Worth changing from PAYG to bill pay?

Daysha

Here's the deal. I've had a 16GB 3G iPhone on PAYG since August, and obviously I absolutely love it, but the flat rate O2 charge for using even a fraction of the EDGE or 3G network is absolutely crippling me! I'm on free txts to all networks and my €20 credit usually lasts those 30 days through calls anyway, so it's about 20 euro a month I'm spending right now.

Problem is that's with trying to avoid using edge or 3g pretty much all the time unless I'm in a free wifi area which isn't very often. You can imagine it's pretty infuriating having all these internet possibilities on my iPhone and only being able to use them a fraction of the time. And whenever I do decide to give it a whirl just for a minute or two to check email, facebook etc the charges I seem to be getting are absolutely crazy!

So at this stage I'm thinking of just taking the plunge into the cheapest tariff O2 offer. I know I'm basically doubling what I spend every month but it might be worth it if it means not being so restricted on what I can and can't do with my iPhone.

I know a lot of it would come down to myself and whether I can afford it and all that, but has anyone else been in a similar position before, and if so what did you end up doing? Also, I know Vodafone are announcing their own tariffs soon as well, so would it make more sense if I wait and see what they offer before signing a contract with O2?

Harcrid

Hi there,

I was in a similiar enough situation to you when I got my iPhone 3G. I was on Prepay with Vodafone and it was costing 99c a day even just to use the internet for a few seconds so it was not long using up my credit.

I am not a huge texter or caller so I was reluctant to sign up to a bill so I ended up switching to 3Pay with 3. I buy a 1GB data add on for 9.99 once a month and this completely covers my internet usage.

ShadowHearth

whats the policy on O2 with billpay? prepay is 99c for 50mb per day which is really not that bad if you ask me...

Daysha

Celtxx wrote: »

Hi there,

I am not a huge texter or caller so I was reluctant to sign up to a bill so I ended up switching to 3Pay with 3. I buy a 1GB data add on for 9.99 once a month and this completely covers my internet usage.

Interesting. Won't I need to unlock my phone to do that though? I don't think they have any free texts offer either which is really a lifesaver for me!

99c for 50mb isn't that bad no, but I'm someone that would only be using online for very light things like email or facebook. Wouldn't be doing that much actual web browsing. Plus the idea of having a euro off my credit just because I checked my email once for 30 seconds just isn't worth it.

ShadowHearth

Daysha wrote: »

Interesting. Won't I need to unlock my phone to do that though? I don't think they have any free texts offer either which is really a lifesaver for me!

99c for 50mb isn't that bad no, but I'm someone that would only be using online for very light things like email or facebook. Wouldn't be doing that much actual web browsing. Plus the idea of having a euro off my credit just because I checked my email once for 30 seconds just isn't worth it.

well for checking email maybe not, but its prety good if you use it for more!

Meteor got some add on plan for 4.99eu per month for 250mb, that should be enought for email checks. Or 14eu for unlimited...

blaz

Daysha wrote: »

Interesting. Won't I need to unlock my phone to do that though? I don't think they have any free texts offer either which is really a lifesaver for me!

99c for 50mb isn't that bad no, but I'm someone that would only be using online for very light things like email or facebook. Wouldn't be doing that much actual web browsing. Plus the idea of having a euro off my credit just because I checked my email once for 30 seconds just isn't worth it.

Unlock your phone and move to Vodafone Prepay, then use the isp.vodafone.ie APN to connect to the internet. This costs 19c per MB, which is very good for low volume users.

Don't go to 3, if you are outside their 3G coverage you can't use data at all.

deep1

Daysha wrote: »

Interesting. Won't I need to unlock my phone to do that though? I don't think they have any free texts offer either which is really a lifesaver for me!

99c for 50mb isn't that bad no, but I'm someone that would only be using online for very light things like email or facebook. Wouldn't be doing that much actual web browsing. Plus the idea of having a euro off my credit just because I checked my email once for 30 seconds just isn't worth it.

IMO O2 clear sim would be a good choice for you, No contract ( if vodafone offer any good plan then jump ship), for €20 you have option of free o2 to o2 and landlines or free o2 to o2 calls and text, and data add-on €7.50 for 250 mb.

ShadowHearth

deep1 wrote: »

IMO O2 clear sim would be a good choice for you, No contract ( if vodafone offer any good plan then jump ship), for €20 you have option of free o2 to o2 and landlines or free o2 to o2 calls and text, and data add-on €7.50 for 250 mb.

250mb for 7.50eu is quite expencive... dont hey give 1gb for free in first place?

Daysha

deep1 wrote: »

IMO O2 clear sim would be a good choice for you, No contract ( if vodafone offer any good plan then jump ship), for €20 you have option of free o2 to o2 and landlines or free o2 to o2 calls and text, and data add-on €7.50 for 250 mb.

I like the sound of that! Not fond of 3, was with them for 2/3 months and jumped ship straight away. That vodafone deal is ok but again I'd rather pay a fixed price every month than doing it per usage.

Just been browsing around o2.ie, that €20 p/month deal with free calls and texts to O2 looks very good. And the data add-on seems pretty reasonable as well. I'd say if I was to add in calls and texts to vodafone and landlines it'll come to around €35 p/month. Which isn't too bad I suppose.

If I was spending that much I could just go all out for the 40 p/month with O2 advance, which would give me 1GB every month. But I'd still have extra costs to vodafone numbers and it's an 18 month contract as well...

deep1

Daysha wrote: »

I like the sound of that! Not fond of 3, was with them for 2/3 months and jumped ship straight away. That vodafone deal is ok but again I'd rather pay a fixed price every month than doing it per usage.

Just been browsing around o2.ie, that €20 p/month deal with free calls and texts to O2 looks very good. And the data add-on seems pretty reasonable as well. I'd say if I was to add in calls and texts to vodafone and landlines it'll come to around €35 p/month. Which isn't too bad I suppose.

If I was spending that much I could just go all out for the 40 p/month with O2 advance, which would give me 1GB every month. But I'd still have extra costs to vodafone numbers and it's an 18 month contract as well...

Glad you liked it, if i was you i would go for o2 and landlines option and for text install eirtext or jellysms and use your 250 webtext and that comes out of your data bundle.
so for €27.50 you have unlimited o2 to o2 and landlines + 250mb data+ 250 text .

PS: No i don't work for o2.

Daysha

deep1 wrote: »

Glad you liked it, if i was you i would go for o2 and landlines option and for text install eirtext or jellysms and use your 250 webtext and that comes out of your data bundle.
so for €27.50 you have unlimited o2 to o2 and landlines + 250mb data+ 250 text .

:eek: I forgot I'd be able to use eirtext as well, that'd be well handy. I'd say my overall cost wouldn't rise above €30 in that case then, more and more of my friends have been switching to O2 recently. This sounds like the one for me, cheers deep!

Unless someone wants to disagree with him and completely mess with my brain?