PAYG data for loan dongle

[dgsmith]

Hi, I have been asked to see about getting a SIM card that we can use in a dongle so that staff can make visits outside of school but still have access to the internet. There is no appetite for a contract as it would be ad-hoc but the PAYG data rates don't seem as attractive as they used to (i.e. three 3-2-1 disappeared last year). I have looked at the options out there and it seems getting monthly "packs" are better value than simply paying as you go, but quite a few say they last for a "calendar month", which implies that buying a pack on 28th month gives you just 2-3 days before another top-up is needed?

 

Just wondering if anyone else has something similar in place who could suggest a viable provider. I have considered 30-day pay monthly too, like smarty, but I think that would need cancelling after each billing period (rather than just paying once and know it'll last 30 days until you want to renew).

[clareq]

Argos offer 120Gb for a year through EE - https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5662364?clickPR=plp:2:10

[dgsmith]

Argos offer 120Gb for a year through EE - https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5662364?clickPR=plp:2:10

 

The ad-hoc nature of the requirement is that they may not need it for 2-3 months at a time, so just want something as-and-when, otherwise we may as well go pay monthly.

[Scrumpy]

We have a school mobile that gets taken on trips/residentials for voice & data use, using a Giff Gaff PAYG SIM. Usually gets topped up with £25 when needed, but as long as you make a call every 6 months the credit doesn't expire. PAYG may not be as cheap as it was but this is the most cost effective solution for us

[bushby]

My suggestion would be lgfl data SIM.

 

£12 per month one annual bill and unlimited data

Or

£14.50 per month with unlimited text and calls aswell

 

https://national.lgfl.net/smartbuy/Mobile-Data

[MatthewL]

Smarty?

[willtech]

Some are listed here: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/best-pay-as-you-go-sim-cards/#occasional

 

The one that is similar to Three’s 3 2 1 is https://www.1pmobile.com

[IrritableTech]

Worth checking this list for the virtual mobile companies to confirm which network they use. Some obviously better than others in areas.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Kingdom_mobile_virtual_network_operators

[nadeem]

I have considered 30-day pay monthly too, like smarty, but I think that would need cancelling after each billing period (rather than just paying once and know it'll last 30 days until you want to renew).

 

With smarty you can suspend the subscription for up to 6 months, so I think that'd be ideal for you

[dgsmith]

Thanks all. I have seen that smarty and asda mobile have the cheapest 30-day pack options that you can flexibility renew/not renew (up to a cut off point) which I think is better than PAYG (especially when most PAYG options now are averaging 10p/MB, so 60MB is then the same as getting a £6 monthly pack of several GB). I think the days of topping up and it lasting for several months on very light use, like with three's old 3-2-1 are a thing of the past!

[ITGuyNW]

Hi all

 

I'm looking at SIM cards at the minute. I'm after some I can just keep in a drawer and activate when it hits the fan.

 

Looking at ones that use the three network as they have the best signal here. Looking at Smarty who do 30 day data only sims.

 

Has anyone any experience with these?

[nadeem]

Hi all

 

I'm looking at SIM cards at the minute. I'm after some I can just keep in a drawer and activate when it hits the fan.

 

Looking at ones that use the three network as they have the best signal here. Looking at Smarty who do 30 day data only sims.

 

Has anyone any experience with these?

 

What do you want to know about them? I've several for varying use cases