Author Topic: Punting phone and tariffs  (Read 1049 times)

Offline def456

Most agree that a separate phone should be used exclusively for punting. This phone might be used occasionally and in small bursts and is ideally suited to a traditional pay-as-you-go tariff – top up £10, be charged per minute and per text, balance remains until you use it or top up, no monthly charge.

No network operator seems to offer such a tariff now. Even the 'no contract' sim only tariffs require a monthly fee, have little or no rollover of credit and are all based on data usage. SIMs you can buy at supermarket checkouts appear to be the same.

I do have a very old payg tariff with O2 but I don't know how long O2 will contine to make it available to me. It is not offered on O2's website.

It occurs to me that people who might need to keep a secret phone for emergency use (domestic abuse?) might not want a monthly charge to appear on any bank statement.

Thoughts, anyone?

Offline Discreet_welshman

The network I use used to be £10 every 3 months and it would keep that credit in the balance to use, now its reduced to every 2 months and if not used is then taken out of the credit so your balance goes down by however much of the £10 you havent used. £5 a month for me is hardly anything to worry about but for some may be an issue. I think its to cover increased network costs even if your not a heavy user.

Offline JohnsonSchlong

I used to have a 'punting phone' but I use an app that generates a second number now. There are loads to choose from and you can have all notifications switched off if you need to. I find it way easier than having a second phone.

Offline jamieevanscheater

whats the app called please and is it free?

Offline aazbo22

I used to have a 'punting phone' but I use an app that generates a second number now. There are loads to choose from and you can have all notifications switched off if you need to. I find it way easier than having a second phone.

I do the same now, I use an app called "text me"
you can get a free number that lasts for a couple of weeks if needed or pay £6-£10 a month

They have a funny thing where you get a text "credit" everytime someone texts you, which carries over to every number you use - so I just text myself in bulk and use the free version!

Also on Iphone (adroid use to do this, not sure anymore) you can hit the app too! Press and hold the icon, press require Face ID and then it will ask if you want to hide it too!
« Last Edit: October 20, 2025, 11:26:00 am by aazbo22 »

Offline jamieevanscheater

does the app go off tho if someone messages you or can it be silenced or deleted and then just swicth on when needed?