Smartstep - the smartest new tarrif on Vodafone (Vodafone Tariffs)

Member Name: alanramsay

Product:	Vodafone Tariffs
Date:	11/11/00 (341 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap and easy to run

Disadvantages: None really

Smartstep is a new Pay As you Go tarrif from Vodafone, which is based on a similar principal to Virgin Mobile.

With Smartstep, you pay 25p per minute for the first 3 minutes, then 5p per minute thereafter each day - this is for call to normal telephone number (eg. 01xx and 02xx), and also to other Vodafone numbers.

Whilst being slightly more expensive that Vigrin than Virgin (VM is 15p for the first 5 minutes then 5p per minute), it is worth it for the better customer service alone (I have been a Virgin Mobile customer (and written a review at dooyoo about it) and there is no comparison between the two).

In addition, I have found that Vodafone's PAYT vouchers are available at far more retailers than Virgins, which make it very handy, and also now they are doing a swipe card that you just need to hand over along with your money.

If you already have a phone which has been on contract to Cellnet or Vodafone, the chances are that it is unlocked. This means that if you are happy with the phone, you can just purchase the "Smartstep" sim card to go in the phone. This can be done on the internet (the dealer that I have used for this is Phontec (www.phonetec.co.uk)) - I have found them to be reliable and fast (no connection except being a satisfied customer twice). They charge £20 for the sim card, which comes with £2.50 of calls, however after registering your phone with Vodafone, this increases to £10 (however you do need to purchase atleast a £5 voucher to activate the card).

Also unlike some other Vodafone PAYT tarrifs, there are no expiry dates on the voucher, and there is no service charge (that was the thing that always put me of Vodafone PAYT in the past), so if you buy a £5 voucher, you get £5 of calls.

Vodafone Smartstep - definately the smarter way to go

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