Good Price Plans

Sully

Folks I am currently with o2 and would prefer not to move networks. My old price plan was €20 a month for unlimited texts but over the last few months that seems to have gone sky high at €85 over the last few months. How? Christ only knows! But anyway they told me I spend about 40-50mins on the phone a month and 1,000 texts a month (big texter!).

Offered me a rolling price plan at €50 a month unlimited texts and 350 mins free calls plus €7.50 a month for a data add on. Took the offer and was thinking yesterday that perhaps €600+ a year is daft for running a mobile but they dont seem to have any decent price plans that would cover my texts unless I moved back to prepay (I prefer billpay and was always looking to move).

Any suggestions?

Random

I was on the same plan as you Sully. I switched to Vodafone prepay. €20 / month gives me unlimited texts, 19c/MB internet (ISP APN) and whatever calls the €20 can muster for me. (that's 50 mins or 100MB or a mix of both)

Billpay is simply not an option for heavy texters unless you're heavy on the calls too - which you don't seem to be.

I can't really suggest any O2 price plans (I'm assuming you don't just call / text O2). Their prepay will cost you a fair whack too if you use data each day that's €30/month just on data.

+ edit
I should add I also get 99c/50MB/daily internet (Live APN) while roaming

Sully

Im a big fan of o2 and I feel they offer a lot. Vodafone is a pricey network but may just offer me something better, but id prefer not to move but I will if need be. I'm not a huge caller, big texter. Trying to keep costs low. o2 had perfect price plans but none included unlimited texts so it ruled out the packages. Plus 1c per kb was made so adding the data package seemed like my only option.

Iv no idea how I clocked up such an expensive top up over the last few months but I would be a frequent user of data.

Bilpay is much handier and it seems that 20euro never really covers me. o2 prepay broadband at 1euro per day (50mb max IIRC?) is decent but probably a contributing factor.

Random

I've always been an O2 fan. I've always loved them. I've loved their customer care, the way they could get things done (when pushed).

But the way things are now ... I'm sitting back and wondering why? I know what can and can't be done by a mobile operator (generally speaking). I'm gonna go with the one that leaves the smallest dent in my pocket while offering the best price / services.

This is why I'm now with Vodafone prepay. I'm gonna give it time and see how it goes but it brings my minimum monthly committment down to ZERO (if I chose) compared to O2 which would be €50 (O2 Clear 350 with "free" unlimited texts addon) + €7.50 (250MB data of which I'd only use about 100MB anyway). I found myself paying for loads of extra minutes I don't need for free unlimited texts. A false economy perhaps ..

Also I don't find myself paying extra for calls to 1850 / 1890 etc (we don't always have the time to look up the 01 alternative).

So what benefits does O2 billpay really give me? Spend alerts? I shouldn't need them if it wasn't so dam expensive. O2 forum? That's gone down hill a lot lately with threads being missed etc. I've achieved as much emailing Vodafone (who now also have a forum!).

"Loyalty" to one network or another these days is foolish. It's about paying as little as possible for the service you want - IMO.

Get O2 to give you a breakdown of your usage for the last couple of months and see what it tells you. Also tell us what your bill prices were and what plans / addons you've been on.

drunkmonkey

I'm going to get blasted for this as usual but Sully I reckon best of both would suit you down to the ground. Free texts to all networks and 100 any network minutes all capped at €25, you "can't" get a big bill. Worst case scenario it'll cost you an extra 9.99pm if you want the 1gb data add on.

You've 7days to get out of the price plan o2 just put you on, if you don't your tied in for 18mts if it's the €50pm deal. You've just been jockeyed by a nice girl in limerick, i'd get over the whole I love o2 thing. It's just a phone company.

Sully

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I'm going to get blasted for this as usual but Sully I reckon best of both would suit you down to the ground. Free texts to all networks and 100 any network minutes all capped at €25, you "can't" get a big bill. Worst case scenario it'll cost you an extra 9.99pm if you want the 1gb data add on.

