Punting Phone - which PAYG SIM ?

[Avg_Joe]

i've got a couple of older phones, which will do as a punting phone, one has zero smart phone abilities, basic phone and text, ideal unless you want to use google maps of course to get to your punt, the other is an old S3

personally, i like the older phone that has zero history saving ability beyond recent calls, and has no GPS crap or other stuff, so i was wondering, which network you guys have SIMS for, and which you find the easiest/most anonymous to top up

i guess pre-paid type things are the easiest and keep swapping them over ? I know some have time limits on you using the credit etc

and which are the best if i don't need any data

[CoolTiger]

It doesn't matter too much, as long as you are able to receive decent network services wherever you live, or where you plan to punt.

3 tend to have a good deal... for £10 top-up, you get 3p/min, 2p per text and 1p per 1MB. There is no limit to the £10 top-up needing to be used up by, provided you use it at least once every 3 months(?).

Once used, some punters replace the SIM with a new one altogether.

I will dig out a link Admin posted a while back, comparing all the rates.

[CoolTiger]

For cheapest try this: External Link/Members Only
That site has been running for many years, seems to be still updated.

External Link/Members Only


Also check the following thread:

https://www.ukpunting.com/index.php?topic=130771.0

[Avg_Joe]

thanks, will go have a look

i also used to frequent car bootsales a fair bit, and there was always an abundance of these things kicking around, should have picked up a few prepaid then, no registration no annoying topup hoops to jump through just plug and go so to speak

[CoolTiger]

thanks, will go have a look

i also used to frequent car bootsales a fair bit, and there was always an abundance of these things kicking around, should have picked up a few prepaid then, no registration no annoying topup hoops to jump through just plug and go so to speak

Most members don't register their SIMS, especiaslly if you plan to throw it away after your first and only top-up has finished. Also, you can get top up vouchers (and also buy AW credits) from most newsagents/supermarkets without any questions being asked or eyebrows raised by the staff.

[Anadin]

Three is good value but crap coverage especially if like me that's what you also have in your main phone. I may give freedom pop a go as it's cheap but same problem so I keep an asda sim around too for emegencies.

I like keeping my punting activities completely separate on a smart punting phone, not that I absolutely need to or really do but it's nice and clean and I don't have to worry about scrubbing the history. Maybe it's just me but I quite like having a look at where I've been and reading through old SMS messages.

[curry]

Just make sure you never top up using a  credit card or cash machine or give them your rewards card  can get a reasonable iPhone 5 on  ebay for 80

[Avg_Joe]

I've not long binned three for crap service, ah, good to know about the topping up thing from shops via voucher without having to register it.
now just the how long it lasts for crap and costs for use, and sim size, as i need a mini (stnd) sized sim for the older phone

[Anadin]

Just make sure you never top up using a  credit card or cash machine or give them your rewards card  can get a reasonable iPhone 5 on  ebay for 80

I'm so glad I don't have to worry about that. Many a time I've had to top up online as I just realalised I'd run out of credit just before a punt. That being said I should stop being a cheap bastard and just top up a decent amount to begin with.

[CoolTiger]

Just make sure you never top up using a  credit card or cash machine or give them your rewards card  can get a reasonable iPhone 5 on  ebay for 80

Most members use disposable, PAYG SIMS maninly to protect themselves from Pimps/WGs, etc rather than from the big brother, or the establishment.

If you have nothing to hide from the authorities, there is nothing wrong by topping up using such methods. If the authorities really wanted to track you down as a result of a punt (e.g. serious assault charges against you, etc.) then it would not take them long to track you down, even with your punting SIM. Most punters who use a punting SIM and take it with them to punts tend to take their main phone with them as well. Even if they leave their main phone in the car, if a WG gave your punting number to the police for any serious allegations, by homing in on the two devices together, they could be outside your house within 24 hours (assumin they have the relevant court papers to obtain this info from the service providers).

[CoolTiger]

I'm so glad I don't have to worry about that. Many a time I've had to top up online as I just realalised I'd run out of credit just before a punt. That being said I should stop being a cheap bastard and just top up a decent amount to begin with.

+1, although I change my punting number at least every 6 months or so. At one time, I had my Punting Phone on a 12 month contract with Virigin Media as it meant that I paid only £5 per month for 250 minutes and 250 text messages per month (more than enough for the mnothlyt punts and chats with my regulars).

Don't over top-up, if there is a limit on how long you can carry forward the unused credit.

