Virgin Mobile Rewards Blackberry 8520 Curve Offer - Advice Please

Fiddyshilling · 13-10-2010, 19:01

Hi

Virgin Mobile just rang telling me I'm a valued and loyal customer of Virgin Media. They seem to have offered me an excellent deal on a free contract Blackberry 8520 Curve.

When they rang I was all ready to say "no thanks" but then they said that the £10 monthly contract charge will be waived and instead they will offset a £10 discount on my main Virgin Media bill to pay for it.

I was expecting to be told it will be £30-40 a month for 24 months etc. I kept asking what's the catch but they kept telling me there isn't one

Anyway, I've agreed to it

and they were going to deliver it to me on Saturday. I've just seen that an email from them says that there's an address discrepancy and that the order hasn't gone through. They say they'll call me again in the next 48 hours to clear it up.

Have I been really naive and gullible, or is this offer legit? I have a 28 day period to cancel from receipt of the phone and they are sending it with a freepost return envelope

Weigh-Man · 13-10-2010, 19:39

In other words, they have realised they have screwed up and now want you to pay the £10 per month. You are well within your rights to refuse to accept.

I got the same offer but didn't take them up on it, although they never offered to deduct the £10 from my phone and broadband.

Fiddyshilling · 13-10-2010, 20:09

Thanks. I'd not thought of it that way

I think I will cancel - I mean my current mobile is fine and I'm happy with Vodafone.

Weigh-Man · 13-10-2010, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiddyshilling

Thanks. I'd not thought of it that way

I think I will cancel - I mean my current mobile is fine and I'm happy with Vodafone.

It's still a pretty good deal if you are not a heavy user, the thing that put me off was the 24 month contract, 12 months I could have lived with.

Fiddyshilling · 13-10-2010, 21:44

Yeah the contract length is a bit of an issue - realistically though this is the only kind of contract I would ever consider.

I'm not a heavy mobile user and I would get the usual free minutes,texts etc. Decisions decisions....

purplegoldfish · 14-10-2010, 00:06

Regardless of the costs, I live almost slap bang in the centre of Newcastle and I struggle to get a Virgin Mobile signal. As soon as my contract is up I'm off back to 3

Fiddyshilling · 14-10-2010, 19:21

Yeah that's what I've been reading about Virgin's network coverage. A lot of people seem to think it's not up to much.

I should have gone with my gut on this one and just said no.

bapak · 16-10-2010, 05:46

I have had the phone since the 12th.The web access is really slow and the media player isn't woirking so the phone may be faulty.VM's techie folk still haven't rang back to do diagnostics.I think I will cancel as I have subseqently discovered I can get a Nokia X2 or Samsung Monte for £8.50 per month.I shall let you all know the outcome.

Tremse · 16-10-2010, 12:31

I came on here to ask the same questions as the OP!

I've been looking for a deal with unlimited /email web and low texts/call time as I rarely make any calls (1 a month on average) and I send only 15-20 texts. Most plans are for something like 500 minutes/800 texts to get unlimited email/web, so the Virgin Phone offer sounded great = unlimited email/web, 250 texts and 50 minutes talk time, I would never use all that but it's the closest to what I need.

At £10 per month for a Blackberry curve it does sound too good to be true and I have no idea on network coverage in my area and I don't know anyone else on Virgin so the free calls to other Virgin phones wouldn't really be a help.

Having read everyone's comments I'm cooling off the deal

Jim Casy · 16-10-2010, 19:42

My OH's friend took out this deal and it has been an absolute disaster from day one. The sim didn't register and when she phoned up they said she had used up her credit - doh it's a contract phone that's never been used. Then the sim got registered but she could only make calls / send texts no BB service. Phoned up twice and told it on both occasions it would be sorted within 24 hours.

She couldn't set up email. I had a look at it and it seemed to be set up for BB enterprise only. Tried to create email addresses but never worked. It was an unlocked phone so we tried another BB enabled sim in it and got the exact same problems.

