Virgin mobile - cost to cancel contract?

Claremac

I have a 24-month contract with Virgin which they tell me goes to a rolling contract on August 14th. I realise that I won't be able to break the contract without paying for it. If I wish to leave I understand that I have to notify them on July 14th. I will be on holiday on August 14th and would really like to get a new phone at least a month before to set it up - either the Samsung Galaxy Note or the Galaxy S2. If it's the Note (which I would prefer) I would have to leave Virgin as they won't be doing it.

I have seen some really good deals around for both the Note and the S2. If I went for one of these deals now what are my options with regard to the Virgin contract? It would be essential that I keep my mobile number. I don't really understand how it works but is it

a) I could pay the remaining 5 months of my contract (£20.47 x 5) and get my PAC code switched to the new phone and contract. Or is there also an early cancellation fee on top?

b) I could put my Virgin Sim in the new phone and have both contracts running alongside each other until July 14th when I ask for my PAC code?

c) Another scenario I haven't thought of?

It may be better to wait for a couple of months when maybe the S3 will be out and the Note contracts seem to be getting cheaper all the time but that involves being patient!

I don't have any paperwork for my Virgin contract. I could phone Virgin to find all this out but would prefer to find some unbiased help here from anyone who has done something similar. Thanks in advance for any help.

grumbler

Claremac wrote: »

a) I could pay the remaining 5 months of my contract (£20.47 x 5) and get my PAC code switched to the new phone and contract. Or is there also an early cancellation fee on top?

£20.47x5 is the early cancellation fee. And you don't get PAC switched. You use it to port your number to other network.

b) I could put my Virgin Sim in the new phone and have both contracts running alongside each other until July 14th when I ask for my PAC code?

[STRIKE]PAC lasts for 30 days[/STRIKE]. Yes, if the new phone is unlocked or locked to T-mobile / Virgin.

c) Another scenario I haven't thought of?

You can get the new phone and the new contract, ask Virgin to switch you to PAYG when your current contract expires, then port the number to the new sim after coming back.

poshparrot

Claremac wrote: »

a) I could pay the remaining 5 months of my contract (£20.47 x 5) and get my PAC code switched to the new phone and contract. Or is there also an early cancellation fee on top?

Because you're in contract, there is an early cancellation fee. The best way to find out how much this would be is to ring up Virgin. Sometimes it can work in your favor if you pay the early cancellation fee and then recycle your phone for cash (for example, the early cancellation fee is £102.50 and your phone is worth £120)

Claremac wrote: »

b) I could put my Virgin Sim in the new phone and have both contracts running alongside each other until July 14th when I ask for my PAC code?

For this to work, the new phone would have to be either locked to virgin or completely unlocked. You said you were thinking about the Note, but you wouldn't be able to put your current sim into this phone if it's on a different network.

Claremac wrote: »

c) Another scenario I haven't thought of?

This sort of goes back to what I said under point a, but have you valued your phone here? You could be better off paying the cancellation fee and selling your phone meaning that you might not actually end up being out of pocket.

grumbler

poshparrot wrote: »

Sometimes it can work in your favor if you pay the early cancellation fee and then recycle your phone for cash (for example, the early cancellation fee is £102.50 and your phone is worth £120)

It's delusion that this works in your favor.
£120-£102.50=£17.50.
Don't cancel and recycle your phone for, say, £100 when the contract ends, and you will be £82.50 better off.

SaLoGo

Virgin Mobile don't charge a cancellation fee... just £20.47x5 plus any unbilled amount due.

Claremac

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Sorry to be so dense but I'm still confused! I've understood that my b) option is only possible with an unlocked phone or one on Tmobile network (couldn't be locked to Virgin as they don't do the Note). Also that I would need to pay Virgin £20.47 x however many months left on my contract when/if I wanted to leave. I didn't understand the bit about

"You can get the new phone and the new contract, ask Virgin to switch you to PAYG when your current contract expires, then port the number to the new sim after coming back"

as it seems that I would have the new phone and the new contract but not be able to use it with my existing number until my Virgin contract expires? And why would I ask Virgin to switch me to PAYG if I was wanting to leave them?

One thing I forgot to mention is that I want to pass my old handset on to my oh so wouldn't be looking to sell it. I would be grateful for any further explanation. Thanks.

grumbler

Claremac wrote: »

I didn't understand the bit about

"You can get the new phone and the new contract, ask Virgin to switch you to PAYG when your current contract expires, then port the number to the new sim after coming back"

as it seems that I would have the new phone and the new contract but not be able to use it with my existing number until my Virgin contract expires?

Yes, unless the new phone is unlocked or locked to t-mobile. Contract phones sold by cpw/e2save/osps/mobiles.co.uk and p4u/d-a-p come unlocked.

And why would I ask Virgin to switch me to PAYG if I was wanting to leave them?

This just simplifies the things if you don't want to cancel the contract early and you are away when your contract ends. IMHO, any early cancellation = wasting your money.

Claremac

Ah, that makes sense. Thanks for the help. I think I'll probably try to curb my patience and wait at least a couple of months in the hope that the price of the Note contracts go down before July.