Carphone Warehouse SIM only contract €20.12/month

cruhoortwunk · 18-08-2015 10:49AM

I was on 48 for the last 2 years and found thme great. I use wifi at home and work (where I am about 90% of the time), so 1GB was enough to get me through the week.
I moved to vodafone with my work phone and it's very inconsistent. I do get 4G at times in Dublin, but I often see it drop down to G

shane_a_lynn · 18-08-2015 10:58AM

bk wrote: »

Did you compare ID's plans with UPC Mobiles upcoming plans?

From what UPC are trialling with some UPC customers at the moment, €15 for unlimited calls, texts and 30GB of 4G data, it absolutely destroys ID's plans.

Yes, UPC isn't fully available yet and we don't know if this rate will remain when it does launch. But the same is true for ID. So I think saying ID will be the cheapest 4G plan is extremely premature!

Personally I'll be waiting for both ID and UPC Mobile to officially launch before making a decision and I'd also wait off a little to see how Tesco Mobile responds.

Personally I won't be just looking at the main details of these plans, but also the small text:

- Cost of international calls
- Cost of international roaming
- Support for web texts
- Voicemail support
- Missed call text support
- Out of bundle costs
- What their customer support is like, etc.

Hey - No, I didn't include UPC, I didn't have the details for the UPC plans (though we did try to contact them to get them included!).

But as for the iD costs - we worked directly with Carphone Warehouse, and have access to the plans that will be launched - guaranteed. Have complete visibility on voicemail, out of bundle costs, and international rates (though we only calculate UK costs).

Analysis was purely cost based, so you're right - I can't comment on the other factors like coverage or customer support etc.

bk · 18-08-2015 12:51PM

mdwexford wrote: »

Like what?

No real roaming is the only complaint I have.

I found there were a whole bunch of issues:

- 48 only give you 60 minutes a month to landlines, versus unlimited calls to landlines with Tesco Mobile (TM)!

- TM has very cheap international calls, just 1c per minute to UK, US, Australia, Poland, Brazil, etc. versus 50 to 100 times more expensive with 48! Yup 48 charge between 50c and €1 per minute to call the same!! Massive rip off.

- 48 doesn't support international data roaming at all. While a little expensive, at least it is an option with TM.

- TM gives you 300 web texts per month, very handy when travelling abroad (send over free wifi), 48 doesn't give you anything!

- If your phone is off or out of range and you get a missed call, you get a missed call text when you turn your phone back on with TM. Very useful to know if you missed an important call. 48 don't support this, so you have no idea if you missed an important call. I found this one super annoying!

- 48 cuts off your call at the 60 minute mark. Now of course you can call back again, but still super annoying, specially if you are on a conference call. I haven't found any cut off point for TM. I've been on calls more then 3 hours and no cut off! Was super annoying on 48, brilliant again on TM.

- TM has real customer support. You can call them on a phone, email them, talk to them in their shops and they even have a Talk To forum here on boards. 48 support on the other hand can only be contacted over email and it takes days for them to respond!

- TM allows you to carry over unused data if you set it up in the right way.

On their own, non of these might be a deal breaker, but put together, they make a big difference IMO

Being with 48 just felt like being a mickey mouse, childish (the whole stupid jokes when you call voicemail, etc.) and cheap operation. On the other hand, being with Tesco Mobile feels like being with a proper, full, professional mobile network, with customer support and features just as good as I had with Vodafone, but at a fraction of the cost.

And remember if you use Tesco Clubcard points, it actually works out being cheaper then 48 while giving you far more, it really is a no brainer.

I get it free every second month due to Tesco Clubcard points. While it might not work out the same for everyone, I effectively pay just €7.50 per month for unlimited mobiles calls, unlimited landline calls, unlimited texts and 1GB of data! Really incredible value for money.

It would be nice if Tesco Mobile added 4g data. But I'm not pushed about it, just like the possibility of better coverage, rather then speed. But I don't want them to raise prices in order to introduce it. Not worth it then IMO.

