giffgaff - Owned by O2, Using O2's Network, but Far Cheaper!
giffgaff == O2
giffgaff are owned by Telefonica O2. The company is run independently, but is a virtual operator on the O2 network. This means the infrastructure is exactly the same as you get with O2. Fortunately, the prices on giffgaff are nothing like the prices of O2!
Prices
giffgaff don't have call centres, or TV adverts, or other expensive crap. They're lean, and they pass their savings on to their members. This shows in the giffgaff prices!
- Calls and texts between giffgaff members are always free, provided you have topped up within three months
- Calls to other mobiles and landlines are 8p per minute
- Text messages to other mobiles and landlines are 4p each
- 0800 numbers are free
- For more info, check out the prices page
If you compare these prices to your current tariff, I'm sure you'll be surprised. But I know what you're thinking - you get inclusive calls/texts, right? Well giffgaff can do that to!
Monthly Goodybags
giffgaff sell "goodybags" which last a month, but generally work out cheaper if you use your phone a lot. For £10, you get (lasting a month):
- 150 minutes
- Unlimited texts (no, really!)
- Unlimited internet (no, really!)
There are other options, and like this one, they're all cheaper than the competition!
Unlimited? My Arse!
Something that truly annoys me, is the use of the word "unlimited", when it doesn't mean unlimited. In giffgaff's case, it really is unlimited. This may change in the future, but for now, you're not going to get told off for surfing too much or sending too many texts!
Keep Your Number!
As with all mobile networks, you can bring your number over to giffgaff. You don't have to do this straight away - you could request a sim below, and test it out with the assigned number, and then if you decide to stick it out, get a PAC code from your current provider and port your number in!
Interested? Want a Free Sim with £5 Credit?
Because giffgaff is "people powered" and doesn't spend lots of money on marketing, it's up to their members to help them grow. As such, if a member refers a friend, they each get £5! You also earn money back for other things like helping out in the forums. See my giffgaff earnings page for more info on this.
If you're interested in trying out giffgaff and would like a sim card with £5 credit for free, then you need to be referred by an affiliate link (such as mine). You can also request sim cards direct from the giffgaff website, however unfortunately, you won't get £5 free credit.
Please note: You will need to purchase credit to activate the sim card and receive the £5 free credit. This does not need to be done now - only once you have received the sim card from giffgaff.
For more info, do check out the unofficialgiffgaff.com website. If you have questions, pop by the forums. The members are a friendly bunch, and happy to answer your questions!
I really think companies like giffgaff are the way forward. Today people are used to hunting around to save money and we're becoming less reliant on things like TV advertising to find things. Let's hope this is a sign of things to come - spend 10 minutes on Google, save a fortune :-)
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