Unlimited calls and texts to any mobile network in Ireland for just €10 a month. Sounds too good to be true, right?
48 is a new virtual mobile network (running on the O2 network) that launched at the end of January, offering unlimited calls and texts to any network for €10 a month. The catch? You have to be aged between 18-22 in order to sign up. I signed up to 48 about a month ago to see for myself how 48 compare to the other major network operators.
I ordered a free SIM from their website, www.48months.ie, which arrived 2 days later. You can either get a normal sized or Micro SIM depending on the type of handset you have.
And that’s when the trouble set in. I followed the activation process included in the pack, which explains that it can take up to 30 minutes to complete. A day later, and I still had no service on the phone!
48 don’t have any phone-based customer care line, so it took me 3 emails and over a week of waiting to finally get the service activated on my SIM card. I didn’t even receive any kind of goodwill gesture for the unusual delay.
However, once topped up with your €10 membership fee, it does exactly what it says on the tin; unlimited free calls and texts to Irish mobiles.
So if you’re looking to save money on your mobile spending, then 48 might seem the perfect option. But before you decide to jump ship from your current network and move over, just be aware of these following points:
- Inclusive Data – There is none! No data is included in your monthly plan. 48 is offering a ‘Special Offer’ Data Plan for the first 30 days where Weekly ‘Unlimited’ Web Access costs €2, however, despite claims it’s ‘unlimited’ it has a fair usage of just 500MB. N.B. 48 states clearly this promotional offer ends after the first 30 days after which the customer will be liable for a higher daily Internet charge but fails to state how much this will be.
- Forget about Tethering. 48 strictly prohibits any type of tethering and its Internet settings are specifically configured to prevent any tethering taking place. If you tether your service will be cut off, no questions asked.
- If you don’t top-up, you get cut off… no calls, no texts, nothing! Compared with Three, after your 30 day of free services expires, you still have your remaining balance for calls and texts. With 48, they will keep your money and suspend your services, and won’t re-connect you until you top-up. Only incoming calls and texts will work when you haven’t topped up.
- Roaming? Best to stay at home! Data Roaming is not supported on the 48 network. When travelling in the European Union, 48 allows its customers to purchase an ‘Add-On’ for €3.50, allowing them 10 minutes of calls. This expires after 30 days, after which calls increase to 42c a minute.
- A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing? THIS IS A BILLPAY! 48 requires customers to provide debit or credit card details to register membership on the network. If a customer owes 48 money from unpaid monthly top-up membership, it reserves the right to take this amount directly from your bank account. According to Section 6.5 of their Terms & Conditions, they can charge you a 2% daily rate of interest plus bank administrative charges for failing to pay them on-time!
- Up a Creek Without A Paddle! 48 provides no phone customer service team, and its help team on the website is the only form of contact with the company for customers. This online customer service only operates within their ‘office hours’ – so no good if you’re in an emergency! General enquiries will be answered via email within 24 hours, whilst billing enquiries can take up to 48 hours to get a response.
Update: 48 have changed around their deals, so it’s best to take a look on www.48months.ie to see the latest offers.
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Im 16 and i got this so the 18 to 24 age doesn’t mean anything just a marketing scheme. Also as far as i remember i didn’t put in any credit card details? I don’t have the data add on so I dont know what that is like. It really helps if your phone is already unlocked mine was so changing was easy. I haven’t hand any problems with it so far and I am extremely pleased with it I would recommend it but dont blame me if it goes wrong! So fingers crossed its all good. p.s I’ve had it for 3 months.
In order to complete a €10 membership top-up, you are required to enter your laser/credit card details on their website. At the time of writing, that was the only method by which you could top-up, and I believe it’s still the same now. Your phone has to be unlocked to use a 48 sim card. Glad to hear you’re having a better experience with them than I did!
ive been with them around 6 months,I top up in a shop then simply text ‘monthly’ to a number to pay your membership and that s its…..simple. Never used a card to pay. Never had any problems
i just started with 48 two months ago no card required at any stage at all
imm with them and you can buy your topup in the shops
I’m with them, changed over in a few minutes, i’m also 34 years old, can top up at any payzone. I’m saving a fortune. Go 48
Thank you for sharing. I’m in the same boat too.
do you top up with 086 or 089 ??
Hi Sara, 48 run their service on 089 numbers so you’ll have to either top-up online on 48months.ie or buy a 48 top-up voucher in a shop.
Hi when you get it set up do you just top up buy 10er and the free calls and text work strate away are what ?
I use a lot of 3G data but despite telling me before I joined, that 48′s 3G speeds were the same as O2, they have finally admitted that their speeds are Actually less than one third of O2s.
I always wondered what the catch with this was, never wanted to change network though but I know a good few people who switched to 48 recently. It doesn’t seem that much cheaper anyway.
has anyone or no of anyone who has topped up by €20 to get the internet??
if so what is the speed of it like?
to pped up at payzone yest evening and entered all details into phone but cant make calls tried again but was told top up code had been used
Hi all 48 is great unlimited calls for a tenner runs on o2, coverage everywhere and buy a tenner data bundle and get 3gb downloads a month no credit or debit cards required. purchase individually or purchase together as vip package 20 euro unlimited txts, calls and 3gb download just top up on same date as last top up. and you still receive calls when membership runs out remember its a club guys , dont pay the membership and your not in.. Plus send off for sims for your friends and if they top up with VIP membership you get a tenner credit for your next free month or a 5er if they top up with 10 cant be beat if you ask me plus 20 minutes landlines
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I’m with them at month now and I never knew these things about them! I have to wait 3 weeks with no phone but that was not 48s fault it was the other company trying to sent out details to unlock my phone! Hope this helps!
I’ve been with 48 8 or 9 months i’ve had no trouble with the service till tonight i can’t ring or text. one minute there full bars up and then nothing. Is anyone else having the same issue. Also hollie try ringing your old service they should be able to give your your unlock code over the phone or get it emailed to you if you have your imei number which is on the battery on your phone.There should be no hazzel
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