Ethical mobile · 4 min read
What makes a mobile network ethical?
Ethical mobile isn't just a green logo. Five questions to ask any network about price rises, loyalty, bill shock, real people and giving back.
Every network says it cares. Some even have a leaf in the logo. So how do you tell an ethical mobile network from one with a good marketing team?
An ethical mobile network treats every customer fairly, is honest about what you pay, and gives something back in a way you can check. In practice that means no hidden yearly price rises, no penalty for staying loyal, help from real people, protection from surprise bills, and a clear promise about where its money goes.
What questions should I ask a mobile network?
- Does my price go up every year? Many contracts build in a rise every April. An ethical network tells you plainly, or better, doesn't do it.
- Do new customers pay less than loyal ones? If the best deals are only for new joiners, long-standing customers are quietly paying for them.
- Can I run up a bill I didn't expect? Look for a spend limit that's on by default, not one you have to know to ask for.
- Can I talk to a person? A network that hides behind chatbots makes problems harder to fix, especially for people who find apps difficult.
- What does it give back, and can I check? "We support charity" means very little. Look for an amount, who decides where it goes, and whether it's reported.
Is the cheapest network the most ethical?
Not necessarily. The lowest SIM prices are often introductory deals, or come with rises built in. A fair price that stays put can cost less over two or three years than a deal that creeps up every April.
Ethical also means the business can pay its people properly and still be here next year. A price that's honest beats a price that's a teaser.
How does Kindly answer those questions?
| Question | Kindly's answer |
|---|---|
| Annual price rises? | None built into any plan |
| Loyalty penalty? | No: one price for everyone, new or long-standing |
| Surprise bills? | A £0 spend limit on every SIM. Your bill is your plan price, plus Travel Safe days if you use them abroad |
| Real people? | A North East team on the phone or by email, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday |
| Giving back? | £1 a month from every personal and business SIM goes to good causes: to the cause whose SIMs for Good page you joined through, otherwise it's shared across charities and community causes. Charities get £1 off their price instead |
| Contract? | 30-day rolling, no lock-in |
We're a new network, so we haven't been independently rated yet. We'd rather tell you that than hint otherwise. Independent guides such as Ethical Consumer's ratings are a good place to compare networks side by side.
Why did we build Kindly this way?
The people behind Kindly have worked in mobile for more than 30 years. We know what customers want, because we've spent a long time listening to them.
So we started with a simple question. If we were buying SIMs ourselves, for our family, for a business or for a charity, what would we want? Fair prices that don't creep up. No nasty surprises. Real people to talk to. Kindly is built around the answers.
It started with charities. We wanted to help them cut what they spend on mobile. As we got to know the sector better, and saw how hard many charities work just to keep going, we realised we could build something bigger: a network where people and businesses can support causes they care about, without it costing them a penny more.
When money is tight for so many people, that matters. Doing some good shouldn't have to cost extra.
Where does Kindly's £1 go?
If you join through a charity, club or school's fundraising page, your £1 goes to that cause every month you stay. That's SIMs for Good. If you join directly, it's shared across charities and community causes around the UK. Either way, it comes out of the price you already pay, never added on top.
Personal plans are £11.95 for 10GB, £15.95 for 20GB and £18.95 for Unlimited a month, VAT included.
Find a plan that does some good on our personal plans page. Curious where the money ends up? See where the £1 goes.
FAQ
Is there a mobile network that gives to charity?
Yes. Kindly gives £1 a month from every personal and business SIM to good causes, built into the price, so it never costs you extra.
Do ethical networks have worse coverage?
Not necessarily. Smaller networks usually run on one of the big UK networks: Kindly uses genuine O2 SIMs. Check coverage for your postcode before you switch.
Can I choose which charity my £1 supports?
Yes. Join through that cause's SIMs for Good page and your £1 goes to them every month you stay. Already with us and want to change cause? Ask us in writing at hello@kindlymobile.co.uk.
Can I keep my number?
Yes. Text PAC to 65075 and give the code to your new network. The switch happens within one working day.
