Mobile phone Guide

Sim-only mobile phone deals

By Garnet Roach garnet@consumerchoices.co.uk

If you’re attached to your old mobile phone and don’t want to upgrade, you could get yourself a better deal by going for a sim-only mobile phone contract.

What are sim-only deals?

All of the major mobile phone operators offer sim-only mobile phone contracts, letting you take advantage of all the great free texts and minutes you get with a contract - without the 18 or 24-month commitment.

How do sim-only deals differ from pay-as-you-go plans?

With a pay-as-you-go mobile phone plan you have to top up before you can make calls or send texts, so while they’re commitment-free, it’s not always convenient to top up when you’re on the go.

Sim-only deals run on a rolling 30-day contract - so you get a bill each month like you would with a standard contract - but you can cancel whenever you want, giving you the flexibility of a pay-as-you-go tariff. You also get inclusive minutes and texts - offering more value than a pay-as-you-go plan.

How do sim-only deals differ from long contract plans?

Unlike an 18- or 24-month contract, where you get a free phone when you sign up and an upgrade each time you recontract, a sim-only deal is exactly that - sim only.

All you get when you sign up is a sim card from your chosen mobile phone provider and the inclusive minutes and texts that come with it.

What do I need to get a sim-only contract?

You will need to have your own phone to use. If you're switching to a new mobile phone network you might need to have your phone unlocked before you can use your new sim card. Your current mobile phone provider will be able to advise you on how to do this.

If you don’t already have a mobile phone you could simply buy a cheap pay-as-you-go handset - which start at less than £20 - to use with your sim-only deal, giving you better value than a pay-as-you-go plan.

Once you have your phone, and have chosen the provider and sim-only plan that you want, you simply need to sign up and start calling.