Please be advised that 3 have since changed their PAYG tariff, so the benefits quoted above are not available to new customers after the 1st of June 2009 (they kept the changeover very quiet - I didn't discover it until the end of June). Existing customers can still stay on Flat 12 (providing 3 don't change your tariff for you then claim that you must have pressed the wrong button when you were topping up!).

The new tariff is called 3Pay. It's okay if you text a lot, but otherwise it's pretty rubbish, like most tariffs, which are there just to benefit the phone company, not the customer. Since I don't text a lot, I won't ever be moving over to the new tariff.

Stamford.

If the contracts are under your name, you can regain control over them.

O2, Orange and Vodafone will all do whats called a "Sim Swap" Basically transfer the number and the service to another sim card, making the original one that your ex has inactive. Vodafone and O2 will do it in the shop, Orange over the phone. You just need to provide ID to prove youre the contract holder. Tell them your phone has been stolen (which it has been in effect) They will provide you with a new SIM, and barr the handsets your ex has so he will not be able to use them on any network.

You can then transfer your current PAYG number over to the contract (O2 and Orange only), or change the number by telling the network you are recieving abusive phone calls (they will only do this once).

The thing to remember is that the contracts are in YOUR name, so YOU have control over them.

Been offered a contract with upassmobiles.. Dont know anything about these sort of companies anyone got some advice?

Why do you need a contract phone?

If it's not that important, then consider 3 with skypephone or skypephone2 using stretch minutes on pay as you go. Top up and buy stretch minutes once every 30 days and get allocated minutes - 100, 300. 500, 700 for £10, 15, 20, 25. Minutes last 30 days. If you use up allocated minutes before the 30 days are up then just top up and buy stretch and 30 days starts again from then. You can even top up and buy stretch before you've used up the previous 30 days' minutes and it adds the new ones on, but the 30 days only starts when you start using the minutes - that way you never run out of minutes. The minutes are text and minutes, so 1 minute = 1 text. You can use the allocation in any variation you require.

I find this is the most flexible plan for me as I can never be sure how much I am going to use in any one month. It's payg so I don't have to bother with all that contract rubbish. I keep my calling credit outside the prepaid minutes low, so I don't get a nasty surprise if I accidentally use up my minutes on a long call - the call ends and I don't lose much money. With a contract phone you can end up with huge amounts of money being taken out of your bank account if you run out of allocated minutes.

I currently buy 300 minutes for £15. Most months I add minutes just before the end of the 30 days, but occasionally in a busy month I have added minutes halfway through.

I'm not a high volume user (most months) and the flexibility suits me fine. Obviously it would depend on your usage if this would be the best plan for you.

If you want a contract option then there's the O2 pay monthly plan. It's a rolling monthly contract - you can cancel giving 30 days notice. It's a sim pack (or you can even keep your old number) with 600 minutes and 1200 texts for just under £20 per month. It's on-line billing, but beware of the high costs if you go over allocated minutes (a relative has this package and often goes over because he doesn't check his remaining allocation!). Bolt-ons are available to add extra texts and minutes for a reasonable cost.

I believe T-mobile and Vodaphone either have similar monthly plans or they're about to introduce them. I don't know what the criteria are for acceptance, but based on a young relative's case, he just gave them his name, an e-mail address, a relative's address and a bank account to take the money from. He's not on the electoral role, but they sent him a sim card pack anyway. And his on-line account is in his name - I know because he asked me to analyse his usage recently (it made for terrifying reading!). As long as the money keeps coming out of his bank account, I suppose O2 is happy. The only way to find out for certain is to apply for it. It's an on-line application and I understand that acceptance is quite quick.

There are lots of other options in the newspapers and on-line, but going through them all gives me a major headache. I check periodically to see if I can get anything cheaper, but the cheaper ones are contract. As I said, I'm not a high volume user, so that colours my perspective and I'm not a fan of contracts because I try to keep my outgoings under control (I live in Yorkshire and I'm tight!)

The other advantage that I haven't mentioned yet is that the skypephone2 is also a modem. For £5 a month I get internet access (1GB fair usage policy) which is great for me. I hook up my laptop and I can access the internet almost anywhere in the UK. And the connection is broadband speeds in most places (I can run Google Earth and BBC i-player by way of example).

Feel free to ignore all the above if you find a better payg product or a contract phone that suits your situation. I know from trawling the internet that it's often difficult to find the ideal product. You usually have to accept a compromise somewhere along the line, but doing the research is the best way to proceed. Don't jump into a contract until you're absolutely certain it's the right deal for you. Consider the penalties and terms for termination if you find something nasty in the small print later on. Payg has a lot of advantages over contract in this realm - you can just stop paying if you don't like it. I have met many people who have complained about the cost of contract phones - the hidden costs, such as using the internet without an add-on, going over texts and call allocations, making calls overseas, etc. I really don't like contract phones!

If you do find a better payg deal, then let me know via this forum. I'd be interested to hear!

Sorry to go on a bit. I hope you get something you can live with.

Stamford.

First thing, why are your parents refussing to put you on the elec roll? If you have bad debts with the major networks doubt you will get one, try 3 but if they decline which is a high chance no one.

I have had some problems in past, my ex partner ran up contract bills in orange, 02 and vodafone under my name and then left me. I am going to start paying them off now, however Im on pay as you go and its really expensive. Anyway I can get a contract phone or sim card deal. I had to move back with my parents after CCJ's and they refuse to put me electrol list. I am in a stable job which pays over £1000 a month so I can pay for it. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks