Virgin PAYG vs. Tesco PAYG?

On Wed, 10 May 2006 10:58:54 +0100, Alan Gauton
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Virgin pricing is only 15p/5p
>to Virgin and landlines.

That is a good rate for phoning landlines though. Most of my mobile
calls are to landlines, so the advantage of this rate could well
outweight the disadvantages of their calls-to-other-networks rate.

Al D

---

› See More: Virgin PAYG vs. Tesco PAYG?

"Al D" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 10 May 2006 10:58:54 +0100, Alan Gauton
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Virgin pricing is only 15p/5p
> >to Virgin and landlines.
>
> That is a good rate for phoning landlines though. Most of my mobile
> calls are to landlines, so the advantage of this rate could well
> outweight the disadvantages of their calls-to-other-networks rate.

You could also look at Vodafone as you're interested in international coverage - they
have "passport" which applies to most of Western Europe - you pay 75p plus your home
rate. This will save you an absolute fortune compared to Virgin if you use your
phone in these countries. A 10 min off peak call from France to a UK landline would
be £9.50 on Virgin, it would be £1.25 on Vodafone!

For the UK, the Vodafone rates are not bad off-peak, 5p/min to landlines or
Vodafones, 35p/min x-net, but capped at 3 mins for up to an hour's chat (Stop The
Clock). Peak rates are expensive, 30p-35p/min and no cap.

--
Andy

On Tue, 09 May 2006 21:27:33 +0100, Al D <[email protected]> wrote:

>Is there many difference in value between these two PAYG providers for
>a low-end (infrequent, and brief-calls) user? Are there any
>little-known factors I should consider before making my choice?

Depends on how many calls you make in a day, and whether you call
other mobile networks.

--

Iain
the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones
http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html
Browse now while stocks last!

On Wed, 10 May 2006 17:54:23 +0100, "Andy Pandy"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"Al D" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> On Wed, 10 May 2006 10:58:54 +0100, Alan Gauton
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>> >Virgin pricing is only 15p/5p
>> >to Virgin and landlines.
>>
>> That is a good rate for phoning landlines though. Most of my mobile
>> calls are to landlines, so the advantage of this rate could well
>> outweight the disadvantages of their calls-to-other-networks rate.
>
>You could also look at Vodafone as you're interested in international coverage - they
>have "passport" which applies to most of Western Europe - you pay 75p plus your home
>rate. This will save you an absolute fortune compared to Virgin if you use your
>phone in these countries. A 10 min off peak call from France to a UK landline would
>be £9.50 on Virgin, it would be £1.25 on Vodafone!
>
>For the UK, the Vodafone rates are not bad off-peak, 5p/min to landlines or
>Vodafones, 35p/min x-net, but capped at 3 mins for up to an hour's chat (Stop The
>Clock). Peak rates are expensive, 30p-35p/min and no cap.

Thanks for the info, Andy. This definitely had me thinking. I think
I'd only be using the phone to phone landlines in the same country,
when abroad, and not very often, at that. My trips abroad are short
and infrequent. So perhaps Virgin's cheaper UK mobile-to-landline
rates may still make Virgin my best option at the end of the day.
Vodaphone's 1000 free texts is certainly tempting though.

Al D

"Al D" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> >You could also look at Vodafone as you're interested in international coverage -
they
> >have "passport" which applies to most of Western Europe - you pay 75p plus your
home
> >rate. This will save you an absolute fortune compared to Virgin if you use your
> >phone in these countries. A 10 min off peak call from France to a UK landline
would
> >be £9.50 on Virgin, it would be £1.25 on Vodafone!
> >
> >For the UK, the Vodafone rates are not bad off-peak, 5p/min to landlines or
> >Vodafones, 35p/min x-net, but capped at 3 mins for up to an hour's chat (Stop The
> >Clock). Peak rates are expensive, 30p-35p/min and no cap.
>
> Thanks for the info, Andy. This definitely had me thinking. I think
> I'd only be using the phone to phone landlines in the same country,
> when abroad, and not very often, at that. My trips abroad are short
> and infrequent. So perhaps Virgin's cheaper UK mobile-to-landline
> rates may still make Virgin my best option at the end of the day.
> Vodaphone's 1000 free texts is certainly tempting though.

IIRC "passport" does cover calls within the country you are visiting. Check the web
site to be sure.

--
Andy

Al D <[email protected]> wrote:
> Yes, I saw that afterwards. I should have read the whole table more
> carefully. I still think I might keep the Virgin deal, because of the
> international coverage. Not sure.

I've not tried this, but Tesco allow you to switch tariff keeping your
balance and number intact. So if you don't go abroad much you could switch
to Tesco Normal or Tesco Extra for the period you go away to get roaming,
then switch back to Tesco Value afterwards.

Theo

Theo Markettos wrote:
> Al D <[email protected]> wrote:
> > Yes, I saw that afterwards. I should have read the whole table more
> > carefully. I still think I might keep the Virgin deal, because of the
> > international coverage. Not sure.
>
> I've not tried this, but Tesco allow you to switch tariff keeping your
> balance and number intact. So if you don't go abroad much you could switch
> to Tesco Normal or Tesco Extra for the period you go away to get roaming,
> then switch back to Tesco Value afterwards.

I am not sure if you can switch between Tesco Value and other tariffs
but you certainly can switch between Tesco Standard and Tesco Extra.

In article <[email protected]>,
"bob_builder" <[email protected]> wrote:

> I am not sure if you can switch between Tesco Value and other tariffs
> but you certainly can switch between Tesco Standard and Tesco Extra.

This seems like a no-brainer to me. When you need to top up, put £15 on
and you get the lower rates of Extra to all numbers for a month, then
use up the credit at the Standard rates.

bob_builder <[email protected]> wrote:
> I am not sure if you can switch between Tesco Value and other tariffs
> but you certainly can switch between Tesco Standard and Tesco Extra.

http://www.tescomobile.com/tariff.aspx
says:


<quote>
New Customers

You can choose to buy a Tesco Mobile phone which is pre-set to our standard
tariff – and then if you want to, transfer to either the Extra or Value
tariffs by calling 282 free from your handset.

If you already have a mobile phone and simply want to take advantage of our
great call and text rates, you can buy a SIM connected to the tariff of your
choice.*

* Please check that your handset is not ‘locked’ to another network – a fee
may be payable to that network to unlock your phone.
Tesco Mobile SIMs

Existing customers

If you are already a customer and want to switch tariffs – simply call 282
free from your Tesco Mobile.

We’ll send you a text to let you know you’ve moved to the new tariff – and
of course your mobile number and calltime credit will move with you.
</quote>


My girlfriend has transferred from Extra to Value without problems (which
was handy since there was a half price calltime offer on Extra SIMs at the
time she bought hers).

Theo