Can I pay monthly without line rental ?

Several years ago I bought a phone from Orange who were matching the
Virgin tariff at the time. This was a pay monthly deal with no line
rental which suited me perfectly. No topping up hassle yet no monthly
rental to pay. I still use the SIM in an unlocked new phone and still
pay the same rate with no line rental. If I do not use the phone at
all my monthly bill is zero.

I would like to buy a second phone or SIM with the same kind of
tariff. i.e. pay monthly but with no line rental. Does anyone know if
any of the networks can still do this ?

"Bizzy" <e_marquess@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1186917661.779522.220280@k79g2000hse.googlegr oups.com...
> Several years ago I bought a phone from Orange who were matching the
> Virgin tariff at the time. This was a pay monthly deal with no line
> rental which suited me perfectly. No topping up hassle yet no
monthly
> rental to pay. I still use the SIM in an unlocked new phone and
still
> pay the same rate with no line rental. If I do not use the phone at
> all my monthly bill is zero.
>
> I would like to buy a second phone or SIM with the same kind of
> tariff. i.e. pay monthly but with no line rental. Does anyone know
if
> any of the networks can still do this ?

They do for business users (my company has a contract like that), but
not for personal customers AFAIK.

They only seem to interested in selling personal contracts which have
a monthly charge, and they include the phone plus a number of
"minutes" and texts to make it sound like a good deal, which it rarely
is unless you CBA with complicated cashbacks and switching contracts
every 12/18 months.

--
Andy

"Usenet User" <usenetuser@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1186919600.224924.3390@w3g2000hsg.googlegroup s.com...
> > Several years ago I bought a phone from Orange who were matching
the
> > Virgin tariff at the time. This was a pay monthly deal with no
line
> > rental which suited me perfectly. No topping up hassle yet no
monthly
> > rental to pay. I still use the SIM in an unlocked new phone and
still
> > pay the same rate with no line rental. If I do not use the phone
at
> > all my monthly bill is zero.
> >
> > I would like to buy a second phone or SIM with the same kind of
> > tariff. i.e. pay monthly but with no line rental. Does anyone know
if
> > any of the networks can still do this ?
>
> Virgin... get a Virgin pay as you go SIM card and then register for
> their Direct Debit option. You get billed monthly, no contract
ties,
> no monthly line rental.

How does that work? If it's PAYG then there's no contract and so must
be pre-pay. If it's pre-pay, then how can you be billed monthly
unless you predict your usage in advance?

--
Andy

On Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:07:52 +0100, "Andy Pandy"
<spam8times@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote:

>How does that work? If it's PAYG then there's no contract and so must
>be pre-pay. If it's pre-pay, then how can you be billed monthly
>unless you predict your usage in advance?

The subtle point made by the previous poster is that you obtain a
Virgin PAYG SIM and then register with Virgin for a post pay direct
debit arrangement. In effect the arrangement is no longer PAYG but
phone now - pay later.

To the OP. FYI sometimes you can obtain an Orange OVP:Virgin SIM on
Ebay or through an adverts group. Orange will transfer the contract
from one user to another, subject to the usual credit checks. This is
the only way to get one of these Orange SIM's now.

Ed.

"Usenet User" <usenetuser@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1186920715.117223.269860@57g2000hsv.googlegro ups.com...
> > > > Several years ago I bought a phone from Orange who were
matching
> > the
> > > > Virgin tariff at the time. This was a pay monthly deal with no
> > line
> > > > rental which suited me perfectly. No topping up hassle yet no
> > monthly
> > > > rental to pay. I still use the SIM in an unlocked new phone
and
> > still
> > > > pay the same rate with no line rental. If I do not use the
phone
> > at
> > > > all my monthly bill is zero.
> >
> > > > I would like to buy a second phone or SIM with the same kind
of
> > > > tariff. i.e. pay monthly but with no line rental. Does anyone
know
> > if
> > > > any of the networks can still do this ?
> >
> > > Virgin... get a Virgin pay as you go SIM card and then register
for
> > > their Direct Debit option. You get billed monthly, no contract
> > ties,
> > > no monthly line rental.
> >
> > How does that work? If it's PAYG then there's no contract and so
must
> > be pre-pay. If it's pre-pay, then how can you be billed monthly
> > unless you predict your usage in advance?
>
> You are billed in arrears for your calls.
>
> There is a contract -- you aren't tied in for a minimum period. I
> said no contract ties, not no contract.

Ah yes, you are quite right. I see they still call it "PAYG" - which
I guess technically it is, even though it is also post-pay, and a pay
monthly contract. Could be ideal for the OP, although the rates seem
quite high especially x-net. But ideal for a low user who CBA with
top-ups and making sure there's sufficient credit on the phone etc.

