dirt dibbler wrote:
> Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
> Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
> further use?
>
> DD
Not really on a normal contract. Apparently many people were told this
was possible, only for the network to later significantly increase the
limit without notifying the owner. This was on Watchdog a year or so
ago. In this the networks categorically stated that they do not support
this and contracts/credit limits should not be used in that way. Credit
limits can be raised at any time it seems.
Take a look at T-Mobile U-fix plans as I think this does what you're
after. They're specifically aimed at having a fixed monthly maximum
spend I believe - but I've not personally looked carefully at them.
On 22 Mar, 16:30, David Hearn <d...@NOswampieSPAM.org.uk> wrote:
> dirt dibbler wrote:
> > Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
> > Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
> > further use?
>
> > DD
>
> Not really on a normal contract. Apparently many people were told this
> was possible, only for the network to later significantly increase the
> limit without notifying the owner. This was on Watchdog a year or so
> ago. In this the networks categorically stated that they do not support
> this and contracts/credit limits should not be used in that way. Credit
> limits can be raised at any time it seems.
>
> Take a look at T-Mobile U-fix plans as I think this does what you're
> after. They're specifically aimed at having a fixed monthly maximum
> spend I believe - but I've not personally looked carefully at them.
>
> D
I had a £30 per month contract on 12 months cashback with The Link on
T-Mobile
I rang to cancel it as the twelve months was up and was offered u-fix
for £5 instead of £15 ( I went for this as I may wish to add on one of
the Web'n'Walk plans later).
I have also heard that this £5 per month tariff is available on new
contracts as a sim-only option, but cannot confirm this 100%.
The way it was explained to me, once my minutes and texts are used up,
I would need to top up using PAYG.
On 22 Mar 2007 09:24:08 -0700, "dirt dibbler" <dirt.dibbler@gmail.com>
wrote:
>Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
>Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
>further use?
One of the problems with this is use abroad. Call charges can take
days (weeks?) to reach your provider and you can be well over the
limit quite easily.
Virgin will allow a monthly credit spend maximum, within the
constraints of all charges reaching them in time.
dirt dibbler wrote:
> Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
> Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
> further use?
>
> DD
>
Not really, companies got into a lot of trouble over this a
few years ago, because the way the system works it can take
up to 72 hours for calls to go onto an account, it can take
even longer for SMS to go onto an account due the sheer
volume of SMS that are sent nowadays.
How then, you might ask, do they manage to do it for pay as
you go? Very good question, basically when you make a call
on contract the call goes through the HLR and to the network,
thats about it. With pay as you go, it has to go through a
PAM (prepay account manager) PAM has to check the prepay
account has enough credit to make the call, but because of
the system, it limits the number of services available etc.
T-Mobile seem to be the only company out there that have
managed to bring out what seems to be like a contract with
real time account management.
On Mar 22, 8:19 pm, Charlie Mitchell <j...@charleem.co.uk> wrote:
> dirt dibbler wrote:
> > Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
> > Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
> > further use?
>
> > DD
>
> Not really, companies got into a lot of trouble over this a
> few years ago, because the way the system works it can take
> up to 72 hours for calls to go onto an account, it can take
> even longer for SMS to go onto an account due the sheer
> volume of SMS that are sent nowadays.
>
> How then, you might ask, do they manage to do it for pay as
> you go? Very good question, basically when you make a call
> on contract the call goes through the HLR and to the network,
> thats about it. With pay as you go, it has to go through a
> PAM (prepay account manager) PAM has to check the prepay
> account has enough credit to make the call, but because of
> the system, it limits the number of services available etc.
>
> T-Mobile seem to be the only company out there that have
> managed to bring out what seems to be like a contract with
> real time account management.
On Mar 22, 8:19 pm, Charlie Mitchell <j...@charleem.co.uk> wrote:
> dirt dibbler wrote:
> > Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
> > Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
> > further use?
>
> > DD
>
> Not really, companies got into a lot of trouble over this a
> few years ago, because the way the system works it can take
> up to 72 hours for calls to go onto an account, it can take
> even longer for SMS to go onto an account due the sheer
> volume of SMS that are sent nowadays.
>
> How then, you might ask, do they manage to do it for pay as
> you go? Very good question, basically when you make a call
> on contract the call goes through the HLR and to the network,
> thats about it. With pay as you go, it has to go through a
> PAM (prepay account manager) PAM has to check the prepay
> account has enough credit to make the call, but because of
> the system, it limits the number of services available etc.
>
> T-Mobile seem to be the only company out there that have
> managed to bring out what seems to be like a contract with
> real time account management.
On Thu, 22 Mar 2007 20:19:19 +0000, Charlie Mitchell wrote:
> T-Mobile seem to be the only company out there that have
> managed to bring out what seems to be like a contract with
> real time account management.
Didn't that have the problem of it only affecting calls and not things
like texts?
On 22 Mar 2007 09:24:08 -0700, "dirt dibbler" <dirt.dibbler@gmail.com>
wrote:
>Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
>Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
>further use?
