Are Goodybags Offered with Free SIM Cards Right for You?
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
These days, it's so easy to become overwhelmed by the free SIM cards that are on offer from your friends, your family, phone shops and mobile networks. Sometimes, it's difficult to know what the advantages of different SIM cards will be, and reading through the leaflets that come with each of them is an exhausting experience. Wouldn't it be far simpler if you could just use a network that offers one goodybag each month that includes a collection of features you use the most?
Of course, if you are looking for a package that includes unlimited Internet, one of the main concerns may be whether or not this is really the case. Sometimes, network providers instil a fair usage policy on their customers, a caveat that essentially instructs us to use our connections within reason. This means that very quietly, you might only be entitled to a few gigabytes per month instead of the bountiful bandwidth you were expecting. In its goodybags, giffgaff promises unlimited Internet for your phone, meaning that you won't pay any more than the cost of your monthly package.
If the promise of actual unlimited Internet is enough to persuade you to buy one of these packages (you can benefit from this perk from £10 per month), you might be worried about keeping your phone number once you've moved network providers. Thankfully, giffgaff is more than happy to accept your PAC code when bringing your phone onto its service. That said, with all goodybags including unlimited texts, there would be no expense in telling you mates about your brand-new number.
If you haven't got the goodybag containing unlimited minutes, you want to make the talk time you do have last. What's the point in having hundreds of minutes if a call to an 0800 number costs you a premium? Some people have assumed in the past that because the calls were free on landlines, they would be the same on mobile phones. Now, such an assumption can be made without costly implications, as giffgaff makes calls to these toll-free lines free.
Sometimes, the promise of endless minutes and infinite texts overwhelms people, particularly if they only use their mobile phone rather modestly. Because of this, having the flexibility of a package where you can choose the minutes you want are better suited. As you are effectively buying talk time in bulk, you will benefit from substantial discounts on the rates which would have been paid without your goodybag.
If you're a bit of a technophobe and like to receive support about certain aspects of a SIM-only contract, going with a network provider who has a bustling forum gets your questions answered quickly. One network that offers SIM-only contracts, giffgaff, found it has an average of 87 people on its forums at any one time, meaning that miniature disasters and other emergencies will be addressed urgently. This is reassuring for all of us, as there is nothing worse than your phone breaking, is there?
Of course, you might have your own questions about SIM-only contracts. Local phone shops may help, but their sales-oriented jargon is sometimes sugar-coated and doesn't give you the big picture. In these cases, taking to the Internet to get your questions answered is really helpful. Many networks have call centres and new 'live chat' functions. Here, you are able to talk to representatives from the company in an instant-messaging environment. When combined with emailing services available for you to communicate with online support teams, all bases are covered.
There's nothing worse than cutting a conversation short because of the few minutes you have left on your plan, or the scary feeling of having no credit after missing the last bus. Goodybags make sense because they allow you to think about your mobile usage in advance, and then you don't have to worry about credit again for an entire month.
If you practically have your handset glued to your palm, the £30 a month goodybag which gives you everything you need, (such as texts, minutes and the Internet) on an unlimited basis will allow you to surf, chat and message completely guilt-free. All that is stopping you from benefitting from these deals and the rest of their discounted services is a SIM card. Available online for free, reaping the benefits is easier than you might think.
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