--
Andy

On 12 Aug, 13:20, Ed Straker <e...@shado.moon.com> wrote:
> On Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:07:52 +0100, "Andy Pandy"
>
> <spam8ti...@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote:
> >How does that work? If it's PAYG then there's no contract and so must
> >be pre-pay. If it's pre-pay, then how can you be billed monthly
> >unless you predict your usage in advance?
>
> The subtle point made by the previous poster is that you obtain a
> Virgin PAYG SIM and then register with Virgin for a post pay direct
> debit arrangement. In effect the arrangement is no longer PAYG but
> phone now - pay later.

Which is exactly what the OP wanted -- the same arrangement he has
today with Orange (on his Orange SIM that matched Virgin's offering).
Unless he has a reason not to use Virgin directly, why not just get a
Virgin SIM?

> To the OP. FYI sometimes you can obtain an Orange OVP:Virgin SIM on
> Ebay or through an adverts group. Orange will transfer the contract
> from one user to another, subject to the usual credit checks. This is
> the only way to get one of these Orange SIM's now.
>
> Ed.

On Sun, 12 Aug 2007 13:25:53 +0100, Andy Pandy <spam8times@wonderful.spam.invalid> wrote:
>> You are billed in arrears for your calls.
>>
>> There is a contract -- you aren't tied in for a minimum period. I
>> said no contract ties, not no contract.
>
>Ah yes, you are quite right. I see they still call it "PAYG" - which
>I guess technically it is, even though it is also post-pay, and a pay
>monthly contract. Could be ideal for the OP, although the rates seem
>quite high especially x-net. But ideal for a low user who CBA with
>top-ups and making sure there's sufficient credit on the phone etc.

It's effectively the same tariff (with a small difference that the DD
users get a 5p minimum charge, PAYG users 10p), and they presumably also
use PAYG to describe it because you pay for each and every call, just like
the real PAYG users do. You just get to pay in arrears by direct debit
instead of up front with vouchers.

Roaming is also far cheaper on it (though, with the Eurotariff being
introduced, the difference may only remain with texts being cheaper, at
least within the EU) and roaming coverage arguably better.

--
-- Michael "Soruk" McConnell Eridani Star System
MailStripper - http://www.MailStripper.eu/ - SMTP spam filter
Mail Me Anywhere - http://www.MailMeAnywhere.com/ - Mobile email
Second Number - http://secondnumber.matrixnetwork.co.uk/

On 12 Aug, 12:53, Usenet User <usenetu...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:
> On 12 Aug, 12:21, Bizzy <e_marqu...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Several years ago I bought a phone from Orange who were matching the
> > Virgin tariff at the time. This was a pay monthly deal with no line
> > rental which suited me perfectly. No topping up hassle yet no monthly
> > rental to pay. I still use the SIM in an unlocked new phone and still
> > pay the same rate with no line rental. If I do not use the phone at
> > all my monthly bill is zero.
>
> > I would like to buy a second phone or SIM with the same kind of
> > tariff. i.e. pay monthly but with no line rental. Does anyone know if
> > any of the networks can still do this ?
>
> Virgin... get a Virgin pay as you go SIM card and then register for
> their Direct Debit option. You get billed monthly, no contract ties,
> no monthly line rental.

Thanks for all the contributions. So the Virgin Direct Debit deal will
give me the same thing. No topup hassle with no line rental.

Do people find that Virgin coverage in UK and Ireland is good ?

"Soruk" <soruk@bitbucket.eridani.co.uk> wrote in message
news:slrnfbu38k.fqs.soruk@zeskia.int.eridani.co.uk ...
> >> You are billed in arrears for your calls.
> >>
> >> There is a contract -- you aren't tied in for a minimum period.
I
> >> said no contract ties, not no contract.
> >
> >Ah yes, you are quite right. I see they still call it "PAYG" -
which
> >I guess technically it is, even though it is also post-pay, and a
pay
> >monthly contract. Could be ideal for the OP, although the rates
seem
> >quite high especially x-net. But ideal for a low user who CBA with
> >top-ups and making sure there's sufficient credit on the phone etc.
>
> It's effectively the same tariff (with a small difference that the
DD
> users get a 5p minimum charge, PAYG users 10p), and they presumably
also
> use PAYG to describe it because you pay for each and every call,
just like
> the real PAYG users do.

You pay for each and every call with "normal" personal contracts, but
most force you to into buying a certain number of minutes every month
which you have to pay for whether you use them or not. They also
exclude lots of call types from the "minutes", and often charge silly
rates (higher than PAYG) if go over your minutes - to encourage people
to buy more minutes than then need so they waste them.

> You just get to pay in arrears by direct debit
> instead of up front with vouchers.

Yup - it's a contract, just one without the usual obligation of buying
a certain number of minutes every month.

Even though the rates are quite high I reckon a lot of people (most?)
would be better off with this type of contract than the usual type.
Providing they have the intelligence to only use mobile when (as the
name suggests) they are mobile, not when they are at home with a
landline next to them.

