Switch to Virgin Mobile - get new number?

gelato_cat

Hi all

I'm thinking of going SIM-only with Virgin Mobile - the website says I keep my existing phone number and handset and they will send me a SIM.

However, what do I do if I don't want to bring my existing number across (I'm on Orange PAYG and still get five free texts a day due to a glitch)? Does Virgin give me a new number?

Also, if I do bring my number across, what happens to the credit I have on my Orange PAYG account - do I lose it?

TIA

Suze

allthatmularky

Short but sweet - for you to decide if the 5 free texts are worth it.
Just an aside - do you realise that ASDA is half the price of Virgin and better coverage?

Suzey wrote: »

Hi all

I'm thinking of going SIM-only with Virgin Mobile - the website says I keep my existing phone number and handset and they will send me a SIM.

However, what do I do if I don't want to bring my existing number across (I'm on Orange PAYG and still get five free texts a day due to a glitch)? Does Virgin give me a new number? YES

Also, if I do bring my number across, what happens to the credit I have on my Orange PAYG account - do I lose it? YES

TIA

Suze

gelato_cat

Thanks.

I can get 300 minutes and 500 texts for £12/month - how does Asda compare?

Suze

allthatmularky wrote: »

Short but sweet - for you to decide if the 5 free texts are worth it.
Just an aside - do you realise that ASDA is half the price of Virgin and better coverage?

allthatmularky

Suzey wrote: »

Thanks.

I can get 300 minutes and 500 texts for £12/month - how does Asda compare?

Suze

From your OP - thought it was just PAYG not a SIM only deal (yeah I know it was in your OP when I look -its late ) - ASDA are 8p a min and 4p a text whereas as Virgin are 15p and 10p so if you were a low/occasional user this would be better.

gelato_cat

Do you know how I take my number to Virgin Mobile - do I have to get it released by my current provider? I have some SIMs around here which I could just nick the number off if that's the case.

Suze

kenrob

Suzey wrote: »

Hi all

I'm thinking of going SIM-only with Virgin Mobile - the website says I keep my existing phone number and handset and they will send me a SIM.

However, what do I do if I don't want to bring my existing number across (I'm on Orange PAYG and still get five free texts a day due to a glitch)? Does Virgin give me a new number?

Also, if I do bring my number across, what happens to the credit I have on my Orange PAYG account - do I lose it?

TIA

Suze

If you order a new SIM only contract via the Virgin Mobile website they will automatically assign you a new number. If you want to transfer a number over then call your current provider and request a PAC, place your order with Virgin and when the SIM pack arrives call them with the PAC and the CS will give you your porting date.

Any credit on the orange SIM will probably be lost, when I ported from O2 I lost all credit on the account. You will probably have to get your handset unlocked unless it's a SIM free one.

Ypaymore

If one of the Orange Sim Only Deals interested you.
http://shop.orange.co.uk/shop/paymsim
You could transfer number to it easily and get your existing payg credit credited to your account.

£20 cashback also available from cashbackkings.

redux

Some people don't seem to be reading the actual question

You don't have to transfer a number in; they just offer it as an option which they think some people will go for. For the OP, both keeping the old one going and having a totally new one seems to be preferred, which is perfectly possible.

gelato_cat

Thanks all - I will get a new number from them.

I did ring them last week to ask a few questions but couldn't get much sense out of the sales girl (I hear Customer Services is good though, so I'm not put off).

What I wanted to know from them was, when do the DDs get taken from my account? I know they have to post me a SIM etc but when does my first 30-day period with them start? Is it when I use the SIM for the first time, or is it the day I call them to get the SIM sent, or is it a couple of days after that when they assume I've received it? I would like to know this so I can time it for after my salary is paid.

I was told in answer to this question that if I didn't use the SIM within seven days, I'd be charged nothing (presumably as I have a seven-day cooling-off period as part of the distance selling regulations), but this didn't really answer my question.

Suze

gelato_cat

Anyone know the answer to my direct debit question above?

Suze

redux

Mostly you can't predict what the billing date will be. The first bill will usually be for a part month plus a full month. It might be worth asking the date before you make loads of calls; if the first period is only short you might go over the small pro rata allowance in the rush of the first couple of days.