Your Co-op mobile review 2024: Is it any good?
Dan Howdle • October 1st, 2024
Your Co-op Mobile (formerly The Phone Co-op) is a different proposition to most other mobile providers. It is run as a member-owned, consumer co-operative, with an ethical approach to its supply chain and investment with a focus on the environment. Members get a democratic voice in how the company is run, and also receive dividends.
The Phone Co-op was founded in 1998, and rebranded Your Co-op Mobile in 2019. Initially targeting organisations and businesses, it licensed the Co-operative brand name in 2012, later teaming up with the Midcounties Co-operative Group to its offer mobile phone deals. But in terms of what it offers and whether or not it's worth becoming a customer, how does it fare? Let's find out.
Tariffs and plans
Your Co-op Mobile provides a straightforward selection of pay-monthly and SIM-only plans, offering excellent flexibility with 30-day rolling contracts across all options. Every plan comes with unlimited calls and texts, and data allowances range from 3GB to 100GB, catering to a wide variety of usage needs. Notably, all of the plans include 5G access at no additional cost, ensuring fast speeds wherever 5G coverage is available. Another key benefit is the free EU roaming included with all plans, allowing users to travel across Europe without worrying about extra charges for calls, texts, or data.
You Co-op Mobile runs on the EE network, meaning both coverage and data speeds are second to none.
Your Co-op Mobile's plans are climate-positive, meaning the company actively offsets carbon emissions, making them a good choice for the environmentally conscious. Also, Co-op members can enjoy further savings at the time of writing by using a discount code to get 20% off their monthly plan, adding even more value to the service.
For those who prefer traditional pay-as-you-go (PAYG) options, Your Co-op Mobile also offers flexible PAYG plans with bundles that last for 30 days, though data does not roll over if unused by the end of the month.
Phone and device range
When it comes to handsets, Your Co-op Mobile offers a specialised range of phones focusing on sustainability and accessibility over market-leading brands like Apple and Samsung. At the heart of its offering is the Fairphone range, which stands out for its ethical approach to manufacturing. The Fairphone devices are modular, meaning that users can easily replace key components like the battery or camera, significantly extending the lifespan of the device – again tying into the environmental angle.
In addition to Fairphone, Your Co-op Mobile offers several phones tailored to older users or those who require simpler functionality. This includes dumbphone models from Doro and Emporia, both of which focus on accessibility, with large buttons, clear displays, and hearing aid compatibility. These phones are designed for ease of use and offer excellent value to anyone seeking a more straightforward experience.
Value for money
When dealing with a Co-operative enterprise whose unique selling point is its ethics, value for money can take a very different shape. After all, what is the cost of improving the life of someone elsewhere in the world, or having less impact on the environment? Your decision on the value of the You Co-op Mobile's deals will therefore come down to how strongly you share those values.
In simple money terms, it won't really cost you anything more than you'd pay with other providers, with the added value of knowing you're being that bit kinder to the planet.
Customer service
Your Co-op Mobile no longer has an active Live Chat service, but you can call 01608 434000 to speak to an advisor in person. Lines are open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday only – there is no service at the weekend. Alternatively you can get in touch via email on yourcoophello@midcounties.coop, or via Twitter or Facebook.
In terms of customer satisfaction with the service, the You Co-op Mobile does not qualify for Ofcom’s regular report into customer satisfaction, so it is difficult to gauge the quality of customer service. However, 87% of EE customers expressed satisfaction with their service overall in Ofcom’s most recent survey, which has actually not yet updated its figures for 2024.
In contrast, on reviews website Trustpilot the Phone Co-op currently rates just 2.9 stars out of 5. However, this is a legacy from 2019 when the old branding was phased out, and there is no new Trustpilot page for the brand as it currently exists – perhaps deliberately, and perhaps not. Either way, we mention the legacy because You Co-op Mobile does not have the most star studded history in customer service, which could be a real problem when you aim your service mainly at older customers.
Network coverage
When it comes to network coverage, EE claims to have the best 4G coverage in the UK, reaching over 99% of the population. Before you sign up however, you can check what coverage is like in your area by visiting the coverage checker on the EE website. 5G is now available wherever you can get it too. Better late than never.
According to industry regulator Ofcom’s latest survey, 84% of EE customers are satisfied with the signal they receive, and only 2% had a reason to complain about the service in general.
It is still important to always check local coverage however as population coverage means just that – people able to access the signal, not geographical coverage. A large percentage of the population lives in towns and cities, which generally have great network coverage, but if you live in a rural area, you may not be covered.
Conclusion
Your Co-op Mobile is in a unique position when it comes to its target (older people), and its environmentally friendly ethos. Thes two things are not happy bedfellows if you want our honest opinion since it tends to be the young who care about the environment them most. Your Co-op Mobile does offer some specialist handsets which may well appeal to the hard of hearing or to older customers that you will struggle to find elsewhere, however.
As of this 2024 update, we still have deep concerns about its level of customer service however, and the fact it doesn't offer any premium phones at all is already going to make the provider moot for most people.
