OT - Anyone here a Virgin Mobile subscriber?

[ottawa-newbie]

Hi everyone!
After many years with Rogers, i'm considering changing cellphone companies... anyone here with a Virgin Mobile plan? What are your thoughts?

(FYI - I am currently on a Pay As You Go plan, as I rarely use my phone)

Thanks

 

[jenkh]

Hey,

I made the leap from Bell Mobility in the summer to Virgin. Quite honestly I love it.. the service is great (they use Bell's lines) and they have quite a few pay as you go options available. I love it as all the extras are free (call waiting, call display, voicemail etc) I also like how there payments last longer.

I'm not sure about rogers pay as you go, but bell has restrictions like lower denominations of money last less time, so if you use your phone rarely you can end up with a lot of money piled up on your phone. For virgin any amount lasts 4 months. Also you can check you balance right on your phone with just a clicik of a button, it displays on your phone, and you can add time with a card or if your credit card is on file with just a push of a button.

They also believe in keeping your phone number. So once you get a virgin phone you get a phone number and thats your number for as long as you are with them. So if you decide to upgrade to a better virgin phone the next month, no problem, it's all transferred over. None of that staying with the same phone, or being on a high paying plan to keep your number.

My only complaint is the service window is still growing. They still don't offer service in the states, but they said it is coming soon. ( I border hop for day trips frequently)

 

[sammi]

We've had a Virgin phone since April and love it and the services.

My DS was a Rogers subscriber but has finally had it with the price and so Santa is bringing him the Virgin phone he requested!

I love the fact that it doesn't expire for 4 months and will continue to use it and enjoy all of the cool features.

 

[KerriMc]

My dh recently dropped my cell phone (a Bell Mobility) and it bounced right down the stairs and cracked in half. He is a tad klutzy (he admits this!!). So we have been researching this and were debating going with a pay as you go because I only use my phone occasionally. Every time I have called about cancelling with Bell they always have some great offer to give me just to keep my service with them ... it is a whole department of people I think!!!!! Anyways ... these phones are on sale at Shoppers Drug Mart for $79 ... I think I might mention to dh (he owes me!!!).

How does the pay as you go work? You buy the minutes and then it runs out after a certain time period if you don't use them? Is it a lot to remember to keep on top of?

Thanks so much
Kerri

p.s. Has anyone tried the new PC phones or phone plans?

 

[jenkh]

I can only speak for Bell and Virgin for pay as you go.

For bell you can do it 1 of 2 ways. Give your credit card and they will automatically take the amount (for bell i believe it's 25) whenever your under a doller or when your expiry is close.

Or you can buy top up cards for amounts is 15, 25 and i think 50. You just dial a number and it's automatically added. The amounts do expire so you do have to keep an eye on them.


Virgin has a few options. They have the top up card as well. Except all there amounts last 4 months (substantially higher then bells, which $15 only last i think 30-45 days) They also have the credit card automatic version. (except again, there amounts don't expire as quickly) and then they also have just the normal credit card version (which is what i usually use) THey have your cc on file, and all you do to top up is press a button on your phone, type in your amount needed then type in your password you gave when you gave your cc info, and boom, you have your money.

Pay as you go phones are easy to maintain, but I would say Virgin is the clear winner for ease and especially for someone as yourself who says you rarely use your phone. It will be a lot cheaper because of the longer expiry times.

 

[Kelly Grannell]

I use Rogers, I hate Rogers, but stuck in wanting to use 850 Mhz GSM.

Virgin, Bell, Telus, they all use CDMA technology, poorer reception in contrast to Rogers 850 Mhz GSM.