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Author Topic: Punting phone advice please  (Read 7478 times)

Offline Risly

I’ve had a separate punting phone for a little while now – I bought an Asda mobile SIM card for 50p and put it in an old phone. 4p text msg, 8p per min voice calls. The credit doesn’t expire, so as I’m not a regular punter, I only occasionally have to top up my credit with £5 vouchers bought in store with cash.  So, no online account, no registration, no debit card top ups. Basically, as anonymous as I can make it.

I now learn that the Asda mobile network has switched from EE to Vodafone and over the coming months existing customers will need a new SIM to stay connected. The blurb talks about contacting Customer services to have a new SIM sent to home address and online registration etc. Not a road I want to go down for obvious reasons. They’re also no longer going to sell the vouchers at the tills in store to top up credit.

So, just wondered if anyone had any recommendations of alternative providers? Is it still possible to walk into a supermarket, buy a SIM card, pop it into a phone and be good to go without any further formality?  Also, what’s the best way of topping up my credit, ideally in a cash scenario? 

Cheers for any advice.

Offline drillaaaa

corner shop buy one for £1 and be on your way...


Offline geezer_breezer

I posted a similar question a few years ago and didnt receive a satisfactory answer. As far as I was able to determine, every new SIM, regardless of where you buy it, requires an online registration of sorts.

But I also know that this cant be true, but it was my experience. So I too am looking forward to the answers here. So, without further detail, the "corner shop" suggestion above isn't helpful. It doesn't matter where you buy a SIM, they all must be registered.

Right?

Offline jonnw16

It seems EE still do PAYG SIMs you can top up with shop bought vouchers: External Link/Members Only.

Offline geezer_breezer

Oh, and I also discovered that an unregistered SIM is worthless if your actual host phone was bought with a credit or debit card....

Offline geezer_breezer

My experience was that the purchasing of the SIM was indeed hassle free and anonymous but its activation required an account and therefore a sneaky registration.

Offline Mr_Shins

In some ways requiring a SIM card and thus a number to be registered may be a useful ploy to cut out a lot of the fraud e.g. those messages about "Royal mail have a parcel with a £1.99 charge". Not to "out" punters for calling escorts, and who the SIM is registered to should be available only to the network and the police.





Offline contentguy

I posted a similar question a few years ago and didnt receive a satisfactory answer. As far as I was able to determine, every new SIM, regardless of where you buy it, requires an online registration of sorts.

But I also know that this cant be true, but it was my experience. So I too am looking forward to the answers here. So, without further detail, the "corner shop" suggestion above isn't helpful. It doesn't matter where you buy a SIM, they all must be registered.

Right?

My unregistered Lyca sim expired due to lack of use last year.

I bought a Vodafone SIM in my local 'corner shop' and haven't registered it. 
It's still working 6 months or so later.

If you want to use data services and access adult sites using said SIM, you'll probably need to register it to verify your age.  I've not done that.

I just top up with vouchers from the local shop, simples.

Offline Slowjoe

Oh, and I also discovered that an unregistered SIM is worthless if your actual host phone was bought with a credit or debit card....

Not sure about this for punters. Yes, expect police could easily trace you via registered handset, but little chance pimps or wg could

Offline vindici

Not sure about this for punters. Yes, expect police could easily trace you via registered handset, but little chance pimps or wg could

The police can easily track your punting phone, since most punters will bring their regular phone with them, so the two phones moving together creates an ID.

For SIM cards bought anonymously and phones bought with credit card, how would a pimp or WG trace it? Only the authorities can do that, and only after a complaint or investigation has been initiated.

If you're a punter and not a criminal what exactly is the risk of having bought a punting SIM and phone combo with a credit card?

Offline geostorm1

The police can easily track your punting phone, since most punters will bring their regular phone with them, so the two phones moving together creates an ID.

For SIM cards bought anonymously and phones bought with credit card, how would a pimp or WG trace it? Only the authorities can do that, and only after a complaint or investigation has been initiated.

If you're a punter and not a criminal what exactly is the risk of having bought a punting SIM and phone combo with a credit card?

Exactly.

FYI on Three you can register the sim without giving any details other than an email address. I registered mine and then logged into the My Three account and the "name" section was blank because I never filled it in.

Can't see why top ups need to be anonymous. Does everyone have shared finances with a wife who tracks their every move? I would recommend signing up with Revolut and get an e-card (and a physical one if you so desire) and you can top up online using that card.

Online SoapyTW

If you're a punter and not a criminal what exactly is the risk of having bought a punting SIM and phone combo with a credit card?

