mobile phone

[dogbutter]

I've never had one. I want a pay as you go deal but I don't know how you pay for it's use. I understand you go to a local shop and ask for a top up? What do you ask for exactly?
There's a bewildering rang of phones available, are the top ups generic or specific to brand / model?
How does it work?

[vehelpfulguy]

When you buy a pay-as-you-go phone you get a little card about the size of a credit card. This card has your phone number on it, so when you top up you just give the shop your card and they stripe it to show you have paid so much money (say �10)

Your phone is then topped up with that amount, and you pay for it with cash, debit card or whatever.

The problem with pay as you go is that you pay much more "per call" than you do if you have a monthly contract.

Also if you have no credit you cannot make any calls.

If you go for a "cheap" contract (mine is �11 a month) they give you a free phone, and calls are much cheaper. Plus you never run out of credit.

[spotit3]

Vehelpfulguy, I would be interested to know where you get such a cheap contract. I am on PAYG but it costs me about �20-�30 per month. Hope you don't mind me butting in on this question but sounds like you could save me some dosh. I am on O2 by the way.

[dogbutter]

Thank you .