The phone is being sent back. Virgin's off-shore customer service is as bad as Three's and that takes some beating.

bapak · 26-10-2010, 04:49

The phone is working ok now.Still not that impressed with VM's customer service-no call from the techies after 9 days and I only got advice and apologies after calling to cancel.Alll in all it is a good phone but there are cheaper deals out there.Since I was already paying £10 a month for a bog standard phone on the Canary tariff with Orange this is a better deal for me but even VM have better priced smartphones e.g.Samsung Monte for £8.50 per month.To the OP I would say cancel if you are really not sure-VM will send you packaging to return the phone.

Fiddyshilling · 26-10-2010, 19:09

Well, I did receive the phone - and so far I'm pretty impressed with it.

The only snag is the signal is a bit unreliable but the phone itself and the deal I got are both impressive.

I hope I don't come to regret it based on others people's opinions here

ruggs1234 · 26-10-2010, 20:13

Im currently on a sim only deal with Virgin..£10 for 200 minutes and unlimited texts but no internet. I dont need that many minutes or texts but I want to stick with Virgin. However I would like some internet access without paying more. If I sign up for this deal is there any reason I couldnt use the sim in another phone..or will it only work in a Blackberry.
Many thanks in advance.

bapak · 27-10-2010, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fiddyshilling

Well, I did receive the phone - and so far I'm pretty impressed with it.

The only snag is the signal is a bit unreliable but the phone itself and the deal I got are both impressive.

I hope I don't come to regret it based on others people's opinions here

For what it's worth I am keeping mine-it is an excellent phone and I am used to it now.I have had a few signal issues myself but that's par for the couse in Nottingham.

djfrancis · 27-10-2010, 19:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by purplegoldfish

Regardless of the costs, I live almost slap bang in the centre of Newcastle and I struggle to get a Virgin Mobile signal. As soon as my contract is up I'm off back to 3

<3 the 3 network

but dont virgin uses the t mobile mask?

13-10-2010, 19:01	#1
Fiddyshilling Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cleveland Posts: 93	Virgin Mobile Rewards Blackberry 8520 Curve Offer - Advice Please Hi Virgin Mobile just rang telling me I'm a valued and loyal customer of Virgin Media. They seem to have offered me an excellent deal on a free contract Blackberry 8520 Curve. When they rang I was all ready to say "no thanks" but then they said that the £10 monthly contract charge will be waived and instead they will offset a £10 discount on my main Virgin Media bill to pay for it. I was expecting to be told it will be £30-40 a month for 24 months etc. I kept asking what's the catch but they kept telling me there isn't one Anyway, I've agreed to it and they were going to deliver it to me on Saturday. I've just seen that an email from them says that there's an address discrepancy and that the order hasn't gone through. They say they'll call me again in the next 48 hours to clear it up. Have I been really naive and gullible, or is this offer legit? I have a 28 day period to cancel from receipt of the phone and they are sending it with a freepost return envelope

13-10-2010, 21:44	#5
Fiddyshilling Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cleveland Posts: 93	Yeah the contract length is a bit of an issue - realistically though this is the only kind of contract I would ever consider. I'm not a heavy mobile user and I would get the usual free minutes,texts etc. Decisions decisions.... Last edited by Fiddyshilling : 13-10-2010 at 21:44. Reason: Missing word

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13-10-2010, 19:39	#2
Weigh-Man Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 2,073	In other words, they have realised they have screwed up and now want you to pay the £10 per month. You are well within your rights to refuse to accept. I got the same offer but didn't take them up on it, although they never offered to deduct the £10 from my phone and broadband.

13-10-2010, 20:09	#3
Fiddyshilling Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cleveland Posts: 93	Thanks. I'd not thought of it that way I think I will cancel - I mean my current mobile is fine and I'm happy with Vodafone.

13-10-2010, 21:34	#4
Weigh-Man Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 2,073	Quote: Originally Posted by Fiddyshilling Thanks. I'd not thought of it that way I think I will cancel - I mean my current mobile is fine and I'm happy with Vodafone. It's still a pretty good deal if you are not a heavy user, the thing that put me off was the 24 month contract, 12 months I could have lived with.