One risk would be if a phone company database was compromised and the link between phone numbers and names/addresses were leaked onto the internet. That would expose you should any escorts/agencies you have previously called start checking numbers, or if their phone falls into the wrong hands.

Another might be if something untoward happens at a venue you visit shortly after you leave (robberies are all too common... sometime worse though) and the police start contacting/rounding up recent callers. You wouldn't have done anything wrong in that situation, but you'd end up getting pulled into something that you'd probably not want the hassle of explaining.

The one thing I've found annoying in the past is that enabling adult content on a PAYG requires an ID / age check. Dunno if there are any cash only ways to get around this.

Offline Slowjoe

The police can easily track your punting phone, since most punters will bring their regular phone with them, so the two phones moving together creates an ID.

For SIM cards bought anonymously and phones bought with credit card, how would a pimp or WG trace it? Only the authorities can do that, and only after a complaint or investigation has been initiated.

If you're a punter and not a criminal what exactly is the risk of having bought a punting SIM and phone combo with a credit card?

Yes - agreed. Punting sim is all that is needed. And I bought mine with no registration required, top up with cash in local shop. Easy.

Online southcoastpunter

if you look back through the chat threads you will see that there is loads of info/comments/thoughts on this as it seems to be discussed every month or two.

I bought a vodafone sim in a vodafone shop (before L/D) with cash - they didn't ask for any ID etc and i just buy a monthly top up voucher (paying cash) in a supermarket or shop. Simple. To my mind you just need to be different SIM/phone to your normal phone and if you are worried about being tracked by someone you are either engaging in criminal activity or Paranoid!!

Offline vindici

One risk would be if a phone company database was compromised and the link between phone numbers and names/addresses were leaked onto the internet. That would expose you should any escorts/agencies you have previously called start checking numbers, or if their phone falls into the wrong hands.

Even though the likelihood of this scenario is miniscule, that is an actual risk.

I would guess my personal information has been leaked many times over already. A phone company hack is usually sold on to spammers, not shared for the public to lookup like a 192. Are there any examples of this, I'd love to see if any of my punting aliases are listed?

Another might be if something untoward happens at a venue you visit shortly after you leave (robberies are all too common... sometime worse though) and the police start contacting/rounding up recent callers. You wouldn't have done anything wrong in that situation, but you'd end up getting pulled into something that you'd probably not want the hassle of explaining.

If they are checking recent callers, how would having a 100% anonymous phone help, if the police calls you from the logs? Again, most punters have their regular phone together with the punting phone, so the police could ID you that way if they were determined enough.

Offline Xtro

My unregistered Lyca sim expired due to lack of use last year.

I bought a Vodafone SIM in my local 'corner shop' and haven't registered it. 
It's still working 6 months or so later.

If you want to use data services and access adult sites using said SIM, you'll probably need to register it to verify your age.  I've not done that.

I just top up with vouchers from the local shop, simples.

Similar scenario with my "other" phone.   :thumbsup:

I bought a cheap phone from Asda with a SIM that already had a tenner credit IIRC.
I just top up with a voucher from a local shop.

Online SoapyTW

If they are checking recent callers, how would having a 100% anonymous phone help, if the police calls you from the logs? Again, most punters have their regular phone together with the punting phone, so the police could ID you that way if they were determined enough.

Yeah - I agree to some extent. On the first part, I wouldn't actually answer a call should anyone ring. On the second, it's the 'determined enough' aspect and I'm relying on them being lazy. Def not foolproof, but other than minor inconvenience, I don't really see any downsides in buying top up vouchers (which, if we are being paranoid, could again be traced and CCTV inspected, and, probably in the near future, run through facial recognition databases).

Offline Buttons

What the fuck are all you people up to that you need to hide from the Police? You know porking SP’s, as long as they aren’t under age, trafficked or coerced is legal yes?

Agreed that having a different number from your real life number is a sensible thing, but to hide from pimps, SP’s and the police tracking you??  :lol: Pimps and WG’s tracking you - really? How?

The Police will find you if they want to talk to you, you all know how many CCTV cameras there are out there right? Just don’t do illegal stuff or act like a prick etc  :unknown:

If the way mobile networks operate changes, I’m not sure what there is to fear from having a punting SIM registered in your own name

Offline SamOmar

What the fuck are all you people up to that you need to hide from the Police? You know porking SP’s, as long as they aren’t under age, trafficked or coerced is legal yes?

