Virgin mobile contract problem

Pink_Flamingo

Can anyone help? A year ago I signed up with Virgin Media on a 2 year contract, paying just over £10 monthly for my mobile phone and use. I have just been abroad ~ to Ireland, Sweden and Norway ~ and I was unable to get any signal so I couldn't use the phone even though I had rung up customer services before I left and was assured it was all set up to be used abroad. I was able to see the available networks but wasn't allowed access to them. I want to leave Virgin as a result as the same thing happened a few months ago (in Greece) but I have a year left to run on my contract and they are saying that I would have to pay for that year as using a mobile abroad is "an extra service" and that my monthly payment only covers free minutes etc and use within the UK, therefore they are not breaching their side of the contract. Is this right? (They are currently looking into whether any technical problem caused the problem.) Any advice would be very gratefull received! Thanks very much in advance.

macman

Why are you blaming VM for a lack of reception on foreign networks? It's not their responsibility unless (as you say) it's a technical issue with the handset.
So you can't void your contract on this basis.
Yes, your inclusive minutes are for UK service only, any calls you make/receive abroad are exclusive and charged at roaming rates.

dave461_2

Are you sure they activated the roaming?
I phone up before i went away a few years ago and they 'forgot' to activate it!