[Avg_Joe]

found some good info here, including sim expiry info, looks fairly recent too

External Link/Members Only


External Link/Members Only

[Anadin]

Don't over top-up, if there is a limit on how long you can carry forward the unused credit.

Yeah that's hopefully no longer a worry if I use Freedompop and it's not terrible. I find that I can surprisinngly get away with using whatsapp to make bookings and then tethering to use my main phones internet connection.

[Reiver]

Asda sell a sim for 50p has about 15 mins and some texts on it use it and get another

[rg41]

I've not long binned three for crap service, ah, good to know about the topping up thing from shops via voucher without having to register it.
now just the how long it lasts for crap and costs for use, and sim size, as i need a mini (stnd) sized sim for the older phone

I tried a three sim and out of 6 attempts to make a call only one succeeded, the three net refund the total cost of the sim.

[Avg_Joe]

Asda sell a sim for 50p has about 15 mins and some texts on it use it and get another

now that sounds ideal, and i'm assuming you can voucher top up as well

anymore details on this, or was it an in shop deal ?

[Anadin]

now that sounds ideal, and i'm assuming you can voucher top up as well

anymore details on this, or was it an in shop deal ?

its an Asda sim card so you go in store to purchase it and you have to link the top up card to the sim if you want to top up with cash.

[Avg_Joe]

ok thanks, i'll take a peek in the local asda in the next few days, all i'd seen so far was the online stuff from them

[Romney]

I've got three as well, and I agree coverage is not great, even in London, where I punt.  There have been one or two times I've been outside a wg's place, with what looks like an OK signal on the phone, but I can't send or receive texts.  Then, as I'm leaving the punt two hours later, I get the text the wg sent me pre-punt...

Anyone know which network has the best coverage in London for pay as you go sims?

[Avg_Joe]

Anyone know which network has the best coverage in London for pay as you go sims?

i've found this site has a world of info
External Link/Members Only

and here's a couple of others related to coverage
External Link/Members Only
External Link/Members Only
External Link/Members Only


at the end of the day there are only 4 providers, O2, EE, Vodafone and Three, everyone else is using services provided by one of those networks.

[Anadin]

I've got three as well, and I agree coverage is not great, even in London, where I punt.  There have been one or two times I've been outside a wg's place, with what looks like an OK signal on the phone, but I can't send or receive texts.  Then, as I'm leaving the punt two hours later, I get the text the wg sent me pre-punt...

Anyone know which network has the best coverage in London for pay as you go sims?

I've been there too with signal dropping just as I get into a hotel although that's was just outside London. Usually all the networks are ok for calls but I also worry about data and in my limited experience EE are usually the best which is why I keep an Asda sim card around as they run on EEs network.

[CoolTiger]

i've found this site has a world of info
External Link/Members Only

and here's a couple of others related to coverage
External Link/Members Only
External Link/Members Only
External Link/Members Only


at the end of the day there are only 4 providers, O2, EE, Vodafone and Three, everyone else is using services provided by one of those networks.

I've been there too with signal dropping just as I get into a hotel although that's was just outside London. Usually all the networks are ok for calls but I also worry about data and in my limited experience EE are usually the best which is why I keep an Asda sim card around as they run on EEs network.

[/color]



Correct. Tesco and Gif Gaf piggy back with O2, and AFAIR Asda is with EE.

EDIT.. as I thought.. Asda is with EE.

[markballoon]

1pmobile charge you 1p per min/mb and you only have to top up every 4 months.  They run on the EE network.

[webpunter]

That's being paranoid.  They should choose another sport

And doesn't assist if you want to book the same burd again

Once used, some punters replace the SIM with a new one altogether.

[Happylad]

My old Nokia is so ancient that it doesn`t even have a camera - it does `phone calls and messages and nowt else.  When it needs topping up I hand it to the girl in the Co-op cash-out along with a £5 note and she gives it back to me topped up.

But then again I`m too old to understand all these newfangled gadgets properly

[Avg_Joe]

Perfect punting phone that, i've got a couple of old phones like that

[geezer_breezer]

Every SIM or phone I've ever bought demanded that it be REGISTERED. I cannot find a way to make anonymous mobile calls on a UK network.

Let me simplify the question: Starting with nothing, how does one buy a phone and sim so that they can make anonymous mobile calls?

[AnthG]

Every SIM or phone I've ever bought demanded that it be REGISTERED. I cannot find a way to make anonymous mobile calls on a UK network.

