topic Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up? in Broadband

What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

Justanotheruser — Tue, 27 May 2025 20:36:42 GMT

I have a 24gb 24m data only sim that i have had about 2 months and i have nearly used all the data and now looking at the next option (doesn't expire till March 27)

When i click on the buy add on one of my options is :

3v PAYG MBB 120GB 12M and a one time £60

My question is what exactly is this as it has no description ? Is it?

120GB over 12M eg 10GB per month or something else

and would this work in my phone where the sim currently is being used as a personal hotspot/data sim

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

ChrisAO — Fri, 30 May 2025 01:00:08 GMT

It should work in your phone as the SIM currently works, BUT OTHERWISE

I have exactly the same question, and why isn't there info when you select "more info"

I'd guess there was no specific limit per month, use what you want over 12m until all data used. If that's before the end of the 12 month and you want more data you have to use an (expensive) Add-on, as with all Data Packs.

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

Justanotheruser — Fri, 30 May 2025 12:30:20 GMT

Thanks, i am hoping its 120GB over 12 months it is a bit frustrating that "More Info " doesn't actually mean it, I may try and find my local 3 store and ask them my options.

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

ChrisAO — Fri, 30 May 2025 14:59:43 GMT

I'm fairly sure it will be 120GB over 12 months, they have other data packs for 3 months and another for 12 months but miniscule data. I doubt there's any monthly limit, but can't be certain on that point.

What disappoints me is that considering you posted 3 days ago, there's been no reply from anyone on Community Support !

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

Justanotheruser — Fri, 30 May 2025 19:44:06 GMT

Hi yes my assumption is it's 120GB over 12m but I am aware of some Sims where if you go over the monthly allowance you have to wait till it resets it's that's clarity I was also after.

Hopefully either I will get an answer on here from community support or I will find out when visiting a store over the weekend.

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

PeteG — Sat, 31 May 2025 10:06:58 GMT

Hey there.

Choosing to buy one of the longer term addons means that your allowance will last up to 12 months, or until you've used the full 120GB, whichever comes first. The 120GB is not divided into the 12 months, so you could use the full 120GB in a single month if you wanted to.

Yes, MBB SIMs will work in phones, but they have no calling or texting allowances built in, so you'd need to pay to make calls and texts. If there's no credit on the account, calls and texts will fail.

Pete.

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

Justanotheruser — Sat, 31 May 2025 10:18:54 GMT

Thanks for the confirmation so £60 for 120Gb over 12 months.

The local store has just told me completely different they say it's 120GB per month for 12 months so 1.2TB which I doubt is the case.

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

ChrisAO — Sat, 31 May 2025 13:26:39 GMT

The question that has not been answered is what are these "3V" Data Packs?

How are they different from the "normal" ones and why are these so much better value than the old "normal" ones which were abysmal even compared to what is available for a standard PAYG SIM?

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

PeteG — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 11:57:11 GMT

The value packs are longer term, and usually save some money over the monthly version. Unlimited Data each month is £35, but the value pack for 3 months is £90, saving £15 over the 3 months.

Pete.

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

ChrisAO — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 13:27:02 GMT

You have quoted prices etc for Data Packs for Standard PAYG Phone NOT those for PAYG MBB!

So that doesn't answer the question about the 3V Data Packs on PAYG MBB

eg 3V PAYG MBB 15GB 3M £20.00 one time, hardly the best value in comparison to Standard PAYG Phone! So what are they and what's the difference?

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

PeteG — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:47:42 GMT

Right you are, Chris.

I can't actually see that specific plan you've mentioned. I've spoken to a colleague about that and they have let me know that the plan you are seeing isn't supposed to be there. It looks like we had a small error and the 3V Data Packs were the result.

I've been informed that they do work if you do want to buy one, but you might be right in that they don't compete as well as some of the other packs. It might be worth holding off if you don't need one right away. The issue should be corrected at some point tomorrow, and hopefully the value in the data packs will be clearer then.

Sorry for the confusion.

Pete.

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

ChrisAO — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:36:33 GMT

Did you manage to get one of those 3V packs before they "disappeared", as they certainly aren't showing on my App today 😧😠

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

ChrisAO — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:41:11 GMT

QUOTES:

the plan you are seeing isn't supposed to be there. It looks like we had a small error and the 3V Data Packs were the result.

The issue should be corrected at some point tomorrow, and hopefully the value in the data packs will be clearer then.

So what was the error? They'd certainly disappeared from my App on Tuesday. What is or why isn't something replacing them?

What value in the existing data packs? !!!!

For MBB SIMs The ONLY Packs that have been there since removal of the Data Reward plan are -
12GB Data Starter Pack £40.00 one time (lasts for 12 months)
1GB Data Starter Pack 10.00 one time (lasts for 1 month)
24GB Data Starter Pack £60.00 one time (lasts for 24 months)
3GB Data Starter Pack £16.00 one time (lasts for 3 months)

Compare the above to this on Standard PAYG SIMS -

40GB Data-Pack £10.00 One time

100GB Data-Pack £15.00 One time

200GB Data-Pack £20.00 One time

Unlimited Data Pack £35.00 One time

Those last one calendar month.
There's also -

Unlimited Data Pack 3M £90.00 One time

60GB Auto Renew £10.00 a month

120GB Auto Renew £13.50 a month

240GB Auto Renew £18.00 a month

Unlimited Data Pack Auto Renew £31.50 a month

WHERE is the value in the MBB SIM Data Packs? There is none compared to a Standard PAYG SIM, why? !!!

