Best Sim-only Deals guide Discussion

spk2014

Hi on Friday 2.8.19 was looking for a sim only deal, checked this site for what was on offer, liked Virgin mobile deal. used the virgin link once you clink on Apply , took me to Virgin https...was running slow, so I called using internal number 789, spoke to Virgin who accepted and took all details, set up account...gave me temp number so I can port mine later.

well paperwork arrived 7.8 and from the promoted deal of
£6/m x 12m contract, 2gb, 1000minuted and unlimited text, Virgin paperwork stated £7/m x 12m contract, 1GB and 1500min.

I called and complained and they said they cannot accept third party deals, to which I said pls check that you offered the deal last Friday and it was on Moneysaving site..etc. They have refused to accept this offer existed in their system.

ok its not a lot of money but on 2 separate occasions they refused so I have escalated and will hear from so called CISAS??

Anyone had similar exp, I have has 3 sim accounts with them with no issues pls am a full virgin media customer and now am questioning their service.

d123

spk2014 wrote: »

Hi on Friday 2.8.19 was looking for a sim only deal, checked this site for what was on offer, liked Virgin mobile deal. used the virgin link once you clink on Apply , took me to Virgin https...was running slow, so I called using internal number 789, spoke to Virgin who accepted and took all details, set up account...gave me temp number so I can port mine later.

well paperwork arrived 7.8 and from the promoted deal of
£6/m x 12m contract, 2gb, 1000minuted and unlimited text, Virgin paperwork stated £7/m x 12m contract, 1GB and 1500min.

I called and complained and they said they cannot accept third party deals, to which I said pls check that you offered the deal last Friday and it was on Moneysaving site..etc. They have refused to accept this offer existed in their system.

ok its not a lot of money but on 2 separate occasions they refused so I have escalated and will hear from so called CISAS??

Anyone had similar exp, I have has 3 sim accounts with them with no issues pls am a full virgin media customer and now am questioning their service.

The special deals like MSE offer are only offered by the unique online link, did you confirm the price/minutes/data etc with the telephone agent when you decided not to wait for the website to load and phoned to get a deal?

If you did, ask them to review the tapes of the call, if you didn’t it’s a hiding to nothing and only goodwill might get you the deal, if you’ve gone in guns blazing and demanded the ombudsman you might be out of luck.

You went outside the procedure and getting angry with Virgin for your mistake and impatience is not where you should be looking...

DCFC79

spk2014 wrote: »

Hi on Friday 2.8.19 was looking for a sim only deal, checked this site for what was on offer, liked Virgin mobile deal. used the virgin link once you clink on Apply , took me to Virgin https...was running slow, so I called using internal number 789, spoke to Virgin who accepted and took all details, set up account...gave me temp number so I can port mine later.

well paperwork arrived 7.8 and from the promoted deal of
£6/m x 12m contract, 2gb, 1000minuted and unlimited text, Virgin paperwork stated £7/m x 12m contract, 1GB and 1500min.

I called and complained and they said they cannot accept third party deals, to which I said pls check that you offered the deal last Friday and it was on Moneysaving site..etc. They have refused to accept this offer existed in their system.

ok its not a lot of money but on 2 separate occasions they refused so I have escalated and will hear from so called CISAS??

Anyone had similar exp, I have has 3 sim accounts with them with no issues pls am a full virgin media customer and now am questioning their service.

Afraid to say I agree with the pp, should have waited for the website to load or try again in an hour or try on your mobile.

spk2014

Thank you to D123 & DCFC79 for your input. When I called I did say what deal I wanted and that is why I went ahead. Anyways will be more careful next time I look at any deals being posted.

AshleyH

d123 wrote: »

As Lebara is PAYG I would hope there’s no credit check.

Googling them (and from what people have posted here in the past) would indicate they have absolutely awful customer service, so buyer beware.

Well they are PAYG BUT the above plan is a recurring 30-day plan billed to your chosen payment offer so is effectively no different than a 30-day credit-scored SIM-Only plan but without the credit check.
I was assured by the Operations Manager who rang me that Lebara are really upping their game re Customer Service and I had no reason to doubt that. Certainly poor Customer Service with my previous supplier SMARTY was the reason I had to leave them. SMARTY have NO way to call them at all and IMS chat takes up to two days to get a response, which is usually tickbox general response anyway.

chanz4

PlusNet may of been cheap, but the amount of times the call service or data went down was stupid and they really didn't care

[Deleted User]

chanz4 wrote: »

PlusNet may of been cheap, but the amount of times the call service or data went down was stupid and they really didn't care

When did calls & data go down for PN?

Timbo46

The Three deal includes using inclusive minutes etc. in 71 countries including Australia (where I am visiting in December).
With EU roaming you can make calls WITHIN the foreign country you are in as part of inclusive minutes, but I understand the Three deal means when in Australia I can call UK numbers ONLY, not Australian numbers - they would still count as an overseas call at astronomical cost.
Please could someone who understands these things better confirm this? and if I'm right could MSE be urged to make this clear up front when showing deals from Three? it's a VERY important distinction... If I'm wrong, I'll be grabbing this deal ASAP!
thanks

Rich2808

Timbo46 wrote: »

The Three deal includes using inclusive minutes etc. in 71 countries including Australia (where I am visiting in December).
With EU roaming you can make calls WITHIN the foreign country you are in as part of inclusive minutes, but I understand the Three deal means when in Australia I can call UK numbers ONLY, not Australian numbers - they would still count as an overseas call at astronomical cost.
Please could someone who understands these things better confirm this? and if I'm right could MSE be urged to make this clear up front when showing deals from Three? it's a VERY important distinction... If I'm wrong, I'll be grabbing this deal ASAP!
thanks

Yes - their roaming service to 71 countries only provides free calls and texts home to the UK and free data (in line with your plan). Calls to a local Australian number would £1.40 a minute - but local texts are only 2p. There are no charges to receive texts or calls locally or from abroad.

http://www.three.co.uk/support/roaming/australia

For most people on holiday that is probably sufficient - using data locally and calling friends and family (and banks or travel insurers in emergencies) back home.

The other alternative of course is to buy a local SIM when you get there. I bought one in Singapore for less than £10 last year which gave me a free local travel pass similar to the London oystercard (norminally £5), £2 of free local travel, 100GB of data for a week, 500 mins of free local calls and 30 minutes of free international calls including the UK as well as a free cable car trip (worth £7.50) for 7 days. Obviously you would need to swap sims over which is annoying - but not that big a deal and easier than tying yourself to a 12 month contract just for this. EE charge £6 a day for just 150mb of data in Australia - and each day it resets at midnight UK time so if you start using it at 11pm UK time (9 am Sydney time) your day could be only 1 hour!

Plenty of Australian SIM options for visitors too.

https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/Guides/Best-phone-plans-for-travellers-in-Australia

If you opt for three topcashback are offering good cashback this week on SIM contracts. You could in theory get unlimited data free for six months on one option including the £75 cashback albeit with a two year contract for £20 a month thereafter.

https://www.topcashback.co.uk/3-mobile/

Timbo46

thanks Rich2808 - as I thought - shame, as the Three deal looks pretty good. I'll stick to buying a SIM in Oz as usual. Thanks for the link...