Oh and cheaper data roaming would be nice. Something like Meteors 50mb for 99c per day data roaming would be nice. I'll be watching out for ID Mobiles and UPC mobiles data roaming rates. All the MVNO's seem to be poor on this.

kn · 18-08-2015 01:00PM

I got €12 in clubcard points in my recent mailing (I have a Tesco credit card as well which is added points). That's circa 2.5months of free calls plus all the texts and data I'd want with change left over!

bromley52 · 18-08-2015 02:19PM

I was trying to figure out how people were using large value club card vouchers eg €20 to get 4 months tesco mobile. Initially I thought you had to use the full €20 which converts to €60 credit which when used with TM gives one month of the deal and the remaining credit to use for calls etc. I rang clubcard boost and over the phone they wil put the order for TM credit through eg 4 time using the same €20 voucher generating 4 x €15 TM credit. Each €15 can then be added over 4 separate months. Each boost generated only lasts 6 months from date of issue.
This wasn't clear to me so might help someone else as long as the above isnt totally confusing. Im with 48 but TM with clubcard vouchers seems like a total no brainer.

kn · 18-08-2015 04:41PM

bromley52 wrote: »

I was trying to figure out how people were using large value club card vouchers eg €20 to get 4 months tesco mobile. Initially I thought you had to use the full €20 which converts to €60 credit which when used with TM gives one month of the deal and the remaining credit to use for calls etc. I rang clubcard boost and over the phone they wil put the order for TM credit through eg 4 time using the same €20 voucher generating 4 x €15 TM credit. Each €15 can then be added over 4 separate months. Each boost generated only lasts 6 months from date of issue.
This wasn't clear to me so might help someone else as long as the above isnt totally confusing. Im with 48 but TM with clubcard vouchers seems like a total no brainer.

On the Tesco clubcard website you just order the TM top-up (it also works for TM contracts as well). TM is a x3times boost so just €5 in clubcard vouchers translates into a €15 TM top-up which on PAYG is 30 days free calls and you still have the €15 to spend on other services like data bundles. When you order the €15 top-up with your €5 of clubcard vouchers they email you a code which you send to the number and your topped-up.

Wright · 18-08-2015 04:44PM

kn wrote: »

Carphone Warehouse are to launch their ID Mobile network shortly and they have released information that their SIM only contract will cost €20.18/month. No info what that entails but it is 4G and presumably all calls, texts and a monthly data allowance. I suppose the data allowance is the variable.

3 need a competitor on their unlimited data, they should come out with just an unlimited data card.

cormie · 18-08-2015 06:24PM

As is evident with all the posts and opinions above, there's plenty of different usage levels between us.

Personally dealing with clubcard points, texting for bundles, having to top up, having no bill and the uncertainty of exactly how much I'm paying for my phone usage throws me right off... then there's the subtle encouragement to shop at tesco too, which I rarely do as is.

A lot of people don't need roaming or international calls or even much data and 48 could suit them.

Then there's those who need as much of everything we can get including data roaming and roaming calls and texts for high usage in Ireland and abroad. This is where I fall into and emobile is currently the best offer on the market for me.

There's also those who want as much as everything, but only for Ireland. If UPC are keeping their offer at €15 that will be really competitive.

We'll have to see exactly what the CPW deal includes.

For the likes of getting my mother on a decent plan, I'd much rather just tell her this will cost you €20 every month for x, y and z and then the likes of 1890 numbers etc will add a bit more to it, that comes out of her account each month and she doesn't have to deal with top ups, texting etc.

bk · 18-08-2015 06:56PM

cormie wrote: »

Personally dealing with clubcard points, texting for bundles, having to top up, having no bill and the uncertainty of exactly how much I'm paying for my phone usage throws me right off... then there's the subtle encouragement to shop at tesco too, which I rarely do as is.

Just to point out, that while you need to mess around with Clubcard to get the best value from Tesco Mobile. It still works just fine without it and is still probably one of the best value for money plans on the market.

