o2 (or non o2) - what deals are available?

[unique]

a year ago at the start of my second year of having a motorola V3 on O2, i got a call from retentions who gave me a 500 mins cross network £25 package for £15 p/m plus credited me with £100 as i kept the same phone

i got another call at xmas to remind i was due for upgrade again. i called them today and they said they no longer discount £10 off the packages, but can still offer the £100 credit. so i could have 500 mins for £25 or 100 for £15 (amongst other options)

i was just wondering if anyone knows of any better deals. i don't make many calls so the 100 mins is prolly fine, but i would have expected a better deal in year 3 than year 2, i'm 400 xnet mins worse off this year than last, even if i didn't use them, it's handy to have them if necessary, particularly when it's my only phone, i don't bother with a landline and have cable internet

i don't need a new phone as there's nothing wrong with the one i have, apart from a better camera on it would be nice, but i don't text or use the fancy options, i just like the v3 being small and flipping so i don't press the buttons by mistake. it's unlocked so i could go PAYG or change networks. i'd really like to keep the same number if possible, tho if i get a cracking deal i would change

i'm just looking for cheap xnet mins, sim only, as i don't fancy any of the new phones enough to want to upgrade. i'd rather not be on the three network tho

has anyone been in touch with O2 retentions lately or have any good deals?

[Chrispyphillips]

I'm in the same boat as you unique, my contract finished last month, and i was on £15 p/month for a £30 contract (250 mins/500 texts). thats gone back up to £30 now and i rang o2 and spoke briefly to a foreigner who couldnt offer me a deal better than £100 instead of a new phone. No price cuts. I didnt push it as I had no ammo (ie "Ive been to orange and they'll offer me..." - I like to know the real deals so I can use them as examples) but have been researching some deals, and the best ones are (unfortunately) on the cashback sites (e2save et al). I'm tempted to quote some of these and say i'll defer if they wont match them, but after hearing a lot of people say O2 are just urning around to people now and saying "Heres your pac sir" I dont hold out much hope. Would be nice to have a £15-£20 contract with decent minutes/texts, but everyones getting a bit stingy these days. And unfortunately, 3 do seem to do the very best offers. although I am very relucant to touch these with a barge pole!!!!

Keep posting with any results you have, but I wouldnt hold out much hope. It may be time to turn away from O2 if they wont change their ways, and hopefully if they lose enough custom, might implement better policies!

[unique]

ah, i was just wondering if it was just me not being offered such a good deal. if thats the best i can get, then i might just stick with it, as i bet in the last year i never used anything like 100 mins, nevermind the 500. and i probably sent about six txts, if that. thats £180 for 12 months, but with the £100 credit, it's £80 for a year, or the equivilent of £6.67 a month. for 500 xnet mins it's amazing, but it's still a good deal for 100 xnet mins. if i take it, i don't pay anything for about 7 months, so no more direct debits till september

i used to see a lot of deals on the hotukdeals website as there was a mobile phone specialist on there, but i don't recall seeing much lately, especially not good deals. i can't be bothered with cashback deals either, as i'll just forget to claim, and likewise the quidco type of thing

my end date isn't for another 2/3 weeks so i've got plenty of time before i get charged £25 for 500 xnet mins to get a new plan in place

[UKPS]

If you're after a whole new phone i got mine from http://www.ukphoneshop.com - lots of great deals, free tomtom's, ipods, etc

Worth looking at if you want a whole new contract.

[Chrispyphillips]

Well, I cant get on that link, as in work, but I'm pretty sure thats a cashback web site, which most of them are these days. Most of them do the free ipod/xbox etc deals these days as well! not tempting enough for me i'm afraid/ i just wanna stay with my current provider, and pay less!

probably end up on PAYG now, be cheaper than £35 a month anyway!

[Doublehard]

If you've got NTL for anything they do a sim only offer for £10 per month with 300 mins and 300 txt's. Its pretty good if you don't need a new phone.

[unique]

Originally Posted by Doublehard

If you've got NTL for anything they do a sim only offer for £10 per month with 300 mins and 300 txt's. Its pretty good if you don't need a new phone.

i've got telewest, which is part of virgin with ntl, my phone isn't locked, so i could use any sim. can you keep your old number?

so i could keep my number and stay on O2 and get 100 xnet mins for effectivly £6.67 p/n or 300 mins+300txts for £10

whats the NTL service like? do you use it or know much about it? got a link?

i have until about 20th of the month to make up my mind

[Doublehard]

You go onto the virgin network, I think the deal expires at the end of March (will prob be replaced by another one) You can keep your number. They send you a free sim card and you pay £10 per month and get 300 xnetwork mins and 300 txts, they both rollover unused as well. My missus, brother and a few mates are on it now and can't fault it. The other good thing is that its a 1 month contract! If you don't like it give them 1 months notice and they will cancel.

heres some info from the virgin site:

†Virgin Mobile offer

New and existing customers (subject to status and credit checks) are able to get the Virgin £10 with Cable tariff 300 mins/ 300 texts ("Promotional Tariff"). As part of this you will also get the SIM for free (normal price £10).

You must pay the Promotional Tariff by Direct Debit.

Virgin Mobile services are subject to credit check. Offer valid when connecting to the Virgin Mobile network. Offer ends 31.12.06.

If you cease to be an customer for any reason, you will no longer be eligible for the Promotional Tariff and your Virgin Mobile tariff will revert to the standard Virgin £20 talk SIM only (300 mins/300 texts), effective the month after termination.

You may however change or terminate your Virgin Mobile bundle in accordance with the Virgin Mobile "Legal Stuff" for Pay Monthly SIM-only Bundles.


Hope this helps.

[unique]

thanks doublehard, it seems a good deal. i just wonder if i should stick to O2 and pay £6.67 for 100 mins that i never use or £10 for 300 mins that might never use either, but having xtra is handy if you need it

whats the virgin network like? i don't think i know a single person on virgin

[Chrispyphillips]

Well, took the plunge, rang O2 the weekend, and had an okay deal!

As i'm not using all my minutes/texts, I got 200 mins/150 texts p/month, new Sony Ericsson K800 and 1Gb mem card, all for £20 p/month. 18 month contract, but got the new phone so wont be too bad!

Just rang up and said i wanted a PAYG sim and PAC code, was asked why, explained, and ended up being offered the deal. Its good to play dumb