Virgin Mobile?
Discussion
Not had any real problems. One minor problem - I had a message saying my voicemail was still being set up for about 12 months despite phoning their helpdesk five times. I could access it via the automated voicemail setup process and got a 10 second message "Your voicemail is already set up so if you wait a moment, we'll put you straight through!" so my voicemail checks took about 10 seconds longer than normal but meant I could access the voicemail via this backdoor.
I'm on Virgin Mobile, have been for a while.
V Mobile are a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which means they don't have a network f their own - they run the service over the T-Mobile network. Which means that if T-Mobile doesn't work where you want to be, the chances are Virgin Mobile won't either.
They have some good deals, I upgraded to an HTC desire recently - they used to have older generation handsets but recently are much better at getting handsets out quickly.
One thing to be aware of is the moble data charges - they charge 30p a day for data usage, which you need to add on to the cost of the phone if you want to use that. You don't get charged for the days you don't use data though. I tend to have mobile data turned off unless I need it, so it's not a big issue for me.
V Mobile are a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) which means they don't have a network f their own - they run the service over the T-Mobile network. Which means that if T-Mobile doesn't work where you want to be, the chances are Virgin Mobile won't either.
They have some good deals, I upgraded to an HTC desire recently - they used to have older generation handsets but recently are much better at getting handsets out quickly.
One thing to be aware of is the moble data charges - they charge 30p a day for data usage, which you need to add on to the cost of the phone if you want to use that. You don't get charged for the days you don't use data though. I tend to have mobile data turned off unless I need it, so it's not a big issue for me.
I'm a recent convert, as the tariffs are excellent value.
e.g. The contract I'm on replaces a PAYG setup and for £8.50 a month I get 100 texts, 100 minutes + 100 minutes to Virgin mobiles and a free phone, which is less than I used to spend on top-ups @ Orange. IIRC this is a discounted tariff (should be £10) due to being a cable/broadband customer with Virgin.
The data is 30p a day when used, but seeing as I only have a 2G phone I rarely use it. I believe you can do an add-on to your contract for unlimited data at £5 a month.
Coverage seems pretty good; out 'n' about and at work I usually have a strong signal. Home seems to be in a bit of a dead spot, so downstairs I need to leave the handset on a windowsill. Fine upstairs though.
e.g. The contract I'm on replaces a PAYG setup and for £8.50 a month I get 100 texts, 100 minutes + 100 minutes to Virgin mobiles and a free phone, which is less than I used to spend on top-ups @ Orange. IIRC this is a discounted tariff (should be £10) due to being a cable/broadband customer with Virgin.
The data is 30p a day when used, but seeing as I only have a 2G phone I rarely use it. I believe you can do an add-on to your contract for unlimited data at £5 a month.
Coverage seems pretty good; out 'n' about and at work I usually have a strong signal. Home seems to be in a bit of a dead spot, so downstairs I need to leave the handset on a windowsill. Fine upstairs though.
It's quite confusing - still waiting for a definitive answer
Virgin Mobile Website said:
Buy today and get:
3 months free phone insurance. Cover your Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly phone, and the first 3 months are on us. After that, its just £5.99 a month.
Unlimited web access for 30p a day You only pay on the days that you access the Internet from your phone.
3 months free phone insurance. Cover your Virgin Mobile Pay Monthly phone, and the first 3 months are on us. After that, its just £5.99 a month.
Unlimited web access for 30p a day You only pay on the days that you access the Internet from your phone.
It is very confusing because the 30p per day thingy ma bobby is on every tarrif link that you click even if it says they include it.
And on top of that some of the tarrifs offer
unlimited mobile internet
and other
unlimited web browsing?
eta: to correct awful typos
And on top of that some of the tarrifs offer
unlimited mobile internet
and other
unlimited web browsing?
eta: to correct awful typos
Edited by Dan_1981 on Monday 12th April 16:38
Dan_1981 said:
It is very confusing because the 30p per day thinkgy man bobby is on every tarrif link that you click even if it says they include it.
Yes, I see how that could be confusing.Dan_1981 said:
And on top of that some of the tarrifs offer
unlimited mobile internet
and other
unlimited web browsing?
Same thing, typed in by 2 different monkeys unlimited mobile internet
and other
unlimited web browsing?
aclivity said:
The website could be clearer, but I guess they use a common template for all phones - it's just that the Desire isn't available on one of the cheaper tariffs where you don't get unlimited internet bundled.Edited to add: I think any Virgin tariff at £20 or over comes with unlimited data.
Edited by pdV6 on Monday 12th April 16:44
pdV6 said:
aclivity said:
The website could be clearer, but I guess they use a common template for all phones - it's just that the Desire isn't available on one of the cheaper tariffs where you don't get unlimited internet bundled.Edited to add: I think any Virgin tariff at £20 or over comes with unlimited data.
I've even spoken to someone who works at VM this week, and they agreed that the information is unclear.
However, following that conversation it seems I was wrong and PDV6 is correct - the tarriff should not incure the extra 30p a day. The reason I have been charged the 30p is because I upgraded mid-month; my new contract won't take effect until my renewal date, after that I won't incur the 30p for each day I use the mobile web. We've confirmed this in the office, as well - the 3 of us who have HTC desires, that is. 2 of use already had Virgin mobile accounts, and have incurred the 30p charge until renewal date, the one who got a whole new account has not been charged the daily data rate.
There is a fair use policy in place, not sure what the limit is but as I use the wifi connection on my HTC desire when at home or in the office, I can't see me racking up much mobile data usage. When I have worked out how to tether my laptop to the phone that may go up a little when travelling.
aclivity said:
There is a fair use policy in place, not sure what the limit is but as I use the wifi connection on my HTC desire when at home or in the office, I can't see me racking up much mobile data usage. When I have worked out how to tether my laptop to the phone that may go up a little when travelling.
It's 1GB per month on unlimited and 25MB per day on the 30p/day deal.aclivity said:
The reason I have been charged the 30p is because I upgraded mid-month; my new contract won't take effect until my renewal date, after that I won't incur the 30p for each day I use the mobile web.
I didn't twig that you'd actually been charged the 30p rate!Yes, VM are quite flexible at letting you swap tariffs, but only as from monthly renewal date rather than mid-month. They should explain this when you upgrade / swap tariff (but it's easily lost in the noise, I guess!).
pdV6 said:
aclivity said:
The reason I have been charged the 30p is because I upgraded mid-month; my new contract won't take effect until my renewal date, after that I won't incur the 30p for each day I use the mobile web.
I didn't twig that you'd actually been charged the 30p rate!Yes, VM are quite flexible at letting you swap tariffs, but only as from monthly renewal date rather than mid-month. They should explain this when you upgrade / swap tariff (but it's easily lost in the noise, I guess!).
pdV6 said:
aclivity said:
There is a fair use policy in place, not sure what the limit is but as I use the wifi connection on my HTC desire when at home or in the office, I can't see me racking up much mobile data usage. When I have worked out how to tether my laptop to the phone that may go up a little when travelling.
It's 1GB per month on unlimited and 25MB per day on the 30p/day deal.You can get round the 30p per day by adding a £5 per month top-up for 1Gb of data usage.
Also worth digging deep into the site for the pre-pay international data top-ups.
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