14-10-2010, 00:06	#6
purplegoldfish Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 298	Regardless of the costs, I live almost slap bang in the centre of Newcastle and I struggle to get a Virgin Mobile signal. As soon as my contract is up I'm off back to 3

14-10-2010, 19:21	#7
Fiddyshilling Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cleveland Posts: 93	Yeah that's what I've been reading about Virgin's network coverage. A lot of people seem to think it's not up to much. I should have gone with my gut on this one and just said no.

16-10-2010, 05:46	#8
bapak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nottingham Posts: 4,952	I have had the phone since the 12th.The web access is really slow and the media player isn't woirking so the phone may be faulty.VM's techie folk still haven't rang back to do diagnostics.I think I will cancel as I have subseqently discovered I can get a Nokia X2 or Samsung Monte for £8.50 per month.I shall let you all know the outcome.

16-10-2010, 12:31	#9
Tremse Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 864	I came on here to ask the same questions as the OP! I've been looking for a deal with unlimited /email web and low texts/call time as I rarely make any calls (1 a month on average) and I send only 15-20 texts. Most plans are for something like 500 minutes/800 texts to get unlimited email/web, so the Virgin Phone offer sounded great = unlimited email/web, 250 texts and 50 minutes talk time, I would never use all that but it's the closest to what I need. At £10 per month for a Blackberry curve it does sound too good to be true and I have no idea on network coverage in my area and I don't know anyone else on Virgin so the free calls to other Virgin phones wouldn't really be a help. Having read everyone's comments I'm cooling off the deal

16-10-2010, 19:42	#10
Jim Casy Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 117	My OH's friend took out this deal and it has been an absolute disaster from day one. The sim didn't register and when she phoned up they said she had used up her credit - doh it's a contract phone that's never been used. Then the sim got registered but she could only make calls / send texts no BB service. Phoned up twice and told it on both occasions it would be sorted within 24 hours. She couldn't set up email. I had a look at it and it seemed to be set up for BB enterprise only. Tried to create email addresses but never worked. It was an unlocked phone so we tried another BB enabled sim in it and got the exact same problems. The phone is being sent back. Virgin's off-shore customer service is as bad as Three's and that takes some beating.

26-10-2010, 04:49	#11
bapak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nottingham Posts: 4,952	The phone is working ok now.Still not that impressed with VM's customer service-no call from the techies after 9 days and I only got advice and apologies after calling to cancel.Alll in all it is a good phone but there are cheaper deals out there.Since I was already paying £10 a month for a bog standard phone on the Canary tariff with Orange this is a better deal for me but even VM have better priced smartphones e.g.Samsung Monte for £8.50 per month.To the OP I would say cancel if you are really not sure-VM will send you packaging to return the phone.

26-10-2010, 19:09	#12
Fiddyshilling Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cleveland Posts: 93	Well, I did receive the phone - and so far I'm pretty impressed with it. The only snag is the signal is a bit unreliable but the phone itself and the deal I got are both impressive. I hope I don't come to regret it based on others people's opinions here

26-10-2010, 20:13	#13
ruggs1234 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 312	Im currently on a sim only deal with Virgin..£10 for 200 minutes and unlimited texts but no internet. I dont need that many minutes or texts but I want to stick with Virgin. However I would like some internet access without paying more. If I sign up for this deal is there any reason I couldnt use the sim in another phone..or will it only work in a Blackberry. Many thanks in advance.

27-10-2010, 17:38	#14
bapak Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nottingham Posts: 4,952	Quote: Originally Posted by Fiddyshilling Well, I did receive the phone - and so far I'm pretty impressed with it. The only snag is the signal is a bit unreliable but the phone itself and the deal I got are both impressive. I hope I don't come to regret it based on others people's opinions here For what it's worth I am keeping mine-it is an excellent phone and I am used to it now.I have had a few signal issues myself but that's par for the couse in Nottingham.

27-10-2010, 19:15	#15
djfrancis Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: North West London Posts: 507	Quote: Originally Posted by purplegoldfish Regardless of the costs, I live almost slap bang in the centre of Newcastle and I struggle to get a Virgin Mobile signal. As soon as my contract is up I'm off back to 3 <3 the 3 network but dont virgin uses the t mobile mask?

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Virgin Mobile Rewards Blackberry 8520 Curve Offer - Advice Please