I am trying to find a more appropriate phone contract for myself. I currently pay 34CHF each month with DasAbo from the post office. But I am finding that I am now using more than the 1GB data allowance each month and needing to pay an extra 35CHF each month for an additional 5GB and the deal I have isn't the most cost effective anymore.

I make some calls within Switzerland, some to England and some to the Channel Islands. No SMS. What I am finding difficult is to find an appropriate contract where calling the Channel Islands is included. My dad lives there and I like to keep in regular contact without worrying about the cost.

The Moneyland comparison would be perfect if I could select either Jersey or the Channel Islands as the foreign country I wanted to regularly call.
https://www.moneyland.ch/en/mobile/index

I notice Lebara currently has a good offer on its Europe plan for 19CHF per month. I'm considering something like this which doesn't include the Channel Islands and trying to call my dad over WiFi / WhatsApp / Facetime. But this wouldn't be ideal as he isn't tech savvy at all.

Does anyone have any suggestions or opinions? Anyone know of a deal where high usage data (5-10GB per month) and calls to Europe and Channel Islands are included?

Most offers, such as green or cubemobile, seem to exclude the Channel Islands.


Why don't you call your dad via WhatsApp call?


Alternatively, why doesn't your dad use a ususal three number in the channel islands, so he'd be reachable on a normal UK mobile number instead of the tricky Channel Island numbers (which are hard to differentiate for most "normal" users)?

Thanks for the reply Chris.

It's a bit awkward trying to get my dad to advance his use of technology. He doesn't have 3g/4g connection on his mobile just wifi. So that limits my ability to get hold of him via WhatsApp. This was the reason I was taking the onus on myself with perhaps using Viber for example, where he wouldn't have to do anything different to what he is used to.

He uses a Jersey Telecom pay as you go phone. Could you clarify what "three" can do that helps - do you pay for a specific number (I'm pretty sure he would be reluctant to change his number - do you have a more specific link)? I went on their website but couldn't discover what you were suggesting. I've never lived on the island myself so haven't had to investigate these sort of solutions before - my mum had always sorted it for my dad before! Thanks for your help.

I use Freecall - 30 days free calling after each top up, then a very low rate until the credit is gone, repeat etc.

And I also use SipGate so I have a UK number my family can call, but not for outgoing because Freecall is cheaper.

Add in a SIP supporting DECT phone and it's all invisible, plus there are SIP apps for mobiles.

The Channel Islands use a specific prefix within the +44 range, i.e. most people would think it's a normal UK number, but it's not.


see here:


+44-74184 is associated to Isle of Man (as are some more prefixes)
+44-7509... is Jersey (as are some more prefixes)
+44-7781... is Guernsey (as are some more prefixes)


I guess 99.9% people think that +44-7.... is automatically a UK mobile charged at UK rates, but that's not the case.


three.co.uk is just one random "usual" UK provider, but they happen to include the channel islands as one of their "roam like home" destinations. As such your dad could get himself a "usual" UK number via this provider, and all your calls would then be included in a flatrate, as long as it includes the UK (but not the channel islands).


I'm not sure if a three.co.uk number can be used indefinitely outside of the UK without ever incurring a surcharge, but I've been using a three card in Switzerland for several years by now and they never charged anything extra, so this might as well work in the Channel Islands.


As such your dad would switch his Jersey (+44-7509...) number for a "usual" UK number.


If he wants to stick to his current number, why not give him a new dual sim phone together with a "three" card? Like this he could have two numbers (one Jersey one "normal" UK number) in one phone.

See also:
http://www.three.co.uk/support/roami...l-islands#payg

I believe Swisscom are doing 50% off for the first 12 months, 12 month min contract term. You have to pay Fr 20 (-50%)/month for international calls to get the calls out of CH, but mobileGo then becomes Fr 50/month for unlimited everything in CH and in/to Europe and it explicitly includes Jersey, Guernsey and IoM

The bold above doesn't make sense!

If he's got wifi, then WhatsApp will work. Do you mean he doesn't have a smart phone?

OK try https://www.lycamobile.ch/en/ if you are calling him. CHF19/month for Swiss M after the CHF9.00 offer expires. Free SIM...

Thanks very much I'll check this out too.

Of course WhatsApp works when he is connected to Wifi. When he isn't connected to a Wifi network then he isn't connected to whatsapp and I can't call him via this method (i.e. it limits my ability to contact him). He has a old smart phone (v v old iPhone) with only Wifi and no 3g/4g/5g.

Clearly the easiest solution is for him to change how he operates (new phone etc). But as anyone with a technophob relatively old parent can testify, its hard to get this person to do this. I'd like to save a bit of money, but if I can't, I'd pay a bit more as I currently do to keep him happy and for him not feel under pressure / getting confused. I don't want him to feel stressed at the start of each call I have with him.

Thanks for the link for lycamobile I shall check that out.