Virgin Mobile in US

[Spindler2007]

Hello

I want to ask all those that have Virgin Mobile phones, with me being on Pay As You Go with free texts and free data tariffs, can the tariffs be affected with going abroad to Florida? If so, will I need to make sure I have plenty of credit before I go?

 

[Elise79]

You will be charged roaming rates - I'd check with virgin to see what they are. If you have an unlocked phone you may want to look at Three - they do not have roaming for most things in the US.

I'm on EE and I think calls were £1.50 a minute and texts were £1 to send or receive. I don't use my UK mobile in the US as we have US sims and numbers that we've had for years.

 

[wayneg]

Using Virgin mobile PAYG in the USA will cost you a small fortune here are the prices from their website:
Making a Call £1.50 (per minute)
Recieving a Call £1.00 (per minute)
Sending an SMS 30p
Sending an MMS 30p
Data £5.00 (per MB)

We are on Three, costs us £10/month for a 2GB data, unlimited texts, 200 mins which is more than enough for us. We can use our package in UK, USA and many other counties, no extra charge.

 

[Jon84]

We are on Three, costs us £10/month for a 2GB data, unlimited texts, 200 mins which is more than enough for us. We can use our package in UK, USA and many other counties, no extra charge.

Is that PAYG?

I saw the news story last week about their increase of older pay monthly tariffs.

Even with the price rise, for regular travelers, it's still a bargain!

 

[wayneg]

Is that PAYG?

I saw the news story last week about their increase of older pay monthly tariffs.

Even with the price rise, for regular travelers, it's still a bargain!

No, mine is a contract but they are still the best mobile company to use for PAYG.
Prices here http://www.three.co.uk/Support/Roaming_and_international/Roaming_abroad

Isn't the price rise for the all you can eat deal? it was only £17/month which was way underpriced.

 

[Jon84]

No, mine is a contract but they are still the best mobile company to use for PAYG.
Prices here http://www.three.co.uk/Support/Roaming_and_international/Roaming_abroad

Isn't the price rise for the all you can eat deal? it was only £17/month which was way underpriced.

Thats a good deal you've got. My wife's contract is up for renewal in Sept so we'll probably move her onto a tariff like that, maybe even the all you can eat.

Now you've said it, yes it was for the all you can eat, which up to £30 is still good value!! But you do have to pay upfront costs for alot of handsets I think. Still works out cheaper over 24 months I think!

 

[Spindler2007]

Using Virgin mobile PAYG in the USA will cost you a small fortune here are the prices from their website:
Making a Call £1.50 (per minute)
Recieving a Call £1.00 (per minute)
Sending an SMS 30p
Sending an MMS 30p
Data £5.00 (per MB)

We are on Three, costs us £10/month for a 2GB data, unlimited texts, 200 mins which is more than enough for us. We can use our package in UK, USA and many other counties, no extra charge.

Thanks for the info on what the charges are but what about the tariffs? I get 3000 mg of data and 3000 texts each month for putting more than £15 on my phone. Will they be affected while I'm there?

 

[Jon84]

Thanks for the info on what the charges are but what about the tariffs? I get 3000 mg of data and 3000 texts each month for putting more than £15 on my phone. Will they be affected while I'm there?

Probably best to call them on their customer service number

 

[wayneg]

Thanks for the info on what the charges are but what about the tariffs? I get 3000 mg of data and 3000 texts each month for putting more than £15 on my phone. Will they be affected while I'm there?

As above ring and ask to confirm. I am not really sure what you mean.
I read it as you will pay the prices I quoted while in the US, what you get included with your monthly tariff is only for use in the UK.

 

[ford family]

Using Virgin mobile PAYG in the USA will cost you a small fortune here are the prices from their website:
Making a Call £1.50 (per minute)
Recieving a Call £1.00 (per minute)
Sending an SMS 30p
Sending an MMS 30p
Data £5.00 (per MB)

We are on Three, costs us £10/month for a 2GB data, unlimited texts, 200 mins which is more than enough for us. We can use our package in UK, USA and many other counties, no extra charge.

Wayne, I'm sure you are right for the vast majority of users.
However, for those, like us, who spend a few months each year in the US the Three deal does not work. After a period of time, even if you haven't used the phone at all, they cut it off so that you cannot even make emergency calls.
We had a payg account which we rarely use as most of the time we use WhatsApp on free wifi. Having breached their rules by being abroad for two months they switched our account off. It worked again when we returned to the UK and our credit balance was intact but we were warned that if we left the country again, even for the weekend, our phone account would be suspended again.
There is no higher tariff to go on to, the account is simply suspended. So, having a charge of £1.50 per minute and then not using it, except in an emergency, is far better than paying 3p a minute but the account doesn't work when you most need it.

ford family

 

[wayneg]

Wayne, I'm sure you are right for the vast majority of users.
However, for those, like us, who spend a few months each year in the US the Three deal does not work. After a period of time, even if you haven't used the phone at all, they cut it off so that you cannot even make emergency calls.
We had a payg account which we rarely use as most of the time we use WhatsApp on free wifi. Having breached their rules by being abroad for two months they switched our account off. It worked again when we returned to the UK and our credit balance was intact but we were warned that if we left the country again, even for the weekend, our phone account would be suspended again.
There is no higher tariff to go on to, the account is simply suspended. So, having a charge of £1.50 per minute and then not using it, except in an emergency, is far better than paying 3p a minute but the account doesn't work when you most need it.

ford family

Yes there are T&C's that need to be read but for the average holiday maker there are no issues. We use it around 4 times a year abroad upto 4 weeks each trip, no problems at all.

 

[Spindler2007]

I've figured out what to do to save money on my phone. I'll switch off the data connection and use the Free Wi-Fi at both the Disney and Universal parks. Luckily I can text through Wi-Fi as well which is good