--
Andy

"Usenet User" <usenetuser@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1186921608.388155.63620@k79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com

[snip]

: : Which is exactly what the OP wanted -- the same
: : arrangement he has today with Orange (on his Orange SIM
: : that matched Virgin's offering). Unless he has a reason
: : not to use Virgin directly, why not just get a Virgin
: : SIM?

Coverage..? Virgin use T-Mobile's infrastructure which isn't as good in a
lot of places as Orange.


Ivor

On 12 Aug, 19:24, "Ivor Jones" <i...@despammed.invalid> wrote:
> "Usenet User" <usenetu...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
>
> news:1186921608.388155.63620@k79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com
>
> [snip]
>
> : : Which is exactly what the OP wanted -- the same
> : : arrangement he has today with Orange (on his Orange SIM
> : : that matched Virgin's offering). Unless he has a reason
> : : not to use Virgin directly, why not just get a Virgin
> : : SIM?
>
> Coverage..? Virgin use T-Mobile's infrastructure which isn't as good in a
> lot of places as Orange.
>
> Ivor

I guess the OP needs to look on the respective websites at coverage.
For what it's worth, my personal experience has always been that O2,
Orange and T-Mobile are all much the same for coverage, with Vodafone
having a distinct lead -- my experience being limited to the south of
the country.

"Usenet User" <usenetuser@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:1186948071.703094.131620@o61g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com
: : On 12 Aug, 19:24, "Ivor Jones" <i...@despammed.invalid>
: : wrote:
: : : "Usenet User" <usenetu...@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in
: : : message
: : :
: : : news:1186921608.388155.63620@k79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com
: : :
: : : [snip]
: : :
: : : : : Which is exactly what the OP wanted -- the same
: : : : : arrangement he has today with Orange (on his
: : : : : Orange SIM that matched Virgin's offering).
: : : : : Unless he has a reason not to use Virgin
: : : : : directly, why not just get a Virgin SIM?
: : :
: : : Coverage..? Virgin use T-Mobile's infrastructure
: : : which isn't as good in a lot of places as Orange.
: : :
: : : Ivor
: :
: : I guess the OP needs to look on the respective websites
: : at coverage. For what it's worth, my personal
: : experience has always been that O2, Orange and T-Mobile
: : are all much the same for coverage, with Vodafone
: : having a distinct lead -- my experience being limited
: : to the south of the country.

It can vary street by street. Until recently I was unable to get a usable
T-M signal in the house unless I stood on a chair next to an upstairs
window facing east..!

In my office, there is a reasonable signal on all networks except Voda.
Guess which network the company phones are on..?!


Ivor

Ivor Jones <ivor@despammed.invalid> wrote:

> "Usenet User" <usenetuser@hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1186948071.703094.131620@o61g2000hsh.googlegr oups.com
[]
> : : I guess the OP needs to look on the respective websites
> : : at coverage. For what it's worth, my personal
> : : experience has always been that O2, Orange and T-Mobile
> : : are all much the same for coverage, with Vodafone
> : : having a distinct lead -- my experience being limited
> : : to the south of the country.
>
> It can vary street by street. Until recently I was unable to get a usable
> T-M signal in the house unless I stood on a chair next to an upstairs
> window facing east..!
>
> In my office, there is a reasonable signal on all networks except Voda.
> Guess which network the company phones are on..?!

Which is why asking about coverage is really a bit pointless, because it
depends so much on where the person will usually be. I get iffy
reception at home in the centre of Manchester on my Tesco (O2) phone,
which doesn't bother me...

--
(*) ... of the royal duchy of city south and deansgate
http://www.davidhorne.net - real address on website
"Abominable, loyal, blind, apparently subservient."
Pres. Carter on Ex-Pres. Blair- May, 2007

On Sun, 12 Aug 2007 09:40:30 -0700, Bizzy <e_marquess@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Thanks for all the contributions. So the Virgin Direct Debit deal will
>give me the same thing. No topup hassle with no line rental.

Yes it will. My family have two Virgin SIM cards that they registered
for direct debit. Financially it works fine with a bill followed by
the direct debit payment about two weeks later. If they don't make any
calls or send any texts in a month it costs nothing.

>Do people find that Virgin coverage in UK and Ireland is good ?

I can't speak about Ireland I'm afraid. As mentioned above two members
of our family have Virgin but personally I have the Virgin:EQ on
Orange from when it was available. Almost without exception when we
have traveled around the UK I have had a better signal on Orange than
they have had on Virgin which uses the T-Mobile network. However YMMV.

In fairness though the T-Mobile network is better than it was a year
or two back.

Ed.

On Sun, 12 Aug 2007 05:26:48 -0700, Usenet User
<usenetuser@hotmail.co.uk> wrote:

>Unless he has a reason not to use Virgin directly, why not just get a
>Virgin SIM?

The only reason I can think of would be how the signal holds up. My
posting later in this thread indicates 'personal' observations of the
difference between Orange and T-Mobile (Virgin).

Ed.