Rosyposy_2001 Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 Hi! We live in the UK but have a cottage in Brittany which we visit as often as possible - day-trips, long weekends and month-long stays - whatever we can fit in!I have been reading the posts about sim cards but have not yet found an answer to my question. When in France, I text my daughters in the UK several times a day, but I do not (or very rarely) make or receive calls to/from the UK. I had a French sim from Maxsim but they went out of business so I lost all my credit, and all the other sim suppliers that I have managed to find offer cheap calls and often no charge to receive calls from the UK, but nobody seems to offer cheap texts, ( at least, they are only a fraction of a pence cheaper than my UK supplier [40p per text msg] so not really much advantage). Some are horribly expensive to buy too, and only a small part of their cost goes to credit your phone! Can anyone please advise me if they know of a sim card that I can buy to put in my spare mobile phone that would give me cheap texts to the UK? I have read with interest about the Leclerc sim but the tariff for texting has not been mentioned and for some reason I cannot download the pdf file from their site.I would be grateful for any advice.Thanks[:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 I have the LeClerc tarrifs in front of me. 15c a text. Calls received from the UK are free - this can also be a bonus over a UK phone which would charge you if you were in France and somebody phoned you.Post edited (see below). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 [quote user="Rosyposy_2001"]When in France, I text my daughters in the UK several times a day, but I do not (or very rarely) make or receive calls to/from the UK....I have read with interest about the Leclerc sim but the tariff for texting has not been mentioned and for some reason I cannot download the pdf file from their site.[/quote]Leclerc mobile tariffs: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 According to Leclerc website, it's 15 cent to txt (SMS) the UK from France.This card also uses up your credit at a rate of €1.50 per month for the priviledge of using it but that is still much less than other phone providers in France Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 You're quite right, Pierre, I read the wrong section. I'll correct my post. Doh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosyposy_2001 Posted April 29, 2009 Author Share Posted April 29, 2009 Oh, is that €1,50 per month for all 12 months, or just for any months during which I use it? Still a very good bargain though! I gather Leclerc sim cards are valid for 12 months?Thanks everyone for the very speedy replies! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pierre ZFP Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 They will take €1.50 each month, whether you use it or not, until the credit is used up.If you use the card and have credit, the card will not expire. If you don't make any call or txt I think it expires after 12 months but not sure.This is still a better deal than other providers as the credit does not just disappear. Typically with others, you buy say €20 credit and after a month it's gone, not transferable, nothing. Strictly 'use it or lose it' . Not like the UK at all. Coops, my post crossed with yours and I had to take a close look at the rates again because I thought I had got it wrong [:$] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted April 29, 2009 Share Posted April 29, 2009 If you don't top the phone up and the credit runs out, the rules say they'll deduct the monthly charge when you next do a top up. Thus, unless you change your SIM every time you come to France, you will cop for the 1.50 charge. Still pretty good though, by French PAYG standards.I'm still reading through the rules to see if I can confirm Pierre's 12 months bit, but no luck thus far. But I'm sure I've read somewhere that you can continue to receive calls for a certain length after after expiry; I just can't remember how long that was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 [quote user="cooperlola"] But I'm sure I've read somewhere that you can continue to receive calls for a certain length after after expiry; I just can't remember how long that was.[/quote]3 months - I've just checked the brochure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judith Posted April 30, 2009 Share Posted April 30, 2009 [quote user="cooperlola"]I'm still reading through the rules to see if I can confirm Pierre's 12 months bit, but no luck thus far. [/quote]Yes, 12 months - again from my brochure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecossais Posted May 2, 2009 Share Posted May 2, 2009 RosyPosy,Note, if you are having a two-way “text conversation” with your daughters, they will pay something like 25p per text to text you on a French mobile as text messages to international mobiles are not included in any text allowance they may get.Although it means using 2 mobiles, it would be cheaper (or free) for them to text you on your UK mobile and for you to then reply from a Leclerc mobile.Remember you only get 160 characters per text message, so a quick call may be cheaper….. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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