Agreed that having a different number from your real life number is a sensible thing, but to hide from pimps, SP’s and the police tracking you??  :lol: Pimps and WG’s tracking you - really? How?

The Police will find you if they want to talk to you, you all know how many CCTV cameras there are out there right? Just don’t do illegal stuff or act like a prick etc  :unknown:

If the way mobile networks operate changes, I’m not sure what there is to fear from having a punting SIM registered in your own name

Agreed, people are blowing their fears way out of proportion like they got some nasty secrets to hide lol
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Offline vindici

What the fuck are all you people up to that you need to hide from the Police?

Pretty much my view, if you're a punter not a criminal, the only person you need to hide your punting phone from is the family.

Online SoapyTW

What the fuck are all you people up to that you need to hide from the Police? You know porking SP’s, as long as they aren’t under age, trafficked or coerced is legal yes?

Agreed - Although I mentioned the police in my earlier response, my main worry is about site hacks and Ashley Madison style events. I don't want my name and address linked to punting, but not for the police aspect. The internet has a nasty habit of cocking things up.

Offline jonnw16

The one thing I've found annoying in the past is that enabling adult content on a PAYG requires an ID / age check. Dunno if there are any cash only ways to get around this.
I recall in previous threads it has been suggested this can be achieved by going into one of the shops run by the relevant network, since they can see you are over 18 and this enable adult content for you.

Offline vindici

Agreed - Although I mentioned the police in my earlier response, my main worry is about site hacks and Ashley Madison style events. I don't want my name and address linked to punting, but not for the police aspect. The internet has a nasty habit of cocking things up.

I never use my real name on any punting site, if it is a requirement, for example for verification purposes, then I don't join, simple as that.

Offline Risly

Agreed, people are blowing their fears way out of proportion like they got some nasty secrets to hide lol

I must admit some of the replies have given this thread a more sinister overtone than I envisaged when I posted the original question.

To be clear I was just looking for a SIM only provider which didn't need online registration or other personal details. The phone is purely used for contacting SPs, usually via text or voice call.  I have no concerns about law enforcement tracing. In fact, I guess as I occasionally contact an SP via Whatsapp through my home WIFI, they would have no problem tracing me. (I'm not tech savvie so apologies if that last comment is incorrect)   

Online LLPunting

I must admit some of the replies have given this thread a more sinister overtone than I envisaged when I posted the original question.

To be clear I was just looking for a SIM only provider which didn't need online registration or other personal details. The phone is purely used for contacting SPs, usually via text or voice call.  I have no concerns about law enforcement tracing. In fact, I guess as I occasionally contact an SP via Whatsapp through my home WIFI, they would have no problem tracing me. (I'm not tech savvie so apologies if that last comment is incorrect)

Your OP was answered by posts in previous threads, all active this year, so I don't understand why you had to ask the question again.  If you read all the other threads about punting phones what did you discover, when you tried the multitude of offered working solutions that did not meet your needs?

Offline CoolTiger

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I’ve had a separate punting phone for a little while now – I bought an Asda mobile SIM card for 50p and put it in an old phone. 4p text msg, 8p per min voice calls. The credit doesn’t expire, so as I’m not a regular punter, I only occasionally have to top up my credit with £5 vouchers bought in store with cash.  So, no online account, no registration, no debit card top ups. Basically, as anonymous as I can make it.

I now learn that the Asda mobile network has switched from EE to Vodafone and over the coming months existing customers will need a new SIM to stay connected. The blurb talks about contacting Customer services to have a new SIM sent to home address and online registration etc. Not a road I want to go down for obvious reasons. They’re also no longer going to sell the vouchers at the tills in store to top up credit.

So, just wondered if anyone had any recommendations of alternative providers? Is it still possible to walk into a supermarket, buy a SIM card, pop it into a phone and be good to go without any further formality?  Also, what’s the best way of topping up my credit, ideally in a cash scenario? 

Cheers for any advice.

In short, it is possible to buy a SIM card, in a typical shop, without ANY questions being asked.

Most Co-Op supermarket sell these SIM cards for £1.00 each. Better still, go into any one-man band phone shops and they will literally give you a free SIM card for most networks, O2, Lyca, Lebara etc.

However, I would be surprised if ALL Asda SIM cardholders were told they HAD to get a Vodafone SIM in order to continue using them. It hould be possible to continue using SAME SIM card with Vodafone.
Wait until the move has happened and your mobile shows Vodafone on its screen.

I have been using PAYG SIM Cards for Punting since 2001, and hve NEVER had any issues and have NEVER had to to register any of them.

