Help - on SIM only deal but need new mobile

shopping_queen_2

Hi - I wonder if anyone can help with some advice please?

I'm a Virgin home customer and as part of that deal get a SIM only deal of 300min/300 txts per month for £10. This is ideal for what I need.

I've just smashed my mobile though so need a new phone. The SIM free deals are really expensive so thought about going for a PAYG and getting unlocked if necessary. I think this will be the case if I buy anything other than a Virgin PAYG - does anyone know??

Anyway, looking for a phone with MP3 player, camera, email and web.Looking to spend no more than £100 if possible but could stretch a bit. Thought about Tocco Lite although LG Cookie is a good price on Very with a £30off code on the Discount Codes thread. Someone on this thread also recommended the Sony W995 but not sure how that compares.

I'm so confused . . . . can anyone help??

Thanks!

PinheadSK

Tocco Lite... got one, great phone!

I bought it as an upgrade to my old phone as I'm also on a sim only deal. If you buy it from somewhere like Carphone Warehouse, then all their phones are already unlocked. However, buying it from anywhere will mean you will have to pay for the phone and a £10 top up that you're not going to use. I have a £10 orange sim that I just keep on standby in case I need it. I didn't want it (I'm with O2) but had to buy it with the phone.

I paid £80 for the Tocco Lite, plus the £10 orange top up.

HTH...

Sean

shopping_queen_2

Thanks Sean for your help. Didn't know that about the Carphone Warehouse so will definitely try there first.

ioscorpio

Why don't you phone Virgin and see if they will do you a deal on a new PAYG phone for loyal service.

shopping_queen_2

Virgin don't seem to do retention offers (despite having 2 landlines, BB and 2 SIM only contracts with them in our household!). I called them and they were able to offer me nothing better than the deals which were advertised on the website, which aren't great. Their call centre is also based in the Philippines which makes negotiation difficult!

I think I'm going be forced to do a contract with another provider to get a new phone.

bigmuffins

Hi
I have similar deal and spoke to Virgin recently - have you checked your 'Rewards' to see how much you have in the pot? This is a sum that is added to with each bill paid, not sure how they calculate it but is dependent on how much you have spent. Anyhow this can be used towards cost of a new phone.
I wasn't aware of this, so was pleasantly surprised. Is only for Virgin phones though and they may not be competitively priced....

Just thought info may be useful.
:beer:

mrsr

shopping_queen wrote: »

Hi - I wonder if anyone can help with some advice please?

I'm a Virgin home customer and as part of that deal get a SIM only deal of 300min/300 txts per month for £10. This is ideal for what I need.

I've just smashed my mobile though so need a new phone. The SIM free deals are really expensive so thought about going for a PAYG and getting unlocked if necessary. I think this will be the case if I buy anything other than a Virgin PAYG - does anyone know??

Anyway, looking for a phone with MP3 player, camera, email and web.Looking to spend no more than £100 if possible but could stretch a bit. Thought about Tocco Lite although LG Cookie is a good price on Very with a £30off code on the Discount Codes thread. Someone on this thread also recommended the Sony W995 but not sure how that compares.

I'm so confused . . . . can anyone help??

Thanks!

Ring Virgin on 789 from your handset and ask what crave rewards you have.There is also new sim only deals for media customers there refered to as supersize deals these also give extra Virgin mobile to virgin mobile minutes on top of your bundle of mins and texts

Freebyman

I would also go with the advice from bigmuffins, I have recently checked my rewards and found I have £30 off a new phone so its well worth registering your account on virgin mobiles site.

loopy_lass

why not look at the o2 simplicty its a 30 day contract and has some cracking deals, ok i know you still have to buy a phone but as someone said carphone warehouse phones are unlocked.

Also look at tesco although they work on the back of O2 i am led to beleive they are locked to tesco, but not 100% sure.

Asda mobile sims are a good deal, and asda phones are ok too.,.. im led to beleive their phones are also unlocked but again not 100% sure so would need to check.

HTH loops

O.W.E.I

Did anyone get anywhere with this as I am now in the same postion.

I'm also confused as to whether a rolling sim monthly dd contract is classed as Contract or PAYG?

Ta!

elfen

Look on Virgin to check your rewards pot, then look at phones online. If they can't help you or you want to save your pot, take your old phone to Carphone Warehouse and trade it in for a new phone on the cheapest network (all phones are unlocked - it's just the SIMs are bundled in so you don't pay as much - also pay by card if you can as if you pay by cash you need to top up £20 not a £10 with a card - usually the cheapest is Orange and it means you get Orange Wednesdays then too - they top up straight to the SIM not to a card or voucher)