You also don't have to mess around with bundles, etc.

With a one time set up, you can register your credit or debit card online with them and have it automatically take the €15 every month. You can also then add a 1GB data bundle and recurring text bundle (or whatever combination you would like) to automatically apply every month.

So other then that one time, first time setup. It will simply work every month, giving you unlimited calls, texts and 1GB (or 5GB) of data every month, with piece of mind and no possibility of being overcharged etc.

I think this plan, set up this way, would be the perfect plan for someone like your mom. It is what I've setup for my parents and they love it.

And no need to go near a Tesco shop! BTW I don't shop any more at Tesco then I ever did. I simply benefit from the points when I do.

Yes, the emobile plan looks nice, but it is only available to business customers, so irrelevant to the vast majority of people.

BTW If you like the emobile plan but aren't a business use, then Tesco have a similar plan, €25 per month gets you unlimited calls, texts and 15GB of data. Same price as the emobile plan, but what the downside is that it is a 12 month contract and 3G rather then 4G, but still a pretty decent option.

cormie · 18-08-2015 07:05PM

Thanks for that bk, I wasn't aware you could set it up to do that with a debit card. I knew of the Tesco €25 a month plan and had previously recommended this to a few people

I'll see what UPC have to offer once they announce public plans as if I can get my mam set up with Landline/BB/Mobile on the one bill of €50 odd it would be great.

eddiem74 · 18-08-2015 07:29PM

kn wrote: »

On the Tesco clubcard website you just order the TM top-up (it also works for TM contracts as well). TM is a x3times boost so just €5 in clubcard vouchers translates into a €15 TM top-up which on PAYG is 30 days free calls and you still have the €15 to spend on other services like data bundles. When you order the €15 top-up with your €5 of clubcard vouchers they email you a code which you send to the number and your topped-up.

Yes but the prior post advises how to get maximum value from the voucher amount as the website does not do this or at least use not to.

Grab All Association · 18-08-2015 08:25PM

delahuntv wrote: »

And you base this on what? Local pub talk, or taxi talk?

Please don't say you base it on the outage a couple of months ago - it will just show how you are Suckered by tabloid headlines and teen comment.

Outage a couple of months ago was former 02 customers who had not been merged onto the three platform. Previous 02 owners did not invest in infrastructure for over 2 years and their technology was straining at the seams - they didn't even have 4g and their 3g was dreadful.

Thankfully three have invested hugely to correct the non investment that was there before.

2007 fed up of Dialup and with no broadband in my area I had to sign up to Three midband. I also had a mobile phone contract with Three.

It worked alright for around 5 months then the coverage just disappeared every night for 5-6 hours or in some cases for up to 5 weeks.

I remember having to make a very important phone call that I had to travel 16 miles to Thurles at 8am just to get a signal.

June 2008 -July 2008 down for 4 weeks. Promised it would be fixed in 24hrs then 7 days, then 2 weeks.

"Fixed" but connection kept dropping every 5 minutes

"Fixed again" dropping every 2 hours

September 2008-November 2008 down for over 5 weeks I eventually (with help from Comreg) got out of my contract and switched both midband and mobile to Vodafone though to be fair it was a lot more expensive but reliable.

Finally my line qualified for broadband in 2010 so got rid of Vodafone broadband.

NBS was awarded to Three in 2009 and in 2010 it "rolled out" here. I signed up to it and it was even worse than the service I had off them in 2008 cancelled within cooling off period.

My sister and neighbours were on NBS just before it ended in 2014 it still never worked. On average 048kbps.

Note since the merger o2 signal has completely disappeared in the area. After the NBS ended so did the Three signal. My mum had to switch to Meteor.

Three are just bunch of salespeople selling contracts on a oversubscribed network. Who got a state-aid injection of €79.8m and just spent it on signal boosters.

