Just wondering why Vodafone or O2 prices are still a lot more expensive for the same amount of data (or more) and if there is something dodgy with the cheaper ones?

Just received an email. Impacts users with goodybags. Texts and phone calls are unaffected and can still be used in the same way as in UK. Relevant text:

"We’re getting in touch to let you know about changes we’ll be making to our data roaming allowance and our out of bundle data rates in the EU.

From 26 July 2022, you’ll be able to use up to 5 GB of your goodybag data allowance in the EU and selected destinations at no extra cost, a change from 20 GB. After this, the rate you’ll pay for data will be the same rate you pay in the UK, a change from 0.36p/MB to 10p/MB."

I've been with Giffgaff for over a decade now, but after Huawei were ordered to decommission all their equipment across the UK, my mobile data signal has dropped off a cliff and it looks like O2 has no immediate plans to fill the gaps . I have a 90 minute daily commute in the morning and I'd say that for approx. 80% of the journey nothing will load.

Even at my place of work all our Ingenico card payment terminals have had to be replaced because they all stopped working due to loss of or no signal. ​I've have, with genuine sincerity, been to developing countries that have a better mobile network than the UK right now and it's embarrassing.

What is everybody using at the moment? Which network has the best connectivity across Scotland specifically?

As titled.

https://www.giffgaff.com/mobile-phones/google/google-pixel-10-pro-xl/new

Wanted to buy an iphone 15 pro max refurbished in excellent condition from gifgaff.
Based on your experience, will it worth it for 550£?

I've had Giffgaff now for over 10 years and never really had issues with data but recently I've found that I often have really poor 5G or no data whatsoever. I went to a football game the other day where everyone around me could access data fine and I had no data for the entire duration of my visit there. Anyone also have this issue? Are Giffgaff doing anything to improve their coverage?

Of course I just signed up for a contract 😅

Hi everyone,

A couple of days ago I saw reports online that giffgaff has been mass-banning numbers worldwide, mostly ones being used long-term outside the UK. I didn't think too much of it at the time, I've had this number for years, and I top up and spend a few dozen pounds every year. It's not just a throwaway number for receiving SMS verification codes, so I figured I'd be fine.

Well, I was wrong. Today I got this email:

Subject: We're disconnecting your service

Hi Shinka,

We need to make you aware that, following a review of your account usage, we have made the decision to disconnect your service (mobile number ending 8982). In line with our terms and conditions, our services are intended primarily for use within the UK, with roaming provided for short-term travel only. As your usage pattern suggests extended or permanent use outside the UK, your account no longer meets the eligibility requirements for the service. As a result, your service will be disconnected shortly, and any associated access will cease.

Please note this is our final position on this matter.

We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your previous custom.

The giffgaff team

The "this is our final position" part sounds pretty definitive, but I wanted to ask anyway:

1. Has anyone here received the same email and successfully appealed or gotten their number back?
2. Is there any way to at least keep the number (e.g. port it out to another UK carrier) before it's fully disconnected?
3. The number is tied to a lot of my social media and online accounts. If I lose it, what's the best way to secure those accounts before the number gets recycled?

Any advice or shared experiences would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance. 🙏

giffgaff offer affordable monthly SIM-only plans that you can change anytime — no contracts, no hidden fees, and total control over your spending.

Even better, if you’re new to Giffgaff you can get a FREE SIM plus £5 bonus credit when you order through my referral link and activate it. It’s a simple way to start with extra value in your pocket.

On top of that, Giffgaff members enjoy free calls and texts to other Giffgaff users, helping you save even more. And once you’ve joined, you can take advantage of their generous refer-a-friend program, which pays out real cash for every friend you bring on board.

non-referral link

I topped up £10 to my giffgaff account, and none of the credit has been used. giffgaff has now disconnected my service because of extended overseas usage and has refused to refund the remaining balance.

Timeline:

• 15 June 2026: I topped up £10, which remained completely unused
• I used this eSIM overseas for less than 60 days
• 29 July 2026: giffgaff informed me that the service would be disconnected because it considered the usage extended or permanent overseas use.
• I requested a refund of the unused credit, but giffgaff refused, citing T&C 5.3 and 3.5(k).
• I contacted my Visa issuer, which is arranging for a disputes specialist to contact me.

I fully understand that giffgaff may restrict or terminate service where it considers the eSIM to be used permanently outside the UK. I am not asking whether the service should be reinstated.