And WHY when you log into the App on the MBB and scroll down on the Home page to where to get Data Packs that Ad/Link shows inclusive Minutes and Texts which some of us will know at NOT include?

Why is there such an abominable difference in value. There's no value and the MBB is so bad a deal I've been thinking of porting, there are far better deals else where, so Three need to wake up and provide some decent Data Packs on MBB SIMs, I though the 3V ones were a step in that direction but clearly they have no vision!

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

ChrisAO — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 15:20:39 GMT

@PeteG Oh what a shame to have no response here. As an observation it's something I've noticed across this forum, that when a post has questions that are "too difficult" or have a hint of a complaint, there's no response from the reps here, or even if there is, the questions often go unanswered.

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

Justanotheruser — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 20:20:47 GMT

Hi Sorry not been online.

No I didn't but have just checked now and it's offering me 120GB over 12M for £40 not sure if when I need it will still be there as maybe a month or so and guess can only buy when used the remainder of this original sim.

Would be good to get clarity on that without having to do online char

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

ChrisAO — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:33:38 GMT

Well that's an improvement on the 3V version that was removed!

The following have now been added -

PAYG MBB 10GB 1M £10.00 one time - same as 3V was.
PAYG MBB 120GB 12M £40.00 one time - the 3V version was £60
PAYG MBB 15GB 3M £20.00 one time - same as 3V was.
PAYG MBB 50GB 12M £60.00 one time - the 3V version was £65.

A definite improvement but still not as competitive as the Dara Packs on Standard PAYG, nor do they include any Minutes or Texts despite the misleading link on the MBB Home page when you log into the App saying they do! AND none of the reps have managed to come back and apart from the price and amount of data, say what the difference is between Data on a Standard PAYG SIM and a MBB SIM!

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

Justanotheruser — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 20:06:38 GMT

So further to this I am now close to using all my 24gb data that was included in the sim.

So looked at adding the 120GB £40 12M option and it says.unable to add another data pack to my account as only allowed one data pack.

So my question is does that mean till the full 24GB has been used or until that data plan expires in 2027?

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

ChrisAO — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 23:53:46 GMT

Ah, oh dear I missed the fact that this was a 24month data pack, so I'm afraid it looks like you are up a gum tree and on the current SIM could only use Data Add-ons which are even poorer value.

Add-ons (whilst you've got a Data Pack but used all data)
1 Day Unlimited Data Add-on £5.00 one time
1GB Data SIM Add-on £10.00 one time
3GB Data SIM Add-on £15.00 one time
7GB Data SIM Add-on £25.00 one time

If the phone number on the SIM is important to you, you may have to Port to another provider for a few days/weeks and then Port back to Three if you want to use Three BUT on a NEW SIM, what I don't know is if you have to start with one of those Data Starter packs before you can buy one of the others. The 1GB for £10 is the shortest for 1 month.

AND a further BUT, ask yourself this, do you need a MBB SIM or will a Standard PAYG SIM do?
I wish @PeteG would come back and confirm what the difference was between Data on a MBB SIM and Data on a Standard PAYG SIM, I know what one source told me but I want to see if that can be confirmed "independently".

If you don't need the phone number and just want loads of data more or less all the time, I was pointed in the direction of scancom, two users have said they've had no problems with them. The best deal atm seems to be on the Sale page - Three 80GB preloaded pm expiry May2026 for a one-off £19.98, don't know if code 20%OFF3 would still work to get it for less.

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

Justanotheruser — Sat, 21 Jun 2025 21:34:19 GMT

Thanks for coming back to me.

The number isn't that important to me to be honest I use it as a way of a cheap coffee on the way to work one morning a week.

If I have to wait till 2027 to be able to do anything I may as well stop using it for a bit as not sure if I use all the data and dont buy the expensive add ons if the number will stop allowing me to use the Three+ coffee options.

I keep looking at those SCANCOM SIM deals but not being a business/sole trader puts me off getting them incase of any repercussions.

Unfortunately I am not sure I trust the live chat or my local store to give me the correct information as my local store didn't even know they did this type of prepaid data SIM and think they would just try to sell me a mobile broadband contract instead.

The whole idea of this SIM was to use as a SIM to use out and about and to pay upfront for it and not interfere with my main phone contract with another provider.

I only use this as the data speeds.at home are a lot faster than my home WiFi for one reason or another and allows the kids to stream on there gadgets when I work from home.

I guess could always try SMARTY but again not a prepaid SIM a monthly outgoing.

Re: What are my options after 24gb Prepay data sim used up?

ChrisAO — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 22:34:36 GMT

Try that scancom deal for Three 80MB p.m expiry May2026 after all it's only £20. Two users told me they've had no issues. Don't know if you get the £1 coffee on business deals though!

I did try looking at whether you could effectively make Smarty a simple PAYG after the first month, but not sure if it can be done. Would need to look at it all again sometime in more detail.