Offline CoolTiger

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Offline CoolTiger

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I posted a similar question a few years ago and didnt receive a satisfactory answer. As far as I was able to determine, every new SIM, regardless of where you buy it, requires an online registration of sorts.

But I also know that this cant be true, but it was my experience. So I too am looking forward to the answers here. So, without further detail, the "corner shop" suggestion above isn't helpful. It doesn't matter where you buy a SIM, they all must be registered.

Right?
Nope!! See my post above.

Offline CoolTiger

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Oh, and I also discovered that an unregistered SIM is worthless if your actual host phone was bought with a credit or debit card....

Nope. It only means that in the event you comit any crimes using your Mobile + SIM (in which case you are not using it as a punting SIM), then they could trace your Number back to the phone, and if records still exisit that you bought your phone with a card, then traced back to you.

Most punters do not have to worry to that extent, as they merely hiding their identity from WGs and Pimps, for fear of being found out or outed. 

Offline CoolTiger

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Not sure about this for punters. Yes, expect police could easily trace you via registered handset, but little chance pimps or wg could

Correct. You only have to worry if you are committing crimes using your unregistered SIM.

Offline Risly

In short, it is possible to buy a SIM card, in a typical shop, without ANY questions being asked.

Most Co-Op supermarket sell these SIM cards for £1.00 each. Better still, go into any one-man band phone shops and they will literally give you a free SIM card for most networks, O2, Lyca, Lebara etc.

However, I would be surprised if ALL Asda SIM cardholders were told they HAD to get a Vodafone SIM in order to continue using them. It hould be possible to continue using SAME SIM card with Vodafone.
Wait until the move has happened and your mobile shows Vodafone on its screen.

I have been using PAYG SIM Cards for Punting since 2001, and hve NEVER had any issues and have NEVER had to to register any of them.

I hear what you're saying regarding existing Asda SIM only customers but the FAQ on the Asda mobile website is pretty clear in saying you WILL lose service later this year unless you apply for a new Vodafone SIM card, either online or via their customer service team.

I agree that starting afresh and getting a brand new SIM card, either free or for a nominal amount is easy enough. But that only works if the new provider (O2, Lyca, Lebara etc) doesn't then a SIM 'activation' process which requires the provision of personal information. I guess it was this particular aspect I was trying to see if people had RECENT experience of, as it does appear that the mobile networks are possibly moving the goalposts and trying to steer people down the route of registering their SIM only handsets.

 
 

Offline crunchy_guy

I hear what you're saying regarding existing Asda SIM only customers but the FAQ on the Asda mobile website is pretty clear in saying you WILL lose service later this year unless you apply for a new Vodafone SIM card, either online or via their customer service team.

I agree that starting afresh and getting a brand new SIM card, either free or for a nominal amount is easy enough. But that only works if the new provider (O2, Lyca, Lebara etc) doesn't then a SIM 'activation' process which requires the provision of personal information. I guess it was this particular aspect I was trying to see if people had RECENT experience of, as it does appear that the mobile networks are possibly moving the goalposts and trying to steer people down the route of registering their SIM only handsets.

I very recently walked into my local corner shop.  I picked up a Lyca SIM card and bought a £10 voucher over the counter, which I paid £10 cash.  Got home, put the SIM in my phone, added the credit.  Job done. No registration. No activation process.

You can choose to keep it PAYG (19p/min and 19p/text) or buy a plan.  Basic plan gives unlimited calls, texts and 10Gb data for 10 quid.  So is basically worth it to get a plan if you send more than 50 texts a month.  Credit lasts for 90 days before it expires.

Offline CoolTiger

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I agree that starting afresh and getting a brand new SIM card, either free or for a nominal amount is easy enough. But that only works if the new provider (O2, Lyca, Lebara etc) doesn't then a SIM 'activation' process which requires the provision of personal information. I guess it was this particular aspect I was trying to see if people had RECENT experience of, as it does appear that the mobile networks are possibly moving the goalposts and trying to steer people down the route of registering their SIM only handsets.

For what it's worth, I suggest you get an O2 SIM from a typical corner shop for £1, or sometimes given for free.

I have been with O2 for 15+ years, for Punting SIm and have never known them to require registration or activation before being able to use the SIM. It helps if you buy the SIM with the Correct Tariff on it, e.g. £5pm for u/l texts, calls and no data, or £10pm with 6gb data. This way you can top up immediately and start to use the phone.