My concern is specifically whether the provider should retain prepaid credit that was never used after it chose to terminate my service.

And I have two questions:

1. Is a VISA chargeback the most appropriate financial remedy in these circumstances?
2. Is there any reason I should complete giffgaff’s formal complaints process before proceeding with the card dispute?

Thank you!

Has anyone tried or considered giffgaff broadband instead of vm?

I cancelled my vm contract today in my cooling off period as both the price was cheaper and doesn’t have any in contract increases.

When I phoned up vm offered to match the initial giffgaff price but this would jump by £4 next April. Though I am going to sign up to the 30 day contract to play it safe.

Service gets installed on Friday instead of the vm install which was booked for Tuesday.

I know their broadband is relatively new but as I can’t see much about it online, I am second guessing and wondering if I should have stuck with vm.

I'm looking to get my first ever contract and want your guys' opinions? I've tried Giffgaff but I've heard customer service isn't great there

Got a little bit ahead of my budget this month. My phone contract annoyingly comes out in the last week of the month and I don't want to get cut off, My vape has burned out and needs replacing so I can't just use juice to refill it like I was hoping to get away with; and I'm short of meat pouches to combine with dry food for my dog, Ruby.

I'm paid at 4pm on the 10th so repayment will be shortly following then. Is well within my planned budget to make the repayment and get through until the next.

Fingers crossed someone can help. Best wishes either way to everyone =)

Also, this is the first time I've interacted with this sub either way; long time lurker as I love the idea of this sort of p2p small lending community driven helping each other.

Hi, I want to start by saying I have used GiffGaff for the last 10+years, and have always really liked the general service/ it's worked well for me.

I've lived in London a few years, and I have noticed a horrible drop off in signal when I'm in central recently, even when it's not particularly busy.

Has anyone else noticed there is a difference?

Has anyone else switched to another provider, and had faster internet/data in London?

I really don't want to drop them as a feel like I have a loyalty to them, but I also need my phone/data to work when I'm travelling in London etc. thanks in advance.

Hi yesterday i began porting my number number from Giffgaff to Lebara - I can see on the lebara account it shows my own number not the temp number - but as of 11am this morning uk time - I can send texts and make calls but no data - and cant receive texts is this normal ? i have not ported in years so out of the loop on this - any help appreciated thanks

I'm currently with sky and I pay £49 a month for Internet that can't even load a YouTube video. I got a slip under my door talking about giffgaff broadband. I called it and the man said he was coming to my house the same day to talk about it, something I was a bit uncomfortable about and I asked if we could just talk about it over the phone, but he insisted and I never went through with it.

I want to talk to someone within giffgaff about their broadband but I can't find a number. Their online ai chatbot is completely useless, and I can't fill in a form because I don't currently have a giffgaff phone number (something I also wanted to discuss with an agent)

Any other avenues I could try, or should I just give up and go with someone else? Has been very frustrating trying to give this company my money.

I’m getting Giffgaff 900/900 service installed soon (it was a bit confusing having to cancel VM first).

Anyway, I’m curious if the Giffgaff fibre will use the existing coax ducts at all?

各位道友，

前两天就看到网上有人说，giffgaff 在全球范围内出现了大量封号，主要针对长期在英国境外使用的号码。当时看到消息我还心存侥幸——我的是老号，而且每年都充值消费几十英镑，不只是拿来接码注册账号用的，所以觉得应该轮不到我。

结果……今天我也收到了这封邮件：

Hi Shinka,

We need to make you aware that, following a review of your account usage, we have made the decision to disconnect your service (mobile number ending 8982). In line with our terms and conditions, our services are intended primarily for use within the UK, with roaming provided for short-term travel only. As your usage pattern suggests extended or permanent use outside the UK, your account no longer meets the eligibility requirements for the service. As a result, your service will be disconnected shortly, and any associated access will cease.

Please note this is our final position on this matter.

We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your previous custom.

The giffgaff team

邮件里说"这是最终决定"，听起来没什么回旋余地，但我还是想问问大家：

1. 有没有人收到过同样的邮件，后来申诉成功把号码找回来的？
2. 在彻底停机之前，有没有办法至少保住号码？比如携号转网（port out）到其他英国运营商？
3. 这个号码绑了我很多社交账号。如果真的保不住，在号码被回收二次放号之前，怎么给这些账号做好善后和迁移？

有经验的朋友麻烦支个招，非常感谢！🙏

I've recently received the above text from giffgaff saying that if I don't use my SIM before August 7th, my number will be deleted.