Link?

You've 7days to get out of the price plan o2 just put you on, if you don't your tied in for 18mts if it's the €50pm deal. You've just been jockeyed by a nice girl in limerick, i'd get over the whole I love o2 thing. It's just a phone company.

30 day rolling contract. Actually discussed it in depth with several people from o2 and I see their point about it being the best package, but im not happy dishing out 600 a year on my mobile bills.

Iv liked o2 as iv been with them for as long as I can remember, felt their Customer Care as second to none (I had a Meteor phone once, in addition, which was terrible). Voda are excellent also but very expensive imo.

Random

Sully signed up to the 30 day O2 Clear 350 from what I can here so time isn't a huge issue.

I would agree with you in terms of the pricing drunkmonkey. Looked at 3 long and hard and they really looked to have the pricing. The reasons I didn't go with them in the end though:
- Their customer care is incompetent. Yes, I know I said above that it's not the be all and end all but in my experience 3 are incapable of understanding you on the most basic level.
- Their roaming is a disaster. I've been away many times and I've seen many 3 problems which just aren't worth the effort for me at all.
- I'm sure there was other stuff... but these 2 things really weighed my decision against them so much so that you would not believe.

Sully

Three is out of the question. Sorry but not after the storys I read on Boards.

Random

Meteor billpay Lite @ €10 / month may be another option for you with one of Meteors data addons but you'll have to pay for texts to non-Meteor customers or else grab an addon. i reckon possibly still better than the O2 offering though.

BPL 10 - http://www.meteor.ie/plans/bill_pay/latest_offers/billpay_lite/
Data Addon - http://www.meteor.ie/plans/bill_pay/add_ons/data_add_ons/

drunkmonkey

We've both the same phone Sully, there's very little difference only I get a little more out of my phone, I wouldn't believe everything you read on the internet.....

Sully

drunkmonkey wrote: »

We've both the same phone Sully, there's very little difference only I get a little more out of my phone, I wouldn't believe everything you read on the internet.....

A very large thread full of lots and losts of people complaining? Ya, im sure the margin of error is that big!

Random wrote: »

Meteor billpay Lite @ €10 / month may be another option for you with one of Meteors data addons but you'll have to pay for texts to non-Meteor customers or else grab an addon. i reckon possibly still better than the O2 offering though.

BPL 10 - http://www.meteor.ie/plans/bill_pay/latest_offers/billpay_lite/
Data Addon - http://www.meteor.ie/plans/bill_pay/add_ons/data_add_ons/

After my last experience with Meteor, ill be avoiding them.

drunkmonkey

Sully wrote: »

A very large thread full of lots and losts of people complaining? Ya, im sure the margin of error is that big!

you not looking for mobile broadband, and there's no where near 120,000 posts in the mega thread so there not all unhappy:p

It's defnatley the best price plan for you, I wouldn't let the mega thread influence your decision. It's nothing got to do with there phone service.

call 1913 for free, chat to them for a minute and see is it as unberable as "some" make out...

I called Meteor the other day got through to an Indian, called vodafone got through to an african and the same with o2. People say you can't understand 3 as there from pakastan, says a lot about the type of people posting on the mega thread...

at the end of the day it boils down to who gives you the best bang for your buck, unfourtnatley for you it happens to be 3:D

chalkitdown

drunkmonkey wrote: »

you not looking for mobile broadband, and there's no where near 120,000 posts in the mega thread so there not all unhappy:p

It's defnatley the best price plan for you, I wouldn't let the mega thread influence your decision. It's nothing got to do with there phone service.

call 1913 for free, chat to them for a minute and see is it as unberable as "some" make out...

I called Meteor the other day got through to an Indian, called vodafone got through to an african and the same with o2. People say you can't understand 3 as there from pakastan, says a lot about the type of people posting on the mega thread...

at the end of the day it boils down to who gives you the best bang for your buck, unfourtnatley for you it happens to be 3:D

I agree with you, I ported over to 3pay a month ago and have not had a reason to call them yet, everything is fine so far, apart from skype being a bit flaky. It is not always able to connect.