/IF/ the phone is not for your use, could you not set it up with a
PAYG account and top-it up without the user's knowledge for a fixed
amount per month? Depends how gullible they are I guess.
On Mar 22, 10:33 pm, Stuart Millington <n...@dsv1.co.uk> wrote:
> On 22 Mar 2007 09:24:08 -0700, "dirt dibbler" <dirt.dibb...@gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> >Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
> >Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
> >further use?
>
> /IF/ the phone is not for your use, could you not set it up with a
> PAYG account and top-it up without the user's knowledge for a fixed
> amount per month? Depends how gullible they are I guess.
it's for myself, it's just in the event of theft, the call costs are
as good as unlimited.
I'm not a big fan of the insurance deals,
dirt dibbler wrote:
> On Mar 22, 10:33 pm, Stuart Millington <n...@dsv1.co.uk> wrote:
>> On 22 Mar 2007 09:24:08 -0700, "dirt dibbler" <dirt.dibb...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
>>> Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
>>> further use?
>> /IF/ the phone is not for your use, could you not set it up with a
>> PAYG account and top-it up without the user's knowledge for a fixed
>> amount per month? Depends how gullible they are I guess.
>
> it's for myself, it's just in the event of theft, the call costs are
> as good as unlimited.
> I'm not a big fan of the insurance deals,
>
> DD
Then just put a SIM lock on the phone. Every time the phone is powered
up you need to enter a 4 digit PIN. Unless the person stealing your
phone has the right charger (which may or may not be easy) then they're
limited by the amount of battery charge. If they ever turned the phone
off (possibly if they don't want it traced) or try to take the SIM out,
they'll need to put in the PIN.
That's most protection than you have with a normal contract. Better
than nothing.
On Mar 23, 6:54 am, "dirt dibbler" <dirt.dibb...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Mar 22, 10:33 pm, Stuart Millington <n...@dsv1.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > On 22 Mar 2007 09:24:08 -0700, "dirt dibbler" <dirt.dibb...@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
>
> > >Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
> > >Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
> > >further use?
>
> > /IF/ the phone is not for your use, could you not set it up with a
> > PAYG account and top-it up without the user's knowledge for a fixed
> > amount per month? Depends how gullible they are I guess.
>
> it's for myself, it's just in the event of theft, the call costs are
> as good as unlimited.
> I'm not a big fan of the insurance deals,
>
> DD
Thanks, useful tip.
Is the SIM lock activated via the mobile settings or with the network
operator?
Also if I turn my phone on abroad, would there be any issues with the
SIM lock functioning?
Does the phone have to verify with the UK network operator, or just
some sort of encryption on the SIM?
dirt dibbler wrote:
> On Mar 23, 6:54 am, "dirt dibbler" <dirt.dibb...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> On Mar 22, 10:33 pm, Stuart Millington <n...@dsv1.co.uk> wrote:
>>
>>> On 22 Mar 2007 09:24:08 -0700, "dirt dibbler" <dirt.dibb...@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>> Is it possible to have a cap put on a contract phone usage?
>>>> Whereby if a certain value of calls is exceeded it will prohibit
>>>> further use?
>>> /IF/ the phone is not for your use, could you not set it up with a
>>> PAYG account and top-it up without the user's knowledge for a fixed
>>> amount per month? Depends how gullible they are I guess.
>> it's for myself, it's just in the event of theft, the call costs are
>> as good as unlimited.
>> I'm not a big fan of the insurance deals,
>>
>> DD
>
> Thanks, useful tip.
>
> Is the SIM lock activated via the mobile settings or with the network
> operator?
>
> Also if I turn my phone on abroad, would there be any issues with the
> SIM lock functioning?
> Does the phone have to verify with the UK network operator, or just
> some sort of encryption on the SIM?
>
> DD
It's literally a SIM thing. The SIM will not give access unless you
provide the PIN. This therefore is just a handset to SIM communication,
nothing to do with the network.
If you block the PIN (3 tries) then you need a PIN Unlock Code (PUK)
which your network operator can provide - usually after some security
checks, although some will do it Online with just a phone number.
Getting the phone number out of a PIN locked phone isn't possible -
they'd need to have figured out the number before it got locked.
Therefore it's not foolproof, but always recommended over no protection
at all.
"David Hearn" <dave@NOswampieSPAM.org.uk> wrote in message
news:56hjgaF288ik8U1@mid.individual.net...
> Then just put a SIM lock on the phone. Every time the phone is powered
> up you need to enter a 4 digit PIN. Unless the person stealing your
> phone has the right charger (which may or may not be easy) then they're
> limited by the amount of battery charge. If they ever turned the phone
> off (possibly if they don't want it traced) or try to take the SIM out,
> they'll need to put in the PIN.
>
> That's most protection than you have with a normal contract. Better
> than nothing.
Most phones also have a keypad lock (or screensaver) that can be set manually or
timed to auto set after a few minutes of non-use, which can be code protected. Then
you have to enter a phone code (not necessarily the same as the SIM PIN) to unlock.
bill max. limit 
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