, including a week abroad, has managed to get through £4. 

 

no network issues as yet... 

 

Al. 

I've been on three for the past almost ten years and have never had a problem, when coverage has dropped the customer service has been excellent and until the problem was resolved they refunded my line rental. Can't ask fairer than that.

Signal coverage is as good as any O2 or EE are the sticks or in built up areas.

Doing the same thing after wasting hours in stores trying to get somewhere.

 

Considering giffgaff ( current network is o2). I can stand less data in the wilds, peak, lakes, wales & scotland so long as voice works. Looking at 3's net diagram, voice would not work where I climb... how have you found it mdon?

 

I'm also in need of tethering asI do use it when working (huts etc), and now possibly also in car for traffic or live weather... because I can't see if it's raining while driving :S I know this; thering, is not permitted beyond giffgaff 10. So interested in three I tested their service when they first rolled out. I was billed 0.00 for years, despite beta ending.

 

So three(outside chance), virgin or giffgaff and handset freedom(z1 or s4active), or dig up my old eccrison t28

What were the issues that you had with them?

Messing around with bills and credit limits, agreeing or promising things they would then go back on and say there are no notes on your account (they could never find the recorded call either) taking more money from accounts than was owed. Never able to speak to the same people or person twice. Basically being called a liar etc.

Admittedly this was some 10 (+) years ago but was so dreadful I would never go back.

Use Three sim only on our households 4 mobiles, not had a problem yet and customer services on the rare times I have spoke with them have been fine

 

Phil

I have the whole family on three, the one plan. I can't fault it. I download minimum 100gb a month via there data. Admittedly there customer service in India isn't the best but then they make up with it with there tethering and prices. Plus when they launch 4g they won't charge for it if u have a 4g ready phone.

Colin

 

Be careful about tethering if you are going with Giff Gaff, they have some strange rules.

 

I looked at ALL sim only contracts, & found giff gaff to have the best price plan for my use, they have brilliant rewards system for encouraging new customers along with any community involvement, I have found over 99% of issues other than service  is covered by the on line community.

You can activate automatic re-occuring payment for goody bags, or if your credit reaches a lower limit, you can automatically top up with a defined amount.

The only drawback could be that you cant ring a helpdesk, all support is done via the on line community, however as they use O2, any service issues which will be the main time you would ring someone, will be picked up by the greater O2 customer base.

Even their overseas - EU & non EU costs are reasonable for a sim only.

Colin

 

Be careful about tethering if you are going with Giff Gaff, they have some strange rules.

 

I noted some of them. It looks like at the moment the £10goodybag of a dedicated data sim are the only tethering options. I make do with 250 from o2 at the moment as I don't stream video or stuff like that when out and about.

 

I can live with online support, at least I know there are some bits between the lines, rather than spend 20 mins discussing issue to then be transferred, only to go over it again.

 

I'm tempted by three, but have at the moment no need for 4g nor all I can eat data, unless a lot changes, maybe being able to freely* will be the catalyst.

I joined GiffGaff yesterday, super easy process and number all transferred over by simply filling in an online form. Impressed so far.

 

Once a phone i actually want comes to market i will probably go back to O2 on contract. But as none of the current generation phones do very little more or better than my HTC One X there is no point ****ing money up a wall.

 

If anyone wants to join GiffGaff use this and we both get a fiver  http://giffgaff.com/orders/affiliate/apinner

I had that very Virgin Sim for the last 3 months on my iPhone 4S whilst I was waiting for the 5S to arrive.

Phone coverage was great (south yorks). 3G was decent, max 8meg but dropped to 1 meg at busy times. I used to hammer you tube and Facebook and also download music and didn't see any restrictions put in place.

The problems came when I tried to leave. Had to give 30 days notice and the disconnection lady must have had a crap day because she was a right dragon. Questioning me as to why I wanted to leave and why I wasn't having an iPhone with them. When I said that they didn't offer the 5S and that I got an employer discount scheme with Vodafone she started saying why did I even get a virgin sim in the first place!

