I am intending to change my mobile phone provider Swisscom as it is expensive. I do intend to keep my number. I do not call a lot, mainly whatsapp and some occasional emails. So which provider should I choose? Coverage-wise, Lausanne area mainly but hope it works well in other big cities of Switzerland. International phone coverage yes but not looking to roam.
I would go with Lycamobile, they are using Swisscom network so you keep the good coverage but reduce cost, the EU19 bundle has 300 min (EU Landline & Swiss Landline & Mobile), 300 txt/sms, and 500MB (4g) at 19CHF/30days. Pay as you go, so no notice needed.
Edit: you can also have a 250CHF free credit if you topup your account with 200CHF, in other words, 200 CHF credit will give you 24 months of usage (based on 19CHF/month! http://www.lycamobile.ch/en/free-cre...-online-top-up
Alternatively If you want unlimited then Das Abo from the post is somewhat a better option. Unlimited Calls to Switzerland plus the EU and US, Unlimited txt/sms and 500MB internet at 39CHF/month. 30 day contract but 30 days notice required.
Orange is an intrinsically terrible company, in my humble, non legally binding, opinion.
I'm switching to sunrise myself this month. Freedom to switch every month and a lower price point for a similar offering than the other two are solid selling points.
Whatever you do, don't ever go for the scam peddled as insurance. Put 10 chf aside a month yourself - if something happens you'll hopefully have enough put aside already and if not, then you'll have a decent contribution to your next phone.
Thanks! Well, the fact that Lycamobile uses Swisscom network makes it an interesting option as Aldi uses Sunrise. My experience with Swisscom is fine, just I don't think I need a flat-rate option.
So Lycamobile with 19 CHF per month sounds promising. Anyone can vouch for it?
p/s: Regarding the free credit, do you mean that if I top up 200 CHF I will get 200 + 250 = 450 CHF credit? Does it mean effectively it is (200/24 = 8.3 CHF per month? Seems a bit too good to be true...is there any catch?
Yes indeed, if you top-up with 200CHF, you will get 450CHF on your account and if you start the 30 day 19CHF bundle, it will rollover every month. if you do not get over the min/sms/internet allowance then yes it would last 24months and hence your monthly fee would be 8.3CHF/30days. No catch, I did the same with OK mobile a while back.
Although the date has expired, it is still on their site and I am sure you can still get the offer. A simple call to their CS would confirm this. You need to Speak German/French to talk to the CS.
Good luck and do keep us updated on what you decide and how it goes.
Very interesting and timely thread, as I need to give notice on my Orange contract, which expires in 60 days. It's a totally useless provider for me at work because I have to stand on the roof of my building to get a signal. I definitely want Swisscom because I don't want to take any chances with bad connection. Are there any downsides to Lycamobile?
Only one from what I can see. If you use up all the paid and given bundle allowance before the expiry date (30 days) you are out of luck. You will not be able to buy another bundle and increase or renew allowance until the one you already have has expired
Negative.. If you use up the bundle you can simply buy another one, same or bigger or smaller which will last for another 30 days from that day..
However -- Attention! The first bundle will try to renew itself after 30 days.. So best cancel it. Each bundle will try to renew. Handy so you don't need to remember i guess.
I forget what is the code to cancel, I had to call customer service.. Please post if you know it.
Also .. I think the double your top up deal finished on 31st Oct? I filled up on that day enough to last the year.
As the help page on lycamobile is non existent, I went with an external resource and according to which " You can only buy each package once in a 30 day period. There is no warning when your package runs out. To check data amounts, dial *136# Data pack renews automatically after one month and must be cancelled by calling 077900122 ."
If I am sure first hand knowledge is a much better source of information
At the bottom of the lycamobile page , Auto-renewal cancellation:
To cancel the auto renewal, you have two options:
Dial *190# before the expiry date and follow the instructions OR
Call Customer Services on 077 900 01 22 (call charges may apply) before the expiry date
Here's my first hand experience. Start of Oct I bought 2gb, to try things out. Used it quickly so bought a 3gb pack. Snap forward to 28th and I was near done again so bought a 5gb!
29th I got an sms saying 'your 2gb package will be auto renewed in 2 days'.. So I checked the crap help page then called cust serv. the guy told me a *xxx# code that showed me what i had with option to cancel. I cancelled the 2 & 3 and now have the auto renew 5.
One more question on Lyca, as I will most likely pick up a SIM card tomorrow to get the ball rolling. I will be a very low volume caller, so I am leaning toward the EU19 package, but my monthly data usage is between 700 and 1000 MB per month, so I really need the the full 1 Gig data package. Can I buy a EU19 package together with an extra data bundle, say the Surf 500 MB and effectively get 1G of data for CHF 25 (19 + 5.90 for the current offer)?
I had Swisscom as well for a pretty long time because they have special offers as long you're under 26. Becaues i'm now older but not any richer, i first decided to switch to M-Budget mobile which has in my opinion the best offer for CHF 29.90 a month. You get 500 mins / SMS every month and 1 GB of superfast 4G data. It's even faster than the limited swisscom packages because they're limited to 7.2 Mbps.
Because i use more than 2 GB a month i decided to try Lycamobile as well. I got decoyed by the free credit they promise, but after calling the hotline it turned out you're not allowed to by data- or text&talk packages with that credit, it's only to be used for regular calls that will cost you -.45 / min. so 200.- is like 100mins. worth of calling.
You might think because they use the same network as swisscom you have the same coverage, but this sadly isn't the truth. It's like you always have a lower priority to other "real" swisscom customers, i.e. when you're in a mountain area you will most likely not have mobile internet when everyone with swisscom will.
What i now heard of many scrimpers' is that they conclude a contract in the name of someone who is liable to have the youth offers, like asking your little brother to sign the contract for you, so you can benefit from the prices for youths under 26.
I sent SALT my letter cancelling contract in a few months to avoid the possible early termination fees; I will be free to pick again. I checked UPC Cablecom Mobile and notice they are no longer limited to 3G but are now serving 4G to all customers. They also seem competitive and with good packages. Browsed quickly through the Lyca and Lebara options - both seem the mobile equivalents of Ryanair, so not exactly eager to become a customer of either.
Question to the collective knowledge - given that I am taking only SIM (I buy my phones second hand, never found decent pricing with any carrier), average usage is below 3GB data monthly and only care of all swiss networks + the occasional roaming call and long distance... Would you recommend a switch from SALT to UPC Cablecom Mobile?
If you are a UPC customer you can get CHF 5 off their mobile subscriptions, and for your level of use it seems you would want the CHF 40 (35) tariff that includes 2GB of data and unlimited calls across Switzerland. I have UPC service at home but their customer service left a very bad taste and for what it's worth I would not consider them for anything else for one moment. I do have an M-Budget Mobile One SIM only subscription that was mentioned earlier in the thread, for CHF 29 giving 1GB data plus 500 minutes across Switzerland and fixed lines in a surprising number of other countries. Probably only useful if you are a low user, so if you can set my prejudice aside then UPC might indeed suit you.