Is it time for a contract?

|tera|

|tera|

Master of Messengers
Joined
Mar 31, 2006
Messages
25,903
Reaction score
2,952
Location
terra
I've recently thought about getting a contract phone.

I'm currently on a normal Prepaid account with Virgin Mobile. Instead of mentioning all the hassles and that I don't actually "save" any money, I'll stick to the basics.

I use about R150 to R200 if not more per month and I recharge when I'm about to see that I can't make a call or send an sms. I usually just recharge via Internet Banking.

I do have a job and earn a sallary required to open a new contract.

Thing is I'm a bit stumped as to where to go? I've seen Nashua advertise on the forum and kudo's to them for a greatly functional site. I've thought about Altech (just for the support factor, with them fighting court battles for the consumers out there), but Althech's site has too many issues to mention and I can't even get info on any contract/package.

I need something that's limited and won't run a bill into the thousands. Like the Vodacom TopUp contracts or MTN Anytime's, including a fairly decent phone, but I'm not prepared to pay more than R300 inclusive for everything per month.

Is it a far stretch, or are there options such as this for young adults out there?

Thanks,
tera ;)
 
What do you need?

Well, tell us a few things first:
1) When do you mainly use your phone? (Night and weekends, or during the day)
2) Do you need to do a lot of SMS?
3) What data needs do you have? Is 3G an important factor?
4) Do you have any free phone in particular that you have in mind to get?

Once we know that, we can help futher...
 
Let me save you two years of misery DO NOT get a contract with Virgin, Nashua, or Autopage their levels of 'service' are the worst I've experienced in my entire life and many would agree with me. Go directly with Cell C, MTN, or Vodacom. There are tonnes of top up options with all three and while none of them have good service they are at least decent. And getting a contract is a good idea if you want a new phone.
 
I'll echo oronte - go to the service provider directly. You don't need the added hassle of someone using the uxcuse that it's outside their control if you need a problem sorted out. with number portability, you can move around as you need.

R300 a month should get you a reasonable deal if you're getting by on R200 pre-paid.
 
Try not to go with autopage/nashua or the lesser known service providers. Their call centres are not as equipped or able to deal with half the issues you need to sort out.
 
Sign a contact with MTNSP. You won't be sorry. You'll get a good deal and a good phone too.

Get yourself a Nokia E71 for only R229 per month with R200 airtime that you can use for Data, SMS, Calls, MMS, etc....

Nokia N78 for R189 per month on the same package.
Nokia N95 8GB for R299 per month also on Anytime 200.
 
Piesang said:
Sign a contact with MTNSP. You won't be sorry. You'll get a good deal and a good phone too.

Get yourself a Nokia E71 for only R229 per month with R200 airtime that you can use for Data, SMS, Calls, MMS, etc....

Nokia N78 for R189 per month on the same package.
Nokia N95 8GB for R299 per month also on Anytime 200.
Click to expand...

Now i just wish i didn't have a contract...

Even though i don't like MTN much their contract options are decent!!
 
catweasel said:
Try not to go with autopage/nashua or the lesser known service providers. Their call centres are not as equipped or able to deal with half the issues you need to sort out.
Click to expand...

I've had MTN pre paid for around 10 years.
I've also been thinking of getting a contract, but....

Pre paid may cost a bit more (depending on usage), bit never had a problem with my bill and never needed o phone there help line.

Really not woth the hassles of getting a contract and wondering how if they're going to stuff your bill up etc.

Rather just pay extra for "no service". That way they don't stuff up.

Just sticking with MTN Zone for now...
 
ariopp said:
Well, tell us a few things first:
1) When do you mainly use your phone? (Night and weekends, or during the day)
2) Do you need to do a lot of SMS?
3) What data needs do you have? Is 3G an important factor?
4) Do you have any free phone in particular that you have in mind to get?

Once we know that, we can help futher...
Click to expand...
I will use it slightly during the day, but more in the afternoons once or twice, not as much at night and rarely on weekends.

I would prefer having "enough" sms's or the option to buy sms bundles if I prefer.

Data is not a big deal, but I would prefer using the phone as a modem when I'm not at home with ADSL etc., but it's not the deciding factor.

I wouldn't mind getting an N96 :p, but there's no way I'm paying that amount. Like I said, R300 max, not more. I would appreciate a few hints on which phones to get. I'd prefer a smart phone, I'm really into gadgets etc.
Piesang said:
Sign a contact with MTNSP. You won't be sorry. You'll get a good deal and a good phone too.

Get yourself a Nokia E71 for only R229 per month with R200 airtime that you can use for Data, SMS, Calls, MMS, etc....

Nokia N78 for R189 per month on the same package.
Nokia N95 8GB for R299 per month also on Anytime 200.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'd prefer keeping the budget down as far as possible. I do not want to pay a package deal of R300 and after my "airtime" is depleted the account runs and runs, I wouldn't be able to afford it. I want something which "cuts" off like te topup packages etc.

I'm not sure about MTN signal in the area I live either, I know Vodacom signal is poor, but at least usable.
 
teraside said:
I wouldn't mind getting an N96 :p, but there's no way I'm paying that amount. Like I said, R300 max, not more. I would appreciate a few hints on which phones to get. I'd prefer a smart phone, I'm really into gadgets etc.
Click to expand...

The N96 is only R359 on a Anytime200. You can activate a Bill Limit on your contract at no charge. MTN will send you sms's when you reach certain amounts and then as soon as it reaches your bill limit you wont be able to use your phone until the next billing month.
 
Piesang said:
The N96 is only R359 on a Anytime200. You can activate a Bill Limit on your contract at no charge. MTN will send you sms's when you reach certain amounts and then as soon as it reaches your bill limit you wont be able to use your phone until the next billing month.
Click to expand...

That sucks a bit. Will I be able to topup with airtime and use it? Otherwise it's pretty useless to me.
 
You use 300 a month , but what if you dont need it anymore.. ? personally i would steer clear of contracts entirely. they suck.
 
You get lower subscription deals on non-Topup type contracts. Just ask for a bill limit.

I'd also echo the guys about signing with any 3rd party service provider. Their service sucks, just look on hellopeter. If you have problems, you have to call them (and hold for eternity) on a non-toll-free number and they are quick to pass the buck back to the network.

I'd start with a cheapish contract and if you run out of airtime or bundled minutes too soon, then upgrade. There are no fees for upgrading but downgrading will incur penalties. And don't go for these contracts where you get a "free" hifi or whatnot. You pay for that, just over a 24 month period. When you run out of cash sometime, the continuous high monthly subscription hurts.
 
teraside said:
That sucks a bit. Will I be able to topup with airtime and use it? Otherwise it's pretty useless to me.
Click to expand...

You can get an Anytime Top up package which works like that but you won't get such good phones at the same price. If you go for the top up option then you'll have to shop around between MTN, Cell C, and Vodacom as they're pretty much equal on these packages and phones.
 
Steer clear of Nashua, believe me. I have been with them for ages, and in the last 2 to 3 years or so the service level has dropped off the face of the planet. The other big boys are not much beter, from what I have heard. I am seriously considering moving back to prepaid from contract, just to get rid of their "service".
 
Last edited:
teraside said:
I will use it slightly during the day, but more in the afternoons once or twice, not as much at night and rarely on weekends.

I would prefer having "enough" sms's or the option to buy sms bundles if I prefer.

Data is not a big deal, but I would prefer using the phone as a modem when I'm not at home with ADSL etc., but it's not the deciding factor.

I wouldn't mind getting an N96 :p, but there's no way I'm paying that amount. Like I said, R300 max, not more. I would appreciate a few hints on which phones to get. I'd prefer a smart phone, I'm really into gadgets etc.

Thanks for the tips everyone. I'd prefer keeping the budget down as far as possible. I do not want to pay a package deal of R300 and after my "airtime" is depleted the account runs and runs, I wouldn't be able to afford it. I want something which "cuts" off like te topup packages etc.

I'm not sure about MTN signal in the area I live either, I know Vodacom signal is poor, but at least usable.
Click to expand...

OK, if you use mostly peak calls, MTN Anytime is the way to go. They charge per second, and they have a really good rate to ANY network during peak hours. And they give you a whole bunch of free SMSs per month.
Also, the advantage of MTN over Vodacom is that Vodacom does NOT have any really good contract deals like MTN does. MTN is much more competitive and you WILL be able to get a nicer phone at the end of the day.

If you are tech savvy, you will not be sorry with the Nokia E71. It has RAVE reviews and has pretty much any function you would need in a cell phone. (Many even prefer it to the iphone)

If you are on a budget, look at the Nokia E51. It is almost as good as the E71, just without the long battery life and without a keyboard.

I do consent with everyone else on the forum - DO NOT go with a service provider. Go with MTN Service Provider or Vodacom Direct.

You also said that you need a contract that you can top up as you feel necessary. Then look into the MTN Anytime TOP UP contracts. They are around R20-R30 more per month than the regular MTN Anytime, but they will stop you when you reach your limit and allow you to recharge using a voucher if you need more time on your phone.

A nice contract I would recommend is the Nokia E51 on MTN Anytime 200 TOP UP for R180 per month. You get a free Nokia E51, R200 worth of credit, all calls are R2.30 anytime to any network, and you get 25 free SMSs. You can get this deal (and other similar to it) directly from MTN Service Provider.
 
Thanks for all the help ;)

I've decided to go a Service Provider directly after my sallary has been revised early next year.

I appreciate it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X