Family Mobile - Withdrawing service and will cease to operate from 31st August 2015

LCR

"Users will be unable to make top-ups from July 1st 2015, and should use up remaining credit before closure date."

More info / to keep existing number see:
http://www.yourfamilymobile.co.uk/

Update: Please see MSE article below, unused credit will now be refunded at no cost:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/phones/2015/07/family-mobile-to-close-but-unused-credit-to-be-refunded

Gazzer

They are refusing to refund any unused credit even though they are cancelling the service. As far as I am concerned that is theft, it is not their money.

simax

To be fair, you do have 5 weeks to use it...

Gazzer

I assume like quite a few users I have a PAYG phone as I use a mobile very little and the remaining credit I have will probably last at least 6 months so I will not use it. It is their choice to terminate not mine.

SnowTiger

simax wrote: »

To be fair, you do have 5 weeks to use it...

What's "fair" about that?

Steve_xx

This is grossly unreasonable of them to terminate their service without reimbursing accounts that are in credit. If they refuse to refund then it should be referred to www.cisas.org.uk

Buzby

At least they are letting you use it up - much better than summarily being blocked and losing your number with no number port. If you want your credit, you can request it but there's a £5 charge. All mentioned within their T&C's.

As for spending money with ANY virtual network, why the surprise? The have a tendency to appear and disappear as their business models fall apart. Should you want less risk, go with a real network. It sometimes costs more, but you get what you pay for.

Steve_xx

Buzby wrote: »

At least they are letting you use it up - much better than summarily being blocked and losing your number with no number port. If you want your credit, you can request it but there's a £5 charge. All mentioned within their T&C's.

As for spending money with ANY virtual network, why the surprise? The have a tendency to appear and disappear as their business models fall apart. Should you want less risk, go with a real network. It sometimes costs more, but you get what you pay for.

Where does it say that you can have your credit for a charge of £5?

One would have expected more from this network since it was borne out of Ikea.

virgo17

Steve_xx wrote: »

One would have expected more from this network since it was borne out of Ikea.

I believe Ikea farmed it off a few years back. Probably realised there wasn't (enough) money in it.

Ian011

If they had any business sense they would have sold the entire customer base to one of the operators just starting a new mobile operation, such as the Post Office.

SnowTiger

Ian011 wrote: »

If they had any business sense they would have sold the entire customer base to one of the operators just starting a new mobile operation, such as the Post Office.

It probably has a tiny number of active users.

I have a SIM, but haven't used it for a long time. It's probably been disconnected.

The cost of integrating customers in to another operator may not be worth the effort.