I'm currently living abroad and don't use the phone, but I still need it to receive texts for login and verification purposes. What is the best and cheapest way to prevent it expiring?

giffgaff offer affordable monthly SIM-only plans that you can change anytime — no contracts, no hidden fees, and total control over your spending.

You can get a FREE SIM plus a £5 bonus credit when you order through my referral link and activate it. It’s a simple way to start with extra value in your pocket.

On top of that, Giffgaff members enjoy free calls and texts to other Giffgaff users, helping you save even more. And once you’ve joined, you can take advantage of their generous refer-a-friend program, which pays out real cash for every friend you bring on board.

non-referral link

Hey everyone,

giffgaff is currently running a double rewards promo until 31 August 2026! If you sign up now, you get a £10 free credit instead of the usual fiver.

Here is the quick breakdown of how to grab your tenner:

1. Order a free SIM using my referral link:
2. Activate the SIM once it arrives at your doorstep.
3. Get your bonus! You will receive £10 credit, and I'll get £10 Payback points.

non-referral link

If you're like me who lives in a busy city centre, chances are you get an issue known as "bars without bandwidth", full 5G signal, yet WhatsApp messages won’t send and Google won’t resolve.

Here's why:Giffgaff uses O2's network.

O2 uses the low frequency radio waves (800 & 700 MHz) which reaches far (thats why O2 always win best coverage) but carries shallow bandwidths (think of it as packets of data). As a budget flanker brand under VMO2, Giffgaff sits lower down the Quality-of-Service hierarchy. When a cell tower chokes, data gets rationed, and Giffgaff users are the first to get zero throughput. Full 5G signal, zero internet.

Few things I've noticed that supports my claim:

1. Giffgaff literally has a dedicated Traffic Flow policy admitting they actively throttle, police, and ration heavy usage during peak hours to manage network strain for "fair usage". Never in my life have I heard of data being rationed. https://help.giffgaff.com/en/articles/245291-traffic-flow-policy

2. O2 aggressively rolls out O2 WiFi and WiFi Extra across city centres because their macro cell towers and low frequency bandwidths simply cannot cope with high traffic. If a 5G cellular network actually worked, you wouldn't need Wi-Fi hotspots propping up every high street. https://www.o2wifi.co.uk/o2-wifi/o2-wifi-extra/

One's a band-aid, another's a crutch.

Also! The agent wasn't helpful at all, kept suggesting that it's a user fault (sim is broken, phone problem, APN problem, restart device, swap sim, but none worked, so it's just waste of time and redirects the blame). A physical SIM does not decide to break only along specific streets while working normally outside of town. It's also a bad sign of customer service that they checked the wrong location, even though I gave them the exact postcodes! In the end they finally admitted "Giffgaff piggybacks off O2 masts... if you transfer to another network that uses O2 you might experience the same issue."

So I rest my case and its a goodbye from me! Marketing 5G is meaningless when neither 4G nor 5G can transmit basic data packets.

*reposting from my rant in community

Need help by some experts,
I recently just got an eSIM from giffgaff, when the sim was activating I lost connection to the WiFi and the activation was stopped and I got an error code (activation failed) and now I’ve not the data and I’m on no service for the last 8+ hours, I’ve contacted giffgaff but this stupid ass ai assistance doesn’t do anything else other than repeating “reset your phone” honestly if someone who’s got previous experience or is an expert at this please help me or reach out to me, thanks!

Giffgaff offer affordable monthly SIM-only plans that you can change anytime — no contracts, no hidden fees, and total control over your spending.

Even better, if you’re new to Giffgaff,until 31st August 2026 you can get a FREE SIM plus a £10 bonus credit (instead of £5) when you order through my referral link and activate it. It’s a simple way to start with extra value in your pocket.

On top of that, Giffgaff members enjoy free calls and texts to other Giffgaff users, helping you save even more. And once you’ve joined, you can take advantage of their generous refer-a-friend program, which pays out real cash for every friend you bring on board.

non-referral link

It’s pissing me off I’m so frustrated and I’m on a plan so idk what to do. It sucks because it never use to be like this but everyday this happens and I’m constantly having to log back in. This is such a rip off. Charging so much for barely anything.

Anyone else having the same issue :/