it seems that it is only a trial for one week, so does that mean that I can stay on my existing plan if I tell them I want to?

All PAYG phone networks/tariffs are a rip-off. Only