Virgin Mobile PAYG - cheaper abroad?!

VodkaSorbet

I am on a direct debit PAYG tariff with Virgin Mobile as I rarely use my phone so that's the cheapest thing for me.

When I was recently abroad I sent a few texts, and looking at the bill they cost 8p, where as texts in the UK cost 15p.

This seems a bit mad, but Virgin's explanation is that "call charges in the EU fall under different regulations under law".

Now I was under the impression that the UK was in the EU, but maybe I'm wrong.

Does this make sense? Perhaps I should be looking for a different tariff!

Thanks!

Herongull

15p per text is a crazy price - the going rate is more like 5p to 6p.

If you have data, you can get texts from fishtexts for 2p.

Ovivo gives you 150 minutes, 150 texts and 400mb free each month with extra texts costing 5p or if you need lots more you can buy a bundle.

No one pays 15p per text (unless they want to through money away).

grumbler

VodkaSorbet wrote: »

This seems a bit mad, but Virgin's explanation is that "call charges in the EU fall under different regulations under law".

Now I was under the impression that the UK was in the EU, but maybe I'm wrong.

Does this make sense? Perhaps I should be looking for a different tariff!

The EU regulations (stupid and anti-market IMO - like the majority of their regulations) cover roaming charges only. That's why they result in a 'mad' situation when domestic prices are higher than roaming ones.

That said you can find much lower domestic charges if you just shop around a little.

VodkaSorbet

Can I get less than 15p per text without a contract or paying anything up front?

I literally spend about £2.50 per month on my phone (less if you discount charity donations by text) so I don't want to be paying for bundles and I don't want to have to keep 'topping up' which is why the Virgin direct debit PAYG works for me - only pay for what I use but don't have to worry about running out of credit.

grumbler

See Ovivo mentioned above. 150m+150t cost £0.

Alt see http://mobilenetworkcomparison.org.uk/compare/