Three should have been forced to sell of its network before acquiring o2

Blueface, Lyca, Tesco, UPC and Carphone Warehouse are not real competition when they are all working off the same network who determines the price the pay to use it.

Thegalwayman · 18-08-2015 08:54PM

Vodafone PAYG Top up by 30 and sign up to red plan get Unlimited calls/texts 3.5Gb of data and 100mins INT calls and get 93 cherry pts worth 9.30euro.

Del007 · 18-08-2015 09:56PM

I've no idea what you can get with cherry points but €30 for payg is crazy.

Thegalwayman · 18-08-2015 10:18PM

Del007 wrote: »

I've no idea what you can get with cherry points but €30 for payg is crazy.

top up by 30euro get 33 cherry pts then text RED to 50233 and get 60 cherry pts. cherry pts can be exchanged 300 for 30 euro top up. It works out at less than 20 a mth for unlimited calls/texts 100 int calls and 3.5GB

Kicker is that you often get extra for you top up like 36 for 30 deals etc

sgarvan · 18-08-2015 10:23PM

god's toy wrote: »

If you know the right peeps in Carphone Warehouse you can get the top tier (inc 20GB data) plan for 15 euro.

Could be staff or managers only...

but I don't know the right people...

It's a friends and family offer. Sim needs to be got from a staff member and registered by 20th Aug. Plan includes 5000 minutes, 5000 texts and 20GB data.

bromley52 · 18-08-2015 11:38PM

sgarvan wrote: »

It's a friends and family offer. Sim needs to be got from a staff member and registered by 20th Aug. Plan includes 5000 minutes, 5000 texts and 20GB data.

I wonder if one was to ask for this would you get it?

bmm · 19-08-2015 12:06AM

bk wrote: »

- TM allows you to carry over unused data if you set it up in the right way.

Great Post. Could you explain this point ?

bmm · 19-08-2015 12:11AM

I think "Three" are in the process of also wrecking the "O2" network that they purchased some time ago .

Aquos76 · 19-08-2015 12:14AM

ted1 wrote: »

Sine people may want 4G but considering the amount of time people are on WiFi I don't think that it's a must have

Also worth reminding people of the call centre they closed due in Waterford. I won't give them any business

Who closed a call centre in Waterford?

Grab All Association · 19-08-2015 12:18AM

Aquos76 wrote: »

Who closed a call centre in Waterford?

TalkTalk

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0907/305825-talktalk/

Aquos76 · 19-08-2015 12:27AM

Chris___ wrote: »

TalkTalk

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0907/305825-talktalk/

As already stated, that was CPW in the UK, and as far as I know, iD mobile which is owned by CPW has awarded its CS to a Waterford company which incidentally was set up by employees off the old talk talk in Waterford and now employ more people across 3 locations in the country than what were employed in talk talk, "every cloud, silver lining" come to mind.

AlmightyCushion · 19-08-2015 01:48AM

Aquos76 wrote: »

As already stated, that was CPW in the UK, and as far as I know, iD mobile which is owned by CPW has awarded its CS to a Waterford company which incidentally was set up by employees off the old talk talk in Waterford and now employ more people across 3 locations in the country than what were employed in talk talk, "every cloud, silver lining" come to mind.

The TalkTalk closure here actually had nothing to do with Carphone Warehouse (UK or Ireland). The two companies split before it happened.

bk · 19-08-2015 09:50AM

bmm wrote: »

Great Post. Could you explain this point ?

Yup, it is a little complicated, so certainly not suited to most average people who just want and easy life, but it appeals to a cheap ass geek like me

So there are two ways of "buying" data with Tesco Mobile. The normal way that probably most people do it, is a recurring add-on, that automatically buys 1GB or 5GB per month. This is the easy way, but it doesn't carry the data over.

The other way to buy data is by buying a one off add-on for 1GB or 5GB every 30 days. So the trick goes like this:

- First of all make sure you do not have a recurring data add-on enabled.
- Instead when you first sign up for TM, buy a once off 1GB or 5GB 30 day add-on.
- Now lets say you went with 5GB and you are now on day 28 and have 3GB left. On this day now buy a 1GB add-on. You will now have 4GB for the next 32 days.

