Simple Mobile Phone Infrequent Use

[Khandro]

Is there a nework provider that will allow a person to have a phone which is little used ?  

Most providers seem to lock you out if you don't use it as often as they like. It's fo Mrs K. to have with her when she's out, really in case of an emergency to contact me.

 

[THECORBYLOON]

I'll leave it to others to recommend a network but you could just set reminder alarms to use the 'phone as often as is required by a network.

[Khandro]

How does that work Corby? Does it mean the phone will be recorded as regularly being 'used' without having to do any thing oneself?

[barry1010]

No, a reminder would just remind her to use the phone, a call or text.

[THECORBYLOON]

From Ofcom, 

"Unused numbers can be recycled

If a PAYG phone number is not being used to make a call, send a text message or use data, the mobile provider can suspend the service and recycle the number. This is to ensure that the numbers they have are being used efficiently.

The length of time before a provider deems a phone inactive varies: for some providers it can be as little as 70 days, while others wait six months or longer. Check your provider’s terms and conditions to find out how much time you have.

If you're concerned that your PAYG phone might be suspended because you don't use it enough, ask your provider:

How long will it be before they suspend an inactive phone?

What can you do to make sure your phone stays active? Do you have to make a call, or can you simply send a text?"

Find out what the requirements are and then set reminders to ensure your wife does the minimum required.

[barry1010]

RWG provides a traditional pay as you go.  Get the free SIM card, top up with £5 and the credit never expires.

Scroll down to the bottom of this page

https://www.rwgmobile.wales/rates-plans-eng-per/

[Khandro]

The phone I would give her is an old Samsung GT-E2120 of mine, which is small & neat.

Barry, Would those packages work outside of the UK ?

[barry1010]

The roaming rates are on the website, I expect it to be expensive

[nicebloke1]

Asda is your best bet bundle from £4  per month no contract unlimitted texts and calls, they are all doing away with PAYG

[Giggsie]

My hubby seldom uses his I make a point of ringing it every month by way of a reminder on my phone. He lost all his credit a few years ago so have done this ever since.

[Old_Geezer]

They all allow to. But they ain't a charity, you need to use it before their time limit expires. Otherwise they'd run out of numbers to allocate. Numbers are a resource they need to make money.

[bhg481]

I have a cell phone on a cheap Tesco tariff which is purely for emergency use. You only have to use the number every so-often and I haven't made a call or sent a text in years; when I do online stuff which requires a security code to be sent to a phone I specify that phone and it's enough to keep the SIM live without costing me anything at all. Any click-and-collect orders I make send the notifications to that phone too - it all helps to keep it alive.

[Khandro]

Thanks to all: My own phone, which I don't use a lot either, is on I guess the equivalent of Tesco's called Aldi talk.

I think I'll just get another subscription and another number to them.

 

 

[bookbinder]

I have a mobile phone that I rarely use. It is on a Vodafone account. I keep the phone in the car, in case of emergencies, and I make a point of using the phone once a month, just to keep the account active.

[Maydup]

Mr M has a Tesco PAYG for infrequent use and I set a reminder to ring it once a month. 

[Khandro]

So one call a month seems to be sufficient ?

Setting a reminder for me to ring it seems like a good idea, thanks.

[barry1010]

That's not enough. The phone must be used to make a call, send a text or use data. 

[bhg481]

barry - not with mine. I haven't made a call or sent a text in years. All I do is receive texts from Screwfix when I do click&collect and codes from banks to verify my identity. So long as my SIM is used they're happy.

[barry1010]

That's good, bhg, but T&C's change. Who is your provider?

[bhg481]

Tesco, barry, it's their low-user tariff which I don't think is available any more as a new customer but they've never moved me off it. 

[barry1010]

That's what I meant about T&C's changing.