I reluctantly need a new mobile phone. It doesn't hold a charge for long, despite having a new battery; a full charge won't last a whole call, so it needs to be plugged into the charger when I use it! I don't want one with bells and whistles that makes the tea, just one that makes and receives texts and phonecalls. I also don't want a contract phone, just a pay and go - I spend about £20 a year on the mobile and don't want to change that! I also need to keep the number of the current one, and transfer the credit over to the new one.

Any suggestions as to what I should go for?

I have a fairly basic Nokia that does the job.However I had the same problem with the battery losing a charge recently.Bought a new battery from e-bay for a fiver and it has been fine since.Might be an option if you like your present phone?

Sorry just read your post 'properly'.I would still go for a Nokia had them for years easy to use and fairly sleek and smart looking.

The easiest way to keep your number etc is to buy a PAYG phone from the same phone company you are with now and just transfer the SIM card to the new one.

I've been buying basic phones for my husband for years (think £30 range) but they only seem to last a year or two at most these days. His current one is 18 months old and sometimes if I ring it it doesn't ring so he has no idea I'm trying to call him.

It's difficult to find a phone that only makes telephone calls nowadays isn't it?!  I'd second Nokia though, they've always had a good reputation and are very easy to use.  What 'brand' do you currently have?  If you like it, I'd usually suggest going for the same manufacturer so that you don't have to learn new menu screens :)  I used to stick with Sony Ericsson

Any airtime company (Vodafone, Orange etc) will port an existing telephone number over for you and you can go into any High St shop to buy.  Locally, I'd rate Carphone Warehouse for customer service but it greatly depends on staff and time of day perhaps.  I've generally found Vodafone stores unhelpful BUT I like to have my phones on their airtime.  I bought my last phone from Apple and they were amazingly helpful and gave me some on the spot training too.  It was very sweet - I must have looked gormless - and I had 3 boys running around doing things to assist ! :)

Before you to go to the expense of a new phone - ask around to see if anyone has a spare.  You might get lucky and be able to just swap your sim.  I'd offer you one of ours but we've just had a clear out and either sold them on eBay or shipped them off to charity...  Might be worth you checking eBay too

I've currently got a Nokia, and it does (or used to!) what I need it for. It's with O2, which seems to have pretty good coverage except in my house. I can imagine the pitying and uncomprehending looks I'm going to get when I go into a phone shop .... :-(

So can you just swap the sim card into another handset (I know that's not what they're really called!) and away you go?

> So can you just swap the sim card into another handset

Yes, although some are locked to a specific airtime provider and you'd need to get it unlocked (for a fee). 

My 15 yr old daughter, due to mismanagement, sometimes gets her mobile removed as a punishment.  During this period if we think she needs a phone (travelling on the train, out a bit later than usual etc) we add to her 'poor me attitude' but putting her sim into an old plonky phone.  It raises her embarrassment factor a notch or two but it does mean she is covered for emergencies.  Not all phones and sims are compatible but many are.  You could just get a secondhand version of the phone you already have and, as long as it isn't locked, or is locked to 02, then swap the sim and bobs your uncle!  Your existing credit is sitting with your number so that transfers over too :)

>Your existing credit is sitting with your number so that transfers over too

That's good to know. :-)

> I can imagine the pitying and uncomprehending looks I'm going to get when I go into a phone shop .... :-(

Tell me about it :)  I allowed the youth in the O2 to talk me into a smart phone, me who had never used the camera on my last phone, and no I don't use it for anything more than I did the previous one ie very occasionally and only ever for phoning or texting.
My advise is to go to the local library and consult the Which reports and am I sure they will have a recommendation for the usage you are looking for.  I found that very helpful, I just failed to stick to my guns :)

I bought my mum a 'big button', idiot proof phone a few years ago now. Very sad but I'm getting to the stage where I think I need  one of these too - just can't do fiddly buttons these days!

If you go to a mobile phone shop like carphone warehouse and ask for an upgrade on your phone with your current network, they usually let you buy a new handset without having to pay for a new sim and credit on that sim. They will have a range of nokias to chose from, basic to do-it-all.