I know it sounds complicated, but it isn't really, just hard to explain. Basically if you "buy" your add-ons as one offs and you buy them before the last add-on runs out, then the unused data will be carried over from the last month.

I just set a reminder in my calendar so that I always buy my data add-ons every 28 days. Doing so, by buying 5GB my first month and 1GB every month since then, I now have 10GB on my account from unused data carried over from month to month!

BTW you don't have to go 5GB -> 1GB -> 1GB... etc. like me, that is jsut what I did, depending on your data needs you could do:
1GB -> 1GB -> 1GB or
5GB -> 1GB -> 5GB -> 1GB

Point being you can adjust what you buy every month depending on what you need.

Finally, I repeat, you don't need to do this. I don't want to frighten people away from Tesco Mobile thinking it is complicated. It isn't, you can completely ignore this and still get great value for money. This is just a trick to make even more savings.

Thegalwayman · 19-08-2015 09:55AM

bk wrote: »

Yup, it is a little complicated, so certainly not suited to most average people who just want and easy life, but it appeals to a cheap ass geek like me

So there are two ways of "buying" data with Tesco Mobile. The normal way that probably most people do it, is a recurring add-on, that automatically buys 1GB or 5GB per month. This is the easy way, but it doesn't carry the data over.

The other way to buy data is by buying a one off add-on for 1GB or 5GB every 30 days. So the trick goes like this:

- First of all make sure you do not have a recurring data add-on enabled.
- Instead when you first sign up for TM, buy a once off 1GB or 5GB 30 day add-on.
- Now lets say you went with 5GB and you are now on day 28 and have 3GB left. On this day now buy a 1GB add-on. You will now have 4GB for the next 32 days.

I know it sounds complicated, but it isn't really, just hard to explain. Basically if you "buy" your add-ons as one offs and you buy them before the last add-on runs out, then the unused data will be carried over from the last month.

I just set a reminder in my calendar so that I always buy my data add-ons every 28 days. Doing so, by buying 5GB my first month and 1GB every month since then, I now have 10GB on my account from unused data carried over from month to month!

BTW you don't have to go 5GB -> 1GB -> 1GB... etc. like me, that is jsut what I did, depending on your data needs you could do:
1GB -> 1GB -> 1GB or
5GB -> 1GB -> 5GB -> 1GB

Point being you can adjust what you buy every month depending on what you need.

Finally, I repeat, you don't need to do this. I don't want to frighten people away from Tesco Mobile thinking it is complicated. It isn't, you can completely ignore this and still get great value for money. This is just a trick to make even more savings.

What's your base top per mth with this?

Mantis Toboggan · 19-08-2015 10:10AM

kn wrote: »

I got €12 in clubcard points in my recent mailing (I have a Tesco credit card as well which is added points). That's circa 2.5months of free calls plus all the texts and data I'd want with change left over!

Ah yes aslong as you believe it's 'free'

Nothing to do with the interest they charge for your credit card or how much you're over paying for your butter compared to competitors.

pajero12 · 19-08-2015 10:29AM

This is my good gesture for the year, I have 1 sim card left for the staff deal, First to ask for it gets it, SIMO Unlimited Calls, Texts and 20GB for 15 euro

PatM65 · 19-08-2015 10:32AM

Hi Pajero, I'll gladly take it if it's still available. P

cormie · 19-08-2015 10:32AM

PLEASE!

Damm, too late!! And screw you BK asking for it, go log in to Tesco, you've a top up that needs attention

uck51js9zml2yt · 19-08-2015 10:35AM

pajero12 wrote: »

This is my good gesture for the year, I have 1 sim card left for the staff deal, First to ask for it gets it, SIMO Unlimited Calls, Texts and 20GB for 15 euro

PM sent

Carphone Warehouse SIM only contract €20.12/month

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