The 1GB add on is the main reason that I moved, €9.99 a month is good value. So combined with cabbage and skypeout (when it connects) my bill is greatly reduced, I spent about 20 mins to a friend on his mobile in the states for less than 40c.
I would only get mobile broadband (midband) from them as a last resort though.

Gael23

Sully wrote: »

Three is out of the question. Sorry but not after the storys I read on Boards.

Moved from o2 to three a while ago, having serious regrets. They are cheaper but you pay for what you get.

Our man in Havana

For €600 a year you would want to be getting a phone out of them.

Sully

Bond-007 wrote: »

For €600 a year you would want to be getting a phone out of them.

I could have, but I opted out (meant a long term contract and my phone is the E71 looking to get E72 when released)

drunkmonkey

Bond-007 wrote: »

For €600 a year you would want to be getting a phone out of them.

that's €600 a year before you call your voicemail, use the interent, send a picture message, call NI or the UK and not even a free phone, tis a bargin alright....
granted with 3 you might drop the odd call when you driving but i'm glad the savings are going into my pocket and not elvis tribute bands...

Our man in Havana

i'm glad the savings are going into my pocket and not elvis tribute bands...

Indeed.

I always found the big O to be very poor value for phone calls.

drunkmonkey

Sully wrote: »

Three is out of the question. Sorry but not after the storys I read on Boards.

here's another one..

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=61115399#post61115399

Our education system is in ruins...:)

Sully

drunkmonkey wrote: »

here's another one..

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=61115399#post61115399

Our education system is in ruins...:)

You seem to be either their biggest fan or a shill

drunkmonkey

Sully wrote: »

You seem to be either their biggest fan or a shill

there's that shiil word again, i'm not, I just don't agree it's as bad as some boardies...:rolleyes:

Sully

drunkmonkey wrote: »

there's that shiil word again, i'm not, I just don't agree it's as bad as some boardies...:rolleyes:

I assume you have been accused before then? Wasn't aware, just assumed it because of the way you don't like a bad word being said about them and are usually quick to defend or promote their services. Even when defending yourself (like above). Kinda the behaviour of a shill or someone who will gain from more people using the network.

Anywhome.. I will actually look at Three's offer and others later. Ill decide then whats best for me - including maybe moving back to prepay.

drunkmonkey

Sully wrote: »

Im a big fan of o2 and I feel they offer a lot. .

Random wrote: »

I've always been an O2 fan. I've always loved them. .

Sully wrote: »

I assume you have been accused before then?

Anywhome.. I will actually look at Three's offer and others later. Ill decide then whats best for me - including maybe moving back to prepay.

lol, and i'm the Shill:D

I Just know a little bit about them, harldy a crime...

Your smart enough to make your own decisions Sully, you'll harldly be going on what I say...;)

Sully

Ya but the difference is neither me nor random plug them frequently and defend their actions and rubbish peoples complaints - all while showing us your 3 broadband internet speed (randoms on vodafone anyway)

Decession time approaches.. *ponders*

drunkmonkey

meteor ftw!!!:)

Sully

Jesus, what are you being paid? First three now Meteor!

Maybe its time I swtiched jobs. o_O

Honestly though, excluding three for a moment, what would your advise be?

drunkmonkey

Pre Pay is probably the best option, €20pm would nearly cover you for all your calls and texts, it's a toss up between o2 and Meteor, if you want to stay bill that best of both is a good fit...
Much as it pains me i'd probaly say o2 pay as you go (better 3G coverage than meteor) with the 99cent data cap..

Sully

Why not Voda? Or Tesco? :P

drunkmonkey

Vodafone don't have an offer to suit you and tesco is very hard to get credit for...
Vodafone could be worth a look if you were going to be making a lot more calls, lots of my mates are on voda, if I wasn't with the other feckers i'd probably be on vodafone...i'm x o2 btw, still have my modem with them..

