Pay as you go monthly costs?

[keithpen]

Hello

I am with Virgin and have a pay as you go - non smart phone. I use it maybe twice a month, I am changing to vodaphone. My question do I have to top up every month or if I have say £30 credit will it carry over to the next month without me having to top up?

Keith

[AnnS]

Hi @keithpen 

If you are only needing the  SIM for occasional emergency use, you will be looking at the PAYG 1 tariff, there is further information on this link Vodafone PAYG 1 Full charges are here: PAYG Terms 

IF you don't want an automatic bundle the trick is to opt out of Big Value Bundles before topping up or Vodafone will automatically convert your credit into a BVB, follow this link to opt out. Opt out Big Value Bundle 

If you top up £30 Vodafone will only take £1 when there is an outgoing activity, it is free to receive and your top up should last for as long as you need it.  The only thing to remember is to make the occasional outgoing activity to keep the SIM active and it is recommended every 90 days.

Also see here: Welcome to Vodafone 

@keithpen 

You only pay when the SIM makes an outgoing activity,  Vodafone cannot charge for camera use.   It is recommended to turn off your mobile data and use WiFi connection, if you turn on the phone and it makes a connection to the Internet this will be outgoing activity and Vodafone will take  £1 of your credit. 

[keithpen]

Ok thanks. I decided to get a new phone as well - the Nokia 110 - as this seems the best non smart phone. So I assume getting a new phone with the bundles makes no difference? Also I like the idea of the camera - I assume using that has no impact on costs?

[BandOfBrothers]

Using your camera won't impact on costs unless you intend to send photo's via text messages meaning they'll become mms messages which are a chargeable service.

Your phone will use the allowances it's capable of @keithpen 

[keithpen]

Ok thanks. I have looked at the info and am still confused, as it is not crystal clear. So in plain simple English -is this correct:

I buy the Nokia PAYG phone 110 and a £20 bundle. At the end of the 30 days I have made a few calls and have £15 left - I do not top up, does the £15 carry over? If yes I then make a few calls and at the end of the next 30 days I have £10 left - I do not top up - does this carry over? I then make a few calls and at the end of the 30 days I have £5 left - I do not top up - it carries over. For the next 30 days I only make a single call, the same again. The reason I am asking is in the info it says as long as you are in credit your bundle rolls over - but it does not say you do not need to add any more money. Only if you have to add money - I might as well do a monthly!

Thanks.

[AnnS]

Hi @keithpen 

If you are going to only be using the phone twice a month you don't need a bundle, PAYG 1 would be better for you where you will be charged £1 per day for outgoing activity only, it is free to receive.

Going this way your credit will last for as long as you want it, just make sure you opt out of Big Value before topping up by following the link in my previous reply or Vodafone will automatically convert the credit into a monthly bundle and this will be more costly than just being charged for using the phone on twice a month.

Just make sure you have turned off your mobile data or if you turn the phone on to receive incoming the phone may make a connection to the internet and this will be classed as outgoing with Vodafone taking £1 of your credit.

Should you decide on a bundle of calls, texts and data, unless you made any out of bundle charges the £10 would carry over and can be used towards the purchase of next months bundle.

@keithpen 

Credit does not expire and will last until used. Just check your balance calling 2345 or by logging onto the Application or your online account.

[keithpen]

Sorry - but your reply is even more confusing. Can someone just answer yes or no to my question please. I did try to ask in store - but they were evasive. Its not hard - if i have a £20 credit can I keep it for over three months or longer by just using odd amounts each  month or do I have to add more money?

[BandOfBrothers]

Vodafone ask that activity is made once account at least every 180 days @keithpen 

This would then mean the credit remains on your account and your account won't deactivate.

The timeframe breaks down like this …
If a person does not make an activity as described above in 90 consecutive days then Vodafone make contact via sms to advise. Then if after 45 days no usage is made they send a final notification and then give another 45 days to make some activity.
Then the Payg account could be suspended and the number and account credit lost.
The mobile number is typically quarantined for a length of time and then put back into the number pool to be redistributed to another person.
If a Payg account is suspended then a person has 90 days to ask Vodafone to re activate the Payg account via 0333 304191,  191 from a Vodafone phone, 
Payg reconnection window is 90 days if the account is suspended by Vodafone.

Vodafone have two types of Payg tariff.

Big Value Bundle where you buy a Bundle of allowances that last 30 days , with some allowances rolling over as long as your BVB renews i.e there's available Credit on your account.

Or there is Payg1 which is where if you make a call, send a text or use mobile data that would activate a set amount of allowances for a base cost of £1. This would be charged only when you use your phone to make a chargeable activity. This is why it's recommended to turn off Mobile Data in the phone's settings so no background activity triggers that £1 charge.

[Amanda]

@keithpen - yes  🙂 if you have the PAYG 1 tariff that @AnnS has mentioned above your £20 credit will stay on until you use it up. 

With Pay as you go 1, you'll pay just £1 each day you use your phone, which gives you the following to use until midnight:

• Unlimited minutes
• Unlimited texts
• 50MB data

On the days you don't use your phone to make a call, send a text or use data, you won't pay anything - so if you use your phone 3 times in 3 months, you'd pay £3 in total. Please bear in mind that you'll need to turn your mobile data off, otherwise you'll automatically start the £1 per day rate when your phone connects to data. 

The following services are not included with Pay as you go 1:

• Premium and non-geographic calls or texts
• International calls
• Calls, messages or data usage from outside the UK or Europe Zone

We'll let you know each time you dial a number not included in your allowance, so you can choose whether to continue with the call.

For more information on Pay as you go 1, please see our terms and conditions.