Cheap PAYG SIM for a spare phone?

[Skyedriver]

Hi,
Have an old phone which I want to use as a spare, probably left in the car in case my main phone runs out of battery.
Most offers seem to be on contract. As the phone will only be used in an emergency a contract seems over the top.
Thanks

[MustangGT]

Skyedriver said:

Hi,
Have an old phone which I want to use as a spare, probably left in the car in case my main phone runs out of battery.
Most offers seem to be on contract. As the phone will only be used in an emergency a contract seems over the top.
Thanks

Just pop the SIM out of the flat battery phone into the charged phone. Simples.

[Ham_and_Jam]

Skyedriver said:

Hi,
Have an old phone which I want to use as a spare, probably left in the car in case my main phone runs out of battery.
Most offers seem to be on contract. As the phone will only be used in an emergency a contract seems over the top.
Thanks

It would be a lot simpler to keep a phone cable in your car.

[vaud]

Skyedriver said:

Hi,
Have an old phone which I want to use as a spare, probably left in the car in case my main phone runs out of battery.
Most offers seem to be on contract. As the phone will only be used in an emergency a contract seems over the top.
Thanks

A charging block will hold charge for a few months and charge a phone multiple times.

Or a USB charger from the lighter socket.

Or Vodafone PAYG is quite good value.

[WrekinCrew]

Giffgaff. Add £10 credit and make one call or send a text message every 6 months to keep it alive. They do remind you in good time.

[danb79]

WrekinCrew said:

Giffgaff. Add £10 credit and make one call or send a text message every 6 months to keep it alive. They do remind you in good time.

^^^

This - I use GG for my iPad SIM, if/when I need it.. Keep it topped up every so often and zero issues

Did the same back in 2010 when I had my E38 with the Motorola V50 phone in it etc

[Funk]

Smarty.

https://smarty.co.uk/all-plans#classic

[Somebody]

www.rwgmobile.wales

Top up £5

Pay-as-you-go
Just top-up your account and charges will be deducted as and when you use it. Your credit will never expire.
VOICE: 5p min UK landline/mobile
SMS: 5p/SMS
DATA: 1p/MB

[anyoldcardave]

Funk said:

Smarty.

https://smarty.co.uk/all-plans#classic

Absolutely useless, tried them, I think the use the 3 network, bad in some areas, switched to the Giff Gaff 10 quid one, much better and though I cannot call Ireland without adding a credit for it, get free roaming in Ireland, and can call the UK, I guess that covers the whole EU.

It covers all my call text and data needs, and I use wayz a lot. not much else really, unless on wifi at home.

Beats a contract for my needs hands down.

[alangla]

Asda Mobile is pretty reasonable for phones that aren’t used a lot, 10p/text, 15p/minute. Keep mobile data turned off unless you absolutely need it. Vodafone based. As usual you need some activity every 6 months to keep the sim active.

https://mobile.asda.com/rates-and-charges

[S6PNJ]

O2 Classic SIM
3p, 2p, 1p for calls, texts and per Mb data
1st top up is £10 and as long as you make a chargable event (text?) every 6 months, it will stay active and not use any additional credit.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323873641211

[The Mad Monk]

Skyedriver said:

Hi,
Have an old phone which I want to use as a spare, probably left in the car in case my main phone runs out of battery.
Most offers seem to be on contract. As the phone will only be used in an emergency a contract seems over the top.
Thanks

Tesco PAYG

[Skyedriver]

MustangGT said:

Just pop the SIM out of the flat battery phone into the charged phone. Simples.

Wish I'd thought of that! H&J's keep a cable in the car too although the last time I needed a second phone I was away from the car for the day.
Giff Gaff sounds like a good option, just need to make sure the old 'phone isn't locked (to EE).
Thanks for the suggestions

[Haltamer]

Better option mk3:

Battery banks!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-VRURC-20000mAh-C...

I've got a collection of these that I use constantly; Having the built in cables is a dream as you can charge ny-on anything (With a regular USB Port for anything funky) - And they can passthrough charge too.

Topup from a USB-C or by using the inbuilt USB-A, can easily leave plugged in ad infinitum. The 20,000mAh linked is a bit chunky but will charge most phones a fair number of times, There is a 10,000mAh version that is more portable too.

In a pickle, just take the charge block with you as you depart the car - Job done!

As for sims, Most PAYG Offers seem dreadful to me - Particularly on the data front; I've picked up a couple of Lycamobile £4/Month 5GB sims recently for the car / spare phone; Uses the EE network, fixed price 24 months.

[Donbot]

S6PNJ said:

O2 Classic SIM
3p, 2p, 1p for calls, texts and per Mb data
1st top up is £10 and as long as you make a chargable event (text?) every 6 months, it will stay active and not use any additional credit.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323873641211

Shhhh. I worry about the day O2 will cancel that plan.