Our man in Havana

Tesco is also a pain if anything goes wrong. I couldn't get an ongoing issue resolved. I ended up porting away from them.

Random

drunkmoney, why not Vodafone prepay? How does it not do the job?

Kristopherus

Have to agree with Drunkmonkey here. For low cost calls or texting 3 is miles ahead of the pack. Have been with them for 2 yrs and no complaints. Have been to UK a couple of times recently and got their "3 like Home" tarriff no problem. Spent over 40 mins on phone and no roaming or rip-off calling rates. All in all excellent value.

Sully

Kristopherus wrote: »

Have to agree with Drunkmonkey here. For low cost calls or texting 3 is miles ahead of the pack. Have been with them for 2 yrs and no complaints. Have been to UK a couple of times recently and got their "3 like Home" tarriff no problem. Spent over 40 mins on phone and no roaming or rip-off calling rates. All in all excellent value.

One of the lucky few? Seems an awful lot of people unhappy with Three which has me doubting.

Random

Everyone has horror storys about everyone. In my experience you can always get to someone in O2, Meteor, Vodafone (in that order) that can get something done. In 3 it's just hopeless.

Test them yourself. Ring them up, ask them some questions, get some advice on what plan is best for you. See if the information they provide is accurate, timely, decent!

Then get yourself a prepay SIM on another network and try porting it to 3. See how the process goes. Ask some more questions. See how things are.

Personally though it's gonna take a lot to make me go with them.

Sully

Well, I think Three seems to be leading that pack.

Of course their sales line is going to be good - any sales line would be good! Not exactly the right way to test..

Random

If you have a bad experience on the sales line though with inability to answer questions or make a recommendation then it will definitely turn you away though. Will help you make up your mind. It'll rule 3 out for you or leave them as a contender possibly.

drunkmonkey

Or Sully you could go to your nearest 3 outlet and bypass india, now you can call me a shill for promoting irish jobs...:)

Our man in Havana

You can never avoid India.

drunkmonkey

tell me about it i've a dell...

could at least keep the sale in the country though;), I really don't want sully to go with them, any problems and he'll have my head on a block:o

Sully

Random wrote: »

I was on the same plan as you Sully. I switched to Vodafone prepay. €20 / month gives me unlimited texts, 19c/MB internet (ISP APN) and whatever calls the €20 can muster for me. (that's 50 mins or 100MB or a mix of both)

Billpay is simply not an option for heavy texters unless you're heavy on the calls too - which you don't seem to be.

I can't really suggest any O2 price plans (I'm assuming you don't just call / text O2). Their prepay will cost you a fair whack too if you use data each day that's €30/month just on data.

+ edit
I should add I also get 99c/50MB/daily internet (Live APN) while roaming

I dont see any Vodafone option which gives me unlimited texts to any network. It would be to costly to pay for texts to other networks.

Random wrote: »

Meteor billpay Lite @ €10 / month may be another option for you with one of Meteors data addons but you'll have to pay for texts to non-Meteor customers or else grab an addon. i reckon possibly still better than the O2 offering though.

BPL 10 - http://www.meteor.ie/plans/bill_pay/latest_offers/billpay_lite/
Data Addon - http://www.meteor.ie/plans/bill_pay/add_ons/data_add_ons/

Same issue with Vodafone applies here.

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I'm going to get blasted for this as usual but Sully I reckon best of both would suit you down to the ground. Free texts to all networks and 100 any network minutes all capped at €25, you "can't" get a big bill. Worst case scenario it'll cost you an extra 9.99pm if you want the 1gb data add on.

You've 7days to get out of the price plan o2 just put you on, if you don't your tied in for 18mts if it's the €50pm deal. You've just been jockeyed by a nice girl in limerick, i'd get over the whole I love o2 thing. It's just a phone company.

