SIM only mobile: Virgin or PlusNet

wallofbeans

I'm going to move my mobile SIM and have the options down to PlusNet or Virgin Mobile. The prices and amounts of data, minutes, text are similar and both as good as I need, so want to know if one is better than the other in terms of usage?

They both piggyback onto EE so coverage should be the same, the only difference might be how fast the 4G is (I hear it's nowhere near what official EE customers get), and perhaps there are other issues I don't know about...

Anyone have any insight into this?

Thanks,

d123

wallofbeans wrote: »

I'm going to move my mobile SIM and have the options down to PlusNet or Virgin Mobile. The prices and amounts of data, minutes, text are similar and both as good as I need, so want to know if one is better than the other in terms of usage?

They both piggyback onto EE so coverage should be the same, the only difference might be how fast the 4G is (I hear it's nowhere near what official EE customers get), and perhaps there are other issues I don't know about...

Anyone have any insight into this?

Thanks,

Whichever is the better deal, the service will be virtually identical.

AndyPK

Plusnet lost your number in the early days. So if your number is important to you...

Plusnet contract is only 30 days. vm 12 months.

Virgin prices go up with Rpi every year. Dunno about plusnet.

wallofbeans

I do care about keeping my number, but have never had that problem before. I don't mind sticking with a provider for 12 months. These things aren't an issue and, even though the Virgin option gives more data and more minutes, both give more than enough to cover what I need so it's just the speed of the data that I'm looking at really.

Does anyone have any knowledge of that? I've read that the piggybacking providers have very different speeds than if going direct to the companies hosting them.

[Deleted User]

wallofbeans wrote: »

I do care about keeping my number, but have never had that problem before. I don't mind sticking with a provider for 12 months. These things aren't an issue and, even though the Virgin option gives more data and more minutes, both give more than enough to cover what I need so it's just the speed of the data that I'm looking at really.

Does anyone have any knowledge of that? I've read that the piggybacking providers have very different speeds than if going direct to the companies hosting them.

You won't get the very fast 4G speeds from any MVNO except EE on their network (probably the same for all of the main carriers).

I get full (normal) 4G speeds on Plusnet (subject to signal).

One big difference (dependant on user) is that PN do not support sending shortcodes at all, Virgin do. They've just added a (huge :eek:) spending cap on them too due to new legislation:

https://help.virginmedia.com/system/templates/selfservice/vm/help/customer/locale/en-GB/portal/200300000001000/article/HELP-9454/New-limits-on-sending-text-messages-to-some-short-codes-on-Virgin-Mobile

I presume you can put a spending cap of your own choosing on Virgin, PN's can be set as low as £2 for out of allowance costs.

You can also change your tariff on PN if a better deal pops up on their website at any time (it comes into effect at the end of your current paid month).

maggot_drowner

I'm with virgin on a Black Friday deal that is a rolling 30 day contract.
So I can end it now if I wanted to.
No problems up to yet and any unused mobile data gets rolled over onto the next month which is nice!!
No complaints here on the internet speeds which has been good touchwood so far.

AndyPK

speed is excellent with virgin

Frozen_up_north

Compare the small print... For example Virgin do not allow tethering, check over spend caps (including phone calls, not just data).
If overseas roaming is important, check what countries are covered and what limitations there are when overseas.
Phone companies are awful when it comes to publishing their terms and conditions in easy to read/download format, so tread carefully.

pmduk

I've not noticed any other network yet set a spending cap on shortcode texts, so if it is a regulatory requirement, Virgin are ahead of the pack in implementing it.

[Deleted User]

pmduk wrote: »

I've not noticed any other network yet set a spending cap on shortcode texts, so if it is a regulatory requirement, Virgin are ahead of the pack in implementing it.

Sadly it's not actually of much use:-

What does this mean for me?

You’ll be able to send texts to the short code numbers if each individual text charge is less than £40. You’ll continue to be able to send texts to the short code numbers until you reach the total monthly charge limit of £240. If you’ve reached the monthly limit, you’ll be unable send texts to the short code numbers until the monthly charge limit resets.

wallofbeans

I was leaning towards Virgin Mobile and then I read about this 'RPI' increase every July. Does anyone know the details? Does this mean I'll get an increase in the cost of this mid-contract?