Needless to say I gave her bad feedback on the text survey, and miraculously, after that my text messages ceased to work for the rest of the contract. I phoned them about it a few times and they just said network issues and never fixed the problem.

With Vodafone now and miss the coverage and 3G speeds but not the customer service.

Doing the same thing after wasting hours in stores trying to get somewhere.

 

Considering giffgaff ( current network is o2). I can stand less data in the wilds, peak, lakes, wales & scotland so long as voice works. Looking at 3's net diagram, voice would not work where I climb... how have you found it mdon?

 

I'm also in need of tethering asI do use it when working (huts etc), and now possibly also in car for traffic or live weather... because I can't see if it's raining while driving :S I know this; thering, is not permitted beyond giffgaff 10. So interested in three I tested their service when they first rolled out. I was billed 0.00 for years, despite beta ending.

 

So three(outside chance), virgin or giffgaff and handset freedom(z1 or s4active), or dig up my old eccrison t28

I live in the lakes and to be honest I get at least voice signal on top of almost all the fells plus 3G in most towns/villages, I do struggle in buttermere/crummock a little but once on top of red pike I had full bars again. I was able to send my other half my profile pic that was taken on top of helvellyn via whatsapp no problem.

I've done a bit more research, and another downside to Virgin is that they use the T-Mobile transmitters and only move onto the Orange network when there is no T-Mobile coverage. 

 

I'm currently with Orange and have been very pleased with them, especially since they merged with T-Mobile and became "EE" - however the difference is the Orange/T-Mobile customers get full use of their network and their handset will automatically pair to the strongest signal which is not how Virgin works unfortunately.

 

I've invested in a 3 PAYG SIM to try it out, and I have to admit that their data speeds are awesome - unfortunately a few colleagues report plenty of times when they cannot make calls due to having no signal when they are out and about. 

 

I've approached Orange and their SIM only deals are not great tbh, however I can transfer my current discount onto the SIM only which brings Unlimited calls/texts and 1GB of data for £15.75.

 

Current favourite however is T-Mobile (exactly the same coverage and data speeds etc as Orange) who are doing 1000 minutes, unlimited text & 3GB of date for £16. I'm more than happy with the coverage that EE offer and their data speeds are usually a lot faster than O2 or Vodafone (neither of which work in our office).

on 3 for many years , kent area find no major problems , 1 plan , so all the data possible , speed on 3 g in my area is 10 meg , faster than the broadband . And now you can use your Home Minutes in some counties if traveling ,and no roaming data charges Italy and beleive it not ,even Australia , now that could be a deal for some .

Three one plan is truely excellent.

 

Suggest taking the 30 day sim only though.

I've been in a three sim only contract since the spring, never really had a prober with customer services. Coverage as with all networks can be very variable, what works for one May not work for someone else. Get a sim which gives you best coverage in the areas you visit most. Before commiting, buy several payg SIM cards from tesco and see which network works best for you.

Don't forget that three are about to start there 4g rollout, and all contracts will provide 4g for free, so imagine a one plan with unlimited data on 4g. Far better than any other network.

Like people saying - Unlimited items - Reality is this does not exist, it is a marketing term, to coax people into buying their product. The limit is is buried the tiny ( not small) print

 

At least the PAYG sims that say what you get for your price is more honest than these monthly contracts that sell you " Unlimited "

Like people saying - Unlimited items - Reality is this does not exist, it is a marketing term, to coax people into buying their product. The limit is is buried the tiny ( not small) print

At least the PAYG sims that say what you get for your price is more honest than these monthly contracts that sell you " Unlimited "

But network 3 data limits are unlimited on the one plan. You'll never be charged no matter how much you tether your device and download.

But network 3 data limits are unlimited on the one plan. You'll never be charged no matter how much you tether your device and download.

 

I pulled down a whole DVD Iso set for CentOS6.3 and then did a remote install in the same day for mine and didn't get a peep out of them.

 

I think with the one plan, they really are covering their costs as most people don't take the p*ss all day every day.