The cost of smart phones

The smartphone I got from nephew is sim free and PAYG. I just top up about every 2 months.

I have an old "dumb" PAYG mobile which I use fr everyday and which organizations like the bank, Paypal etc use to send an OTP.

I needed to get a smartphone to run my security system (the app would not run on my tablet) but my nephew passed me an old one and I use that for the cctv, and other bits and pieces like Google mail. I dont use it to pay for things or to bank with.

I would try Tesco. I have a Sim only deal with them with an old phone that I bought a few years ago (it is a smartphone but not very complicated) My deal costs £7.50 per month, unlimited texts and calls and 2GB of data per month (which I never use up as I don't trawl the internet and download stuff on it). They also give very good advice. I've been with them for about 10 years now and Tesco use the O2 network which is very reliable.

Why will you need it for buying things? I use my phone if it's in my hand but my card more often. Cards now pay up to £100 of goods in most shops. Never heard that this will be stopping. I hope not.

henetha

I pay £10 per month. And the phone cost me £120 over 4 years ago. Some supermarkets have phone deals which are brilliant.

I know it's none of my business, but I can't help feeling that you might qualify for Pension Credit as your income seems very low. Might be worth claiming?

I pay £14per mth with BT including all calls and internet,I got it on their "Home Essentials" deal available for customers who are eligible for Pension Credit which as Henethamentioned you would probably be eligible for,ring DWP and give them your details it can be done over the phone,there is £2billion not claimed to which people are entitled to.

Do you have a son or daughter who is upgrading their phone? My son just gave me his iPhone 8 and I’ve got a contract for £8 per month which gives me unlimited texts, calls and some data, enough for me.
Since you’re using the internet to be on Gransnet I think you’ll be fine using a smartphone.

Lebara sounds similar to Smarty Esspee except there are no limits with Smarty. I have no idea whether one is better than the other but they sound along the same lines.

If you buy a second hand phone outright eg. a Samsung then chose a SIM only deal with, say Lebara, you can have unlimited U.K. calls to mobiles and landlines, unlimited texts, 100 minutes of international calls and 3GB of data for under a fiver. If anyone who has a Lebara contract recommends you you get the first 3 months at half price. Beauty of Lebara is that you renew your contract monthly. They send you a text and if you don’t respond the offer continues. If you find a better deal you just let them know and cancel.
Very few people of our age need a bigger package but you can have unlimited data for a few pounds more.

A friend has just signed up for a new phone contract with Tesco. They provided a new E20 Motorola phone free of charge and she is paying 7.99 with Tesco for free calls, texts and Internet.

I only had hand me down phones from my DSs until I dropped the last one in the loo and none of them were upgrading so I bought a new one. I have GiffGaff and pay £6 a month. I can upgrade or cancel anytime, they monitor my use and advise if my plan is the best deal for me.
I get text messages anytime I use my card so if anything was done fraudulently I would soon know.

Just to say, I have never had my phone hacked or had any other problem. I have McAfee Live Safe on my computer which also protects the phone and any other devices, so maybe that's why, I don't know. I have connected to internet banking on the phone as well as the computer. Never had a problem. Millions of people use their phones for everything now, so it's just a case of getting used to it.

Ohmother I have to use a cheque when paying for my chiropody treatment because I just do not carry £40 in my purse and for some reason they will not accept a card.

I send my sister in law a cheque at Christmas so they are around.

Get a smart young family member to help you buy a phone, second hand maybe. Then go to Smarty where you can get unlimited texts and calls (to both land lines and mobiles) for £5 a month. If you get WhatsApp installed you can even phone abroad or do video calls for free. What's not to like? Your smart young family member can help you get set up.

I'm not sure where your info about needing a smartphone for shopping came from, could it be that for online shopping a one-time code is now usually texted to the shopper for verification? If that is the case, then you can continue with your present phone, as the code will be texted in the normal fashion (at least I hope that's all it is, I certainly don't want to start paying for things with my phone when I am out and about!)

In what may be a world first. I agree with MerylStreep

We're not getting rid of cards and we're not getting rid of Chip & PIN cards.

If you don't want a smart phone ExDancer, don't feel you have to get one.

Ex-Dancer, you obviously have some reason why you cannot, or are determined not to claim Pension Credit. It is an integral part of the Pension system, but what would you do if for any reason your AC were suddenly in a position where they could no longer support you?

I've just bought a new mid range smartphone. It is unlocked which means I don't have a contract. DH and I have tv, landline and mobiles with our broadband provider. I bought it on 6 months interest free credit from Curry's PC World.
My old phone was really slow and kept crashing and randomly turning itself off.
I bought a samsung galaxy A32, the kind assistant took the old sim card out of my old phone and put it into my new one (so I kept my number) as I didn't think my arthritic fingers would manage it.

MerylSreep can you remember cheques? ?

ExDancer
Who told you that you’ll need a smart phone to pay for shopping? Absolute tosh!!!
Following that thought would assume that all plastic ( visa etc) is going to cease.
Don’t listen to this rubbish. Carry on as you are. ?

Darn*** I've done it again its a WEEK and I manage fine. The ACs pay my council tax and TV and car licence tax and insurance, and provide lots of other bits and bobs like potatoes and other farm produce. They also pay my Internet provider. I expect they.'d pay my phone bill if I asked - but I'd prefer not.

If the price of power may prove a problem, I'm awaiting my next electricity bill.

Oops - its £115 a month. Sorry - my mistake.

ExDancer How on earth do you live on £115 a month? That is barely £25 a week. Have you applied for Pension Credit, you must surely qualify for it on that income.

Even if you are on £115 a week, you will still qualify for Pension Credit and several other benefits.

I pay about £11 a month for a fairly up to date Samsung from Tesco. DH is with ee and pays considerably more for the same phone! I will own the phone after three years. I can't afford Apple.

I won't be using my phone to pay and still use cash. Ive had my bank and credit card hacked and skimmed twice, through no fault of my own. How easy must it be to hack into a phone? What if you lose your phone or someone steals it? Too many uncertainties for me to ever use a phone to pay.

ExDancer I sympathise.
It's shocking how quickly we have moved away from using money.
I'm sure bank cards will still exist in a few years time.
I hope they will.

It bothers me the thought of using my phone to pay.
Phones van be hacked. Which means bank details can be stolen.
I also read that an experienced hacker can access your phone's camera . So they can get all sorts of personal info out of you.