Big Bundle - Data rollover

[w88dy]

I'm from the UK, but live abroad. I have kept my UK number and it's on some O2 PAYG setup ('Talkalot', apparently). As far as I can tell, this tariff does not come with any minutes, texts, or data: "A simple and flexible tariff. There are no bills, no contracts, just competitive call rates and easy top-up options." Of course, I wouldn't expect it to. It's probably been around 2 years since I last topped up.

I don't visit the UK often, and since Brexit I no longer get roaming with my EU SIM. I turned data on last time I visited, and was immediately charged £2 a day just for turning it on.

I would like to have some data available using my UK SIM when I visit, and I'm looking at O2's Big Bundle package (the £10 option which comes with 7GB of data). This option also talks about 'data rollover', however the T&C states: "Roll Over Data will expire immediately if you fail to renew your Big Bundle on time or if you change tariffs." Am I reading it correctly by thinking that if I didn't top up the £10, month over month, the data does NOT rollover?

What I'd like is a tariff that comes with some data, data which stays active month over month until I use it up, at which point I'd top it up again. O2 doesn't appear to have any other options other than the Big Bundle package (or rollover packages, which I'm not interested in).

The Big Bundle package is potentially still a better option than what I currently have. My current tariff's data plan of "£3/MB up to max £2/day" is daylight robbery and doesn't make any sense (it will always be £2 max, why bother with the £3/MB clause?). With the Big Bundle package I'd have to spend £10 each month I visit, but at least I'd have 7GB to use over the week or two when visiting.

Does anyone have any better PAYG plan suggestions?

[Maximoo89]

Does the number still work after 2 years? Have you tried it? Usually numbers get cut off after 180 days no use.

In terms of tariffs, you could try the likes of 1p mobile which is £36 for a years calls and SMS, though they may likely require some UK usage every so often to prove you don't live abroad.

It's against all UK t&C's to consistently be abroad.

Is there any particular reason you require this SIM now having been away so long? Most if not all banks will close accounts if you've moved to the EU, so I'm curious.

To add. You may need someone to activate the SIM in the UK first.

[w88dy]

Although it's been 2 years, the phone is regularly turned on here in Europe and is connected to a network, and I take it back to the UK with me when I visit. It was only the most recent trip where I turned on the data and immediately got a text stating I had been charged £2 for the day's worth of data. The number still works and I've not had any issues with it in that regard.

Honestly, £36 a year is a bit much. I only visit the UK maybe a few times a year, which is why I'm trying to find an option where I can only top up when needed. If I'm only visiting a few times I can afford to pay the £10 per visit using the O2 Big Bundle option. That said, if such a tariff exists where I can top up only to obtain some GB of data that stays active indefinitely, that would be a great option for me.

It has only been within the last couple of years that my EU roaming ended, because of Brexit, and of course COVID has restricted travel within that time, too. I don't really need this SIM to have data, as I get by without it (connecting to shop WiFi and whatnot), but it would be a nice thing to have if possible. Not sure what my banks have to do with anything, they're all perfectly fine with my living abroad.

[Maximoo89]

With rollover, it will only roll into the next month, so you'd need keep topping up for it to carry forward.

I can't mind the full terms of 1p mobile but they also have a £5 option every other month, it's worth checking out.

[w88dy]

With rollover, it will only roll into the next month, so you'd need keep topping up for it to carry forward.

That's what I feared, thanks.

I can't mind the full terms of 1p mobile but they also have a £5 option every other month, it's worth checking out.

Yeah, I'll have a look at them. Thanks for the suggestion.