Slash Your Mobile Costs By 74%

Pay as you go mobile phone users may feel left out when it comes to finding the best deals. Here's how to make the most out of your PAYG mobile.

When it comes to mobile phones, pay as you go (PAYG) plans are the often neglected sister of their contract counterparts. While shop windows constantly try to lure you in with amazing contract deals, PAYG is often just seen as the poor-value but easy choice for low mobile phone users.

However, on closer inspection, there are some great deals to be had if you don't use your phone that much, but still need to keep in touch with your loved ones, or have a mobile handy in case of emergencies.

PAYG is also good if you have a less than perfect credit record, as unlike contracts, you don't have to pass a credit check in order to get one. You simply pick up a SIM card online or in store and can be up and running straight away.

So, if you're tempted by PAYG, here's a quick guide to what the main providers are currently offering. As there are a plethora of tariffs available, I've looked at the best tariffs for calling all networks.

Of the five main players, it's hard to pick a clear winner, as the best plans depend on your own personal use.

Both Vodafone and O2 have stepped tariffs, where the first few minutes of each day cost a bit more than the rest of your talk time, while Orange, T-Mobile and 3 have fixed prices throughout the day.

Personally, I think stepped tariffs are a bit of a con, as if you are an infrequent user, you're unlikely to take advantage of lower call rates often enough to make it value for money. So for `once in a while' use, I would recommend opting for 3, as it offers best overall value, plus free access to voicemail.

One plan which provides better value than all of these is Asda's mobile service, which from September 1^st will charge a flat rate of just 8p per minute for voice calls, and 4p for texts to any network.

And, for those worried about coverage, Asda has teamed up with Vodafone to power its service, meaning you can get great value without compromising on network coverage.

So, if you switched from Vodafone to Asda's service powered by Vodafone, you could potentially save yourself up to 74% on call charges, and 60% on text messages.

Beat the clock

One other question infrequent users will want to know is: `Will my credit ever expire?'

Looking at the table, if you never want to have to worry about topping up your account, 3 is again the way to go, with credits lasting indefinitely.

Otherwise, to keep your mobile active, other networks state that you must make a `connection action' once every six months. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to top up your account each time, as a connection action can be anything from making a call, sending a text or topping up your account.

If your credit does expire, you will lose it, together with your phone number (although some providers will re-credit your account if you reactivate it).

So, you could potentially go years and years with just one top up. Just be sure to keep in touch with someone to keep your account active!

Stretching Your Allowance

If, on the other hand you're a pre-pay user looking to maximise the benefits of PAYG, there are some great extras you can get just for topping up. These bonuses come in addition to your credit, and generally last for 30 days from when you credit your account.

Here's just some of the extras the main providers are offering:

As you can see from the table, you can get some nifty rewards simply for topping up. For example, £10 credit with Orange will get you either an extra 300 free texts on the Dolphin tariff, or 120 free evening and weekend minutes to any network on the Canary tariff. Not a bad bonus for simply topping up.

Extras! Extras! Read all about it!

As well as basic value, plus stretching your top-up, you also have to consider other extras networks will offer you.

For example, Vodafone's Stop The Clock lets you talk to any fixed line or mobile for up to 60 minutes during evenings and weekends but only pay for three of them. If you played your cards right you could get 33 hours of off-peak talk time from a £10 top up. Now that's what I call value.

Moving away from mobile calls, If you're a regular cinema-goer, Orange will give you 2 for 1 on cinema tickets every Wednesday with its Orange Wednesdays promotion.

And, if you're considering switching broadband providers, O2's highly recommended broadband service can be yours for just £7.50 a month (£12.50 for non O2 customers), as long as you top up your account by at least £10 every three months. These extras do add up.

The Perfect Fit

Obviously, the network you choose will also be determined by the network coverage and availability in your area. Also, if you find yourself regularly topping up by more than £20 a month, you may be better of with a monthly contract or SIM only plan, as in most cases these will give you more for your money.

However, if you refuse to be tied in to a contract, or simply want the freedom of being able to use your phone how and when you like, PAYG is probably the best way forward, and as we have seen, can provide excellent value for low users.

Finally, if you've managed to get to the end of this mammoth article, you really do deserve a reward! Here are some links to get a free SIM from either T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone, O2, or, if you choose - all four!