Mobile phone pay as you go packages

[Sarah7]

Hi,

Does anyone have advice they can offer me with regards which mobile PAYG provider to choose?

Looking through Orange's packages it seems that if you don't use the credit within a certain period, they practically steal from you and you have to top up again.

We want to have a French number (our current winter let rental does not have a landline) so i guess that leaves getting a French SIM card for our own mobiles, but we don't want to get caught up spending much more money than we need to.

If anyone uses other mobile providers that don't have a time limit on the credit and are happy with the service i'd be keen to hear from you.

Many thanks
Sarah

[contentedscot]

I have a payg phone with Virgin here - I just top up 10€ each month - any money left at the end of the month is not lost as long as you recharge that day - you get a week's warning by text. Can't really fault Virgin

My wife is with Leclerc and there is no losing credit, but a deduction is made every time she tops up.

[Sarah7]

Thanks for your response. Virgin sounds better than Orange but i guess technically they're still winning if you have to top up every month, and at this point we don't realistically know how much credit we'll be using.

The Leclerc package might suit us better for the time being so thanks for letting me know.

Cheers
Sarah

[Bevdeforges]

Take a look at what La Poste has for pre-paid offers. They only started offering mobile phone services recently, but their subscriptions are pretty good deals and all their services tend to be far more flexible than the "commercial entities."

On the prepaid cards, they claim to have "extra long validity." Definitely worth a look.
Cheers,
Bev

[Sarah7]

Will do thanks for the advice Bev.

Cheers
Sarah

[Flaneur]

Hi sarah,

You may find that you use the credit pretty quickly anyway. Orange PAYG data/internet charges are by the minute - we burned up 50 euros on our first day before we realised this. Even with data switched off we're using up 25 euros every week just on text messages and a few calls.

I've kept my UK phone which is about the same cost on roaming, though still no joy with data on that.

La Poste looks excellent though I couldn't find any info on data/internet connection costs.

Cheers,
Tim

[Sarah7]

Hi Tim,

Crikey 50 Euro in a day! - will definitely be looking closely at the the tarrifs now!

I'm looking into the La Poste one, when i get further info i'll post the details.

Thanks
Sarah

[kirikara]

Sarah, having lived in the UK, i was amazed at some of the pay as you go and the ability to keep your phone and receive calls without paying anything.
When I was a student i had an orange deal where i pay 5 pound a month for unlimited text to 5 numbers..
The number was valid for 6 months after the first top up, etc..
There is not really any such deal in france.
I have a french phone number iwht orange: I use the sim when I come in for vacation in my US phone/
I ended up spending about 60 euros, so that it would last about a year. But you are correct, i have no credit left when I got back. It expires within a month or 2 depending on the top up so I basically paid to have the line.

I am not aware of a free of charge cell phone line. but let me know if it exists
Mind you it is the same in the US pretty much.

[Sarah7]

I'm realising the UK packages are quite a good deal, but i will keep the search up for a slightly better package than the one Orange offers and let you know for when you're next back in France!

Cheers
Sarah

[DanielD1980]

I'm planning on moving in September and have an Orange PAYG phone from here in the UK. I'd like to stay with a PAYG plan and though I know it won't be anywhere near as great as my UK one (10 pound top-up gives me unlimited internet and 200 texts!), I would like to keep my phone. I've used my phone while in France so I know it will send and receive, but will getting a French Orange sim card work in my current phone?