Otherwise best to get Classic PAYG SIM, top up £10, but do not use any credit. Text one of their special 5-digit number to change tarriff to one of the above., and £5 or 310 will then automatically get deducted from your balance and in return you have the selected service.

Offline CoolTiger

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Check out the following recent thread, which you may find useful

https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=292914.0

Offline Risly

I very recently walked into my local corner shop.  I picked up a Lyca SIM card and bought a £10 voucher over the counter, which I paid £10 cash.  Got home, put the SIM in my phone, added the credit.  Job done. No registration. No activation process.

You can choose to keep it PAYG (19p/min and 19p/text) or buy a plan.  Basic plan gives unlimited calls, texts and 10Gb data for 10 quid.  So is basically worth it to get a plan if you send more than 50 texts a month.  Credit lasts for 90 days before it expires.

Thanks for that. The kind of thing I was looking for.
A bit more costly than Asda mobile but still reasonable.
I can go a month without using my punting phone, so probably wouldn't get value from a fixed plan.
Cheers   

Offline Risly

For what it's worth, I suggest you get an O2 SIM from a typical corner shop for £1, or sometimes given for free.

I have been with O2 for 15+ years, for Punting SIm and have never known them to require registration or activation before being able to use the SIM. It helps if you buy the SIM with the Correct Tariff on it, e.g. £5pm for u/l texts, calls and no data, or £10pm with 6gb data. This way you can top up immediately and start to use the phone.

Otherwise best to get Classic PAYG SIM, top up £10, but do not use any credit. Text one of their special 5-digit number to change tarriff to one of the above., and £5 or 310 will then automatically get deducted from your balance and in return you have the selected service.

Cheers, great info
Appreciated

Offline CoolTiger

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Thanks for that. The kind of thing I was looking for.
A bit more costly than Asda mobile but still reasonable.
I can go a month without using my punting phone, so probably wouldn't get value from a fixed plan.
Cheers   

External Link/Members Only

O2 Classic Pay As You Go
Minimum top up £10

Calls are 3p a minute
Texts are 2p
Data is 1p a MB (you are better off using your normal phone as a Hot Spot, or WiFi at home/work)
Calls to customer service are free of charge
Calls to Voicemail are 3p a call.

AFAIR, provided you use your phone at least every 6 months, you will not lose any credit on yur phone, nor the SIM becomes Inactive.
« Last Edit: April 08, 2021, 01:54:13 am by CoolTiger »

Offline Risly

External Link/Members Only

O2 Classic Pay As You Go
Minimum top up £10

Calls are 3p a minute
Texts are 2p
Data is 1p a MB (you are better off using your normal phone as a Hot Spot, or WiFi at home/work)
Calls to customer service are free of charge
Calls to Voicemail are 3p a call.

AFAIR, provided you use your phone at least every 6 months, you will not lose any credit on yur phone, nor the SIM becomes Inactive.

Thanks CoolTiger.  The O2 Classic would be the perfect solution. I currently top up with £5 a max of 3 times per annum, so £15 over a year, so that works out better than either paying £60pa (on a monthly £5 tariff) or the higher per item costs of say, the Lyca SIM option.  It's only small change I know but it still rankles paying over the odds for just light use. The difference is almost the equivalent of a free punt around these parts, lol. 

Unfortunately the page headline of the O2 Classic link reads - "Please note, this tariff is no longer available to existing customers wishing to switch to the tariff. If you are not already on this tariff you will not be able to switch to it".     

I guess a sign maybe of the direction the mobile networks are going with PAYG tariffs.

Offline Granty

After an extended break, I'm hoping to get back into punting soon, but need a punting phone - anyone got any recommendations/best place to get one?

Ta!

Offline teddyking

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Online garfield

I just started using the hushed app on my iphone after reading about it on here, lot less hassle than a punting phone

Online daviemac

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After an extended break, I'm hoping to get back into punting soon, but need a punting phone - anyone got any recommendations/best place to get one?

Ta!
Bloody hell, I thought you were a new member who didn't know the site very well but you've been here nearly 7 years. You should know how the search function works by now, so use it.

Plus it's about time you made some useful contributions as per the rules.
« Last Edit: July 12, 2021, 12:12:06 pm by daviemac »

Offline Granty

OK, fair enough, hope to soon

Offline peggedman

+1 for the Hushed app. Easier than having a second phone to hide.

Offline Moresomes

Got mine at Argos, £12.
Its a bugger to text on, but does the job.


Offline lamboman

Buy a cheap phone and SIM card it's not difficult.
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Online GingerNuts