Let me simplify the question: Starting with nothing, how does one buy a phone and sim so that they can make anonymous mobile calls?

I have put a fake name and home address in for my last two Three 200mb per month Data sims. And not had any issues with either yet.

[snaitram99]

I have put a fake name and home address in for my last two Three 200mb per month Data sims. And not had any issues with either yet.

If you are paying on  a monthly contract then won't the payment be traceable?

Buy cheap used in somewhere like Cash Generator (outside your local area) and top up only with cash vouchers from newsagents (similarly non-local) should be safe enough. If asked, give a valid address which is not yours. They'll prob only use it for marketing anyway.

[Avg_Joe]

i grabbed a couple of the asda 50p ones in the end.

had to ask in my local asda, as they had them out of the way on the customer service counter, so not the first place you'd look, or most intuitive.
beware of one thing, these have an expiry date for activation, after which time you have to call to activate, if it's even possible, so if you want one for later, be sure to check available expiry dates.


SIM activation was triggered the minute you try to text something or do something, supposedly each sim comes with 10 mins and 10 texts for free, although i forgot to test this before topping up with the voucher, i will on the next one

top up voucher was nice and easy, £5 top ups available, voucher is valid for 1 year from time of purchase, no need to faff around with the advertised top up card and linking it to your phone, because wherever does the card top ups, can also do the vouchers.


simply text Voucher#the voucher code to 2732.... job done, no need to register crap with them


tariff details External Link/Members Only

[Anadin]

If you are paying on  a monthly contract then won't the payment be traceable?

Buy cheap used in somewhere like Cash Generator (outside your local area) and top up only with cash vouchers from newsagents (similarly non-local) should be safe enough. If asked, give a valid address which is not yours. They'll prob only use it for marketing anyway.

Traceable by whom?

[Sparta Prada]

I have the Asda SIM card. No problems with using it this past year, generally I top up using either the £5 or £7 bundle depending on how busy I think my punting phone will be used. A couple of things to be aware about:

1) with the £5 bundle you only get 200mb of data for a month, pretty sure it used to be 500mb when I first signed up. I found out that 200mb doesn't last particularly long, and you are not allowed to top it up. You have to cancel the unused data/call minutes/texts if you want to top-up.

2) one day I decided to lift the bar on viewing adult sites. I did this by calling their call centre, the guy seemed quite helpful. The only way to do this was by quoting a credit card in your name to prove you are 18+. I asked if I could use my debit card but they said CC only, but there's no cost to the service. I quoted my credit card and it all went through. However it showed up on my credit card bill (as a debit and refund), so if you only have a joint credit card with your partner and this is your secret punting sim see if you can get the bar lifted another way to avoid potential embarrassment!

[snaitram99]

Traceable by whom?

Well the monthly payment will link the phone to your bank account, credit card or whatever, so it's not anonymous, whatever false name you may have registered the phone under.

[Avg_Joe]

Good info sparta, thanks.... my punting phone might do interent stuff, but it isn't going to be capable of much lol.

that might be one some of the other payg ones are popular, like the 1p thing, as they have different adult related stuff ?

I'll worry about data if/when i opt for a punting phone that is not from the ark

[Sparta Prada]

i grabbed a couple of the asda 50p ones in the end.

If you request the SIM card via Asda Mobile's website there's no charge for the card or postage. You don't have to get it sent to your home address, I get them sent to my work.

The topping up is very easy once you know how to do it, just fire a text and it's done. Usually I just re-send a previous text which saves typing the code.

[CoolTiger]

i grabbed a couple of the asda 50p ones in the end.

had to ask in my local asda, as they had them out of the way on the customer service counter, so not the first place you'd look, or most intuitive.
beware of one thing, these have an expiry date for activation, after which time you have to call to activate, if it's even possible, so if you want one for later, be sure to check available expiry dates.


SIM activation was triggered the minute you try to text something or do something, supposedly each sim comes with 10 mins and 10 texts for free, although i forgot to test this before topping up with the voucher, i will on the next one

top up voucher was nice and easy, £5 top ups available, voucher is valid for 1 year from time of purchase, no need to faff around with the advertised top up card and linking it to your phone, because wherever does the card top ups, can also do the vouchers.


simply text Voucher#the voucher code to 2732.... job done, no need to register crap with them


tariff details External Link/Members Only

When buying more than a few PAYG SIMS at one time, go through the expiry date on each of the SIM cards carefully. If they have been in the shop for far too long, then if they are not activated in time, you would have wasted your money in buying them. Most PAYG SIMS that I have bought I could have left them on the side for at least one year and still been able to use them.