Then you can pop your sim in and continue as you were.

The problem with just buying a new handset is that they will make you pay an extra £10 on top to put credit on the new sim and you don't need that.

That's a good idea - I'll get on to that when I can get into town. Thanks all! :-)

If you buy a new battery from ebay or the phone shp your old phone should continue to serve you for many more years.

My dad bought a really simple phone from Tesco - Pay as You GO - and has a very good deal on top ups. Tesco match whatever amount he tops up with and as he very rarely uses his phone he only tops it up a few times a year. Well worth asking about their basic phones in one of their larger stores which has a phone shop in it.

I got my mum and dad a phone each from Argos the same phones as they can show each other how to use it and they were £25 each. Camera and calls and thats ot.
Just stick to o2 and put your old sim in new phone :) :)
I would suggest if your Sim is old, to go to o2 shop and get them to transfer everything including your number to a new Sim for you as Sims can fail xx
Lea :)

>If you buy a new battery from ebay or the phone shp your old phone should continue to serve you for many more years.

I tried that - the new battery's not much better than the old one.

Just go into a phone shop and say in a very loud voice , young man I want a phone , none of this new fangled stuff I just want to make and receive calls . Then clock the faces of the shop staff and other customers it will be funny ! It happened whilst I was in the Orange shop when I was picking my iPhone ( a new fangled phone ) , I laughed so much as the poor shop assistant looked thoroughly stumped ! :-D

If I say the words 'young man' I sound like one of Harry Enfield's old ladies!!

> Just go into a phone shop and say in a very loud voice , young man I want a phone , none of this new fangled stuff I just want to make and receive calls .

I tried that!  :-D

Not loud enough then !!

JG that is the idea Lol ! Take Ned when you do as seeing him squirm will also be highly amusing for you !

JG - there are phones on O2 network on the Argos website from £19.99. Worth a look if you live near an Argos or are prepared to wait for home delivery.I find the customer reviews on that site really good as they point out things that you only find out once you buy the item and things that are sometimes not mentioned in the catalogue listing.

Nokia for me every time.
Just as an aside, there have been cases of burns  using the phone whilst plugged in so please get a new one asap

Have to say if you aren't interested in an IPhone or similar then a Nokia wins hands down every time. I always swayed with other phones every now and then, hated them.. Nokias are simple to use and often last ages.. My Dad's I reckon is about 10yrs old and still going strong, can't get photo text messages, but does basic ones, which he struggles with and will make and receieve calls.. He refuses to upgrade as he likes it and doesn't get confused on it.

I love Nokia phones (Nokia from 101) but the Lumia 800 doesn't hold charge for long :(
As soon as this contract is up will change for a different Nokia..one that hopefully keeps it's charge better.

JG, is this one any good from Tesco? It's already on O2 so no need to faf about with getting it unlocked. The bonus of buying from somewhere like Argos or a supermarket is that you don't have to deal with the pushy sales people that seem to frequent mobile phone shops.

http://www.tesco.com/direct/o2-nokia-c1-01-black/210-4264.prd?skuId=210-4264&pageLevel=

I'll have a dig about at home later too, I've got a couple of spare mobiles squirreled away in a drawer so if either are any good you can have them. I know one is an O2 phone but I'm not sure about the battery, will check it out for you.

Claire

Ooh, that looks like quite a good one, Claire. :-) I'll have a browse tonight because I think I've got some vouchers somewhere.

Hi Jan,

I had a dig in my drawers ;) last night and found 3 phones, unfortunately 1 has no battery, 1 is missing more than a few buttons and the other doesn't have a battery charger, so I think you might be best to take a trip to Tesco :)

I think I'll recycle the phones I've found, none are in any way usable!!

Claire

At least your drawers are tidier now, Claire! ;-) Thank you for the kind thoughts. :-)

Why dont you buy the same phone off ebay if you like it so much?

They don't make them new any more and I don't want a used one; after all, I've already got one!

I use one of these: http://www.doro.co.uk/products/Mobile-phones-and-accessories/