Lebara v GiffGaff???

[BankFodder]

I'm thinking of moving away from  GiffGaff.

Lebara seems to be a pretty good alternative but has anybody any experience of this?

 

[BazzaS]

I haven't, (moved giffgaff to Lebara)  but can offer some points to consider (and that those who have moved can comment on .....)

 

Firstly, does O2 (Giffgaff) cover where you need your phone most? Does Vodafone (Lebara)?.

No network will cover everywhere you MIGHT need to use it, but you can check for where you know you'll use it most : No point in having a magnificent and cheaper inclusive package if it doesn't work where you need it most ......

 

Secondly,. how good is Lebara's customer service?. Much of giffgaff's CS is provided by giffgaff's users, but is does lead to a good knowledge base, and giffgaff has an excellent reputation for customer service (I know you already know to keep e-mail trails and recording of calls, but it is way better to not have to get into that level of discussion if they'll instead sort any issues ab initio).

 

Thirdly, are you looking for a 30-day rolling contract or a longer SIM-only deal? you'll likely get better value with a SIM-only, but are 'locked in' to a minimum term. (is where you'll need it most likely to change within the minimum term? if so, 30-day rolling may be a better option than a 12-month or longer SIM-only).

 

Are any network features a) essential? b) desirable. I'm thinking  of features such as call diversion, 3-way calling, and wi-fi calling...... (not that these may be available on either of giffgaff or lebara - I'd have to check)

For example .... Voxi doesn't do call diversion, and many of the features are available on the host network but not the MNVO's, but knowing what features are essential and if any are desirable might be the deciding factor all else being equal.

 

Then (and probably only then): what sort of package are you looking for? Calls? texts? data?? International calling? (to international? from abroad??). Video streaming? Music streaming??

Cost is a major factor, but a cheaper deal that doesn't meet your needs re: coverage, features and customer service can turn out to be false economy.

If you do masses of streaming, then Voxi (also on Voda's network) might be a good option over Lebara if it is Voda's network that is your prime motivation for moving.

Edited January 16, 2022 by BazzaS

[BankFodder]

I'm definitely looking for monthly only.

Giffgaff has been great, but recently a mast was broken in my area and they spent over two weeks telling me there was nothing wrong and eventually agreed that there was.

Although mast seems now to have been repaired, I wasn't happy about the way they dealt with it.

That doesn't mean that other companies aren't exactly the same but I checked and Lebara has got just as good coverage in my area also has 5G whereas the O2 5G coverage is very poor.

Also free international calls is pretty attractive but I have to say that I do feel a bit concerned about making the jump.

Also I've got about 13 quid locked up in credit which apparently they simply keep if you leave them and I can't see any way to transfer to some other account

[BazzaS]

Use the cerdit for a goodybag, put off moving for a month ... think of it as getting a month's worth out of giffgaff that you otherwise wouldn't have?

[snowdragon]

I am on o2 pay as you go and have been for years, never had a problem, I only have a basic phone with no camera or internet, costs me £5 a month lol, also get rewards every 3 months

[BazzaS]

Giffgaff works on O2's network.

 

If there was a mast down then O2 would have been down too (though O2's customer services may have handled things differently.....

 

In my experience though, giffgaff's C/S is way better than O2's ......... (Might the issue may have been O2 telling giffgaff the mast wasn't down, when it was?)

[dx100uk]

actually if the truth be know O2/GIFFGAFF is now vodafone too and uses their network as well where their coverage is poor.

this happened the back end of 2020

 

the west coast of scotland used to be useless , nothing better than barely 2G outside of towns.

but we went there in july and had 3G even 4G most of the tour.

 

O2, Three UK and Vodafone to Share 222 Rural 4G Mobile Masts

WWW.ISPREVIEW.CO.UK

---

The £1bn Shared Rural Network (SRN) industry project made progress today after mobile operators O2, Three UK and Vodafone reached a related...

 

 

[fkofilee]

Ones also to consider

 

Smarty - Three

Voxi - Voda

 

 

[cjcregg]

In my experience Smarty's customer service is lousy and although they're owned by Three and claim that they use their network, key features like texting on wifi calling aren't available as they are if you contract directly with Three.

 

 

 

[BankFodder]

Thanks for all this input from everyone – but it doesn't really tell me very much about Lebara.

 

12 hours ago, snowdragon said:

I am on o2 pay as you go and have been for years, never had a problem, I only have a basic phone with no camera or internet, costs me £5 a month lol, also get rewards every 3 months

 

In terms of your basic phone that only makes phone calls – in one sense I envy you – but on the other hand apart from anything else I've a fairly busy forum to run and a site team to be part of and if I didn't have a modern smartphone, I wouldn't be able to do any of it

[snowdragon]

I have a tablet that can do what I want and also a computer