[CoolTiger]

If you are paying on  a monthly contract then won't the payment be traceable?

Buy cheap used in somewhere like Cash Generator (outside your local area) and top up only with cash vouchers from newsagents (similarly non-local) should be safe enough. If asked, give a valid address which is not yours. They'll prob only use it for marketing anyway.

Traceable by whom?

By using PAYG throw-away SIMS, you are only preventing pimps/prossies from finding your real identity. If the "authorities" really wanted to trace your SIM/Punting phone, they will easily find you, but they would only do this if you were involved in serious criminal activity.

[CoolTiger]

I have the Asda SIM card. No problems with using it this past year, generally I top up using either the £5 or £7 bundle depending on how busy I think my punting phone will be used. A couple of things to be aware about:

1) with the £5 bundle you only get 200mb of data for a month, pretty sure it used to be 500mb when I first signed up. I found out that 200mb doesn't last particularly long, and you are not allowed to top it up. You have to cancel the unused data/call minutes/texts if you want to top-up.

2) one day I decided to lift the bar on viewing adult sites. I did this by calling their call centre, the guy seemed quite helpful. The only way to do this was by quoting a credit card in your name to prove you are 18+. I asked if I could use my debit card but they said CC only, but there's no cost to the service. I quoted my credit card and it all went through. However it showed up on my credit card bill (as a debit and refund), so if you only have a joint credit card with your partner and this is your secret punting sim see if you can get the bar lifted another way to avoid potential embarrassment!

Something to be aware of. However, when calling them up to lift ther bar, mention that you wish to access betting or gambling sites, NOT adult sites.

In the event that a debit and then a credit entry appears on your statement, use the same explanation, i.e. you were trying to access a "football betting site", but they wanted proof that you were over 18.

[CoolTiger]

Well the monthly payment will link the phone to your bank account, credit card or whatever, so it's not anonymous, whatever false name you may have registered the phone under.

Agreed, but it will prevent you receiving junk emails or marketing literature.

[Anadin]

By using PAYG throw-away SIMS, you are only preventing pimps/prossies from finding your real identity. If the "authorities" really wanted to trace your SIM/Punting phone, they will easily find you, but they would only do this if you were involved in serious criminal activity.

Exactly, people going to all this effort sounds like they're specifically trying to avoid being traced by the Authorities and I'm not sure why I should care about the Police finding me. If anything I want them to find me easily and not potentially launch a national campaign with my face plastered all of the press.

Something to be aware of. However, when calling them up to lift ther bar, mention that you wish to access betting or gambling sites, NOT adult sites.

Why? I just told them to take the age restriction bar off the phone, they don't ask what for. Anyway I'm not sure Asda ban gambling sites but either way I don't care if someone down the phone knows I want to see adult material. We're at a point in history where denying you've view it is treated with suspicion. 

[AnthG]

If you are paying on  a monthly contract then won't the payment be traceable?

I never do pay monthly. I use Threes 200mb per month free data sim. And then I just add some funds onto it when I need them.

Most of the time I use my phone its for data - either whatsapp or internet browsing. Telephone calls is not that much so I can have £10 last me a very *long* time.

[dynatron]

i just use a old basic nokia 1112 which has a bullet proof tank like build,keep it in my car-tell the other half its there in case of a breakdown on the road-pin protected of course and just use tesco payg top up-it has no features not even a camera but is very reliable,has a fantastic battery life unlike the modern phones and does its job when needed and should i lose it £10 or under i can replace with another one from ebay-all good

[Newtothisstuff]

Just another point of interest. If you're using smartphone as a punting phone for secrecy and security, it'd be worth installing a VPN app. If you have more than one AW account, it logs the IP address of your computer. If it sees the same address pop up on different accounts, it links them together even if you used different email addresses and punting SIM numbers. The VPN apps link you to other servers and hide your IP address by giving you a new one while the app is active.
The SIM may be untraceable to pimps etc but the moment you use your Internet access at home or work, AW reads your IP address and identifies you.

[Newtothisstuff]

Your IP address can change. If you turn your router off, when you turn it back on your service provider may have issued you with a different IP address. Not guaranteed, but most commonly that's what they do. Trouble is, most of us forget to do that or don't want to because we have other things linked to that router. So the app randomly links you to different IP addresses located all over the place. I also hides your location.