I dont see this plan either

Seems like o2 only offer any network texts?

Breezer

Sully, these are the plans being referred to:

3 Best of Both

Vodafone Advantage Plus

Vodafone wrote:

You can choose between Free Calls and Texts for life or Free Texts to any network for life

Meteor also do free any network texts on prepay.

My advice based on personal experience is to stay away from Meteor. Especially if you're used to O2's customer service. You get what you pay for. I can't speak for Vodafone or 3 since I've never used them, but I never had a problem with Digifone/O2. I switched to Meteor for 2 or 3 years during which I had nothing but problems. I moved back to O2 last year and it's the best decision I could've made - not a single problem since.

ardmacha

I dont see any Vodafone option which gives me unlimited texts to any network. It would be to costly to pay for texts to other networks.

Use your 300 webtexts via Cabbage or the like for non Voda texts and send Voda texts directly from the phone.

Random

Am i missing something reading this on the mobile theme?

Vodafone prepby have the same offer as meteor and o2 - €20/month unlimited any network texts.

With vodafone you need to pop into the store or call care to activate it. They default to the free vodafone calls and vodafone texts.

Sully

Voda seem to offer the same plan as o2 but o2 is 9c cheaper to make a call per min.

Meteor - I text the number on their new adverts and got a text promising a call within 24hours. So, that can be my first judge to see how quickly their sales team call me

I like 3s offer - free messenger and skype is good.

Sully

Sully wrote: »

Meteor - I text the number on their new adverts and got a text promising a call within 24hours. So, that can be my first judge to see how quickly their sales team call me

Still waiting on the call :P

rahanpob

Here's a interesting one! Friend of mine has his Iphone. He changed from Vodafone to O2 just to get the iphone. His package includes for 350mins free minutes to any network per month, 300/350 free text messges per month, but here is the kicker UNLIMITED data bundle.

My current mobile price plan is includes all of the above , however I only have 2Mb of a data package (its with Vodafone).
Question: Am I getting short changed by Vodafone or I am I missing something obvious

00sully

rahanpob, you mean you have 2gig with vodafone surely? plenty for mobile web surfing - apparently o2's "unlimited" data plan with the iPhone is actually 3gigs in their TOC.

Intersting to see if my namesake went with 3 in the end?

Im looking at switching too - best offer is 3's best of both for €25 with 1gig data add on at €10

however vodafone now have a decent "double minutes and text" offer for new customers. 350mins & 350 txts + 2gig data for €50 / month.

€15 more than 3 for probably peace of mind and reliability. I went into three store yesterday and couldn't get my android browser working on their network (g-chat worked fine funnily enough)

o2 are ripping me off I feel - €7.50 for 250mb?? PFFFfffffft!! cant really fault the network though.

decisions decisions. If Vodafone are getting the Nexus one its a no brainer for me and I'll jump on that offer!

spockety

I'm considering a switch from O2 to Vodafone.

SIM only 30 day "Simply" contract.

€20 a month for 100 mins + 100 texts + FREE Vodafone/Vodafone Calls and Texts any time
€10 for 1GB of Data

So €30 a month and no contract tie in.

00sully

oooh that sounds tempting too spockety - would save me €180 over the year (provided I didn't go over my allowcation!) and no contract

must head to a vodafone store this eve didn't see that offer on their site

spockety

Here's the link

http://www.vodafone.ie/planscosts/paymonthly/current/simply/

Maybe I've missed something, but it looks pretty straight forward to me?

00sully

yeah found it in the end thanks

the only thing I might be wary of is it specifically says "Text add ons are available on Perfect Choice price plans"

I would look at the simply 100 for €20 +€10 for data add on - then i'd like to add another 150 texts for the €8 but dont know if you can. I'll find out today when I go to their shop! i'll prob come back with a 12 month contract at €45 for the access plus plan (which aint so bad but prob more than I really need!)