What if you run out of allocated airtime? You will pay double price for calls (if you recharge). Forget switching off data when finishing data bundle and your R200 will disappear in the matter of minutes...
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Question of the Day: How do you normally pay for purchases in stores?
Prepaid or Contract, which is better
- Thread starter dbz0e
- Start date
Chevron
Serial breaker of phones
Luckily we're responsible adults and not children.
Responsible adults have work, spouse, children's and many things to do to support family, they have no time for keeping constantly their eyes on the account. But if you sign contract for fun and you are not under pressure, that's fine...
So you would suggest he stay on prepaid and pay R149 just for the 1gb data on prepaid excluding any airtime for calls yet? You still have to load extra airtime for calls?
Yeah the vodacom sim only deal is a contract but its the best deal out there no doubt.
Progenix Oj101
Dealer
Contract for me, I don't have the patience to top up airtime 
It also works out cheaper for me.
800 minutes @ R0.66 pm = R528
1GB data @ R149 = R149
800 SMSs (although I only use around 100 SMSs per month) @ R0.50 each = R50 (for the SMSs I use)
That comes to R727 of the total R899, meaning the phone costs me R172x24 = R4128
It also works out cheaper for me.800 minutes @ R0.66 pm = R528
1GB data @ R149 = R149
800 SMSs (although I only use around 100 SMSs per month) @ R0.50 each = R50 (for the SMSs I use)
That comes to R727 of the total R899, meaning the phone costs me R172x24 = R4128
tbf i would say if you want a high end phone, get that on contract as they subsidise them.
say you want the s5. taking the cash cost to be R9,105
if you were to buy that on credit budget for 24 months at 17%, you are paying R450pm.
this vodacom offer is R489pm.
you are paying R39pm for the stuff that comes with the contract.
edit - a cell c straightup 30 contract is R439 for an s5. you bag this baby and get a prepaid number and you are sorted.
say you want the s5. taking the cash cost to be R9,105
if you were to buy that on credit budget for 24 months at 17%, you are paying R450pm.
this vodacom offer is R489pm.
you are paying R39pm for the stuff that comes with the contract.
edit - a cell c straightup 30 contract is R439 for an s5. you bag this baby and get a prepaid number and you are sorted.
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RichardG
Honorary Master
prepaid is the best way to go! No bill shocker or the OOB shark!
When I am looking at purchasing a new phone I always go to any Edgars/CNA Mobile counter and pay with my Edgars card on 6 months interest free, depending on what specials they currently running.
When taken up a contract call rates are always expensive compared to prepaid. Prepaid airtime is cheaper at PEP! Sometimes a saving of 5 % of the value depending on the dominations.
If you looking at a top of the range phone with a price tag of R9000, take it up on contract work out the cost Contract Price X 24 = if it works out cheaper then sign on the dotted line and throw away the contract sim card or alternatively make sure it is on a top up
When I am looking at purchasing a new phone I always go to any Edgars/CNA Mobile counter and pay with my Edgars card on 6 months interest free, depending on what specials they currently running.
When taken up a contract call rates are always expensive compared to prepaid. Prepaid airtime is cheaper at PEP! Sometimes a saving of 5 % of the value depending on the dominations.
If you looking at a top of the range phone with a price tag of R9000, take it up on contract work out the cost Contract Price X 24 = if it works out cheaper then sign on the dotted line and throw away the contract sim card or alternatively make sure it is on a top up
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Definitely pre paid unless you want to get a very expensive phone. It doesn't make sense, prepaid you can switch through networks as you wish so as to get the best deals and your not stuck with a network for a few years. Paying your cellphone bill can be very problematic and you cannot get tricked
by promotions, when virgin told me I could use my include airtime to buy data bundles I did so, I saw I had more and more remaining airtime so I bought more and more data bundles, then out of the blue I get an sms threatening to cut me off for non payment (note: I never get bills or invoices from virgin so id just pay R320 pm) I phoned the call centre and discover I ow R3000, apparently they deducted the data bundles off my credited airtime not my inclusive, so not only do I have a R3000 bill but I also lost about R900 of my inclusive airtime because it was unused (I thought it was used as my "available" airtime amount would decrease) and expired. If you want a contract stay far away from Virgin Mobile. With prepaid you don't have these risks, cons or hidden charges. I even tried to sort it out on hellopetter.com but all I got was a stupid discount of R150 without being refunded or discounted buy the R900 inclusive airtime I lost or the huge amount of inclusive airtime I had left as a result of this mess. And if I got my bill every month I would have noticed the R300 extra charge and saved myself R2700
Stay with prepaid as much as you can to avoid all possible problems and its cheaper. Only go with a contract if you NEED (not want) a very expensive phone which you cannot afford. I repeat, stay away from contracts as much as possible. They can be very unpredictable and very risky.
Unfortunately I was stupid enough to sign another 2 year contract, once my current contract is over I will NEVER, I quote "NEVER" touch a contract again!
by promotions, when virgin told me I could use my include airtime to buy data bundles I did so, I saw I had more and more remaining airtime so I bought more and more data bundles, then out of the blue I get an sms threatening to cut me off for non payment (note: I never get bills or invoices from virgin so id just pay R320 pm) I phoned the call centre and discover I ow R3000, apparently they deducted the data bundles off my credited airtime not my inclusive, so not only do I have a R3000 bill but I also lost about R900 of my inclusive airtime because it was unused (I thought it was used as my "available" airtime amount would decrease) and expired. If you want a contract stay far away from Virgin Mobile. With prepaid you don't have these risks, cons or hidden charges. I even tried to sort it out on hellopetter.com but all I got was a stupid discount of R150 without being refunded or discounted buy the R900 inclusive airtime I lost or the huge amount of inclusive airtime I had left as a result of this mess. And if I got my bill every month I would have noticed the R300 extra charge and saved myself R2700
Stay with prepaid as much as you can to avoid all possible problems and its cheaper. Only go with a contract if you NEED (not want) a very expensive phone which you cannot afford. I repeat, stay away from contracts as much as possible. They can be very unpredictable and very risky.
Unfortunately I was stupid enough to sign another 2 year contract, once my current contract is over I will NEVER, I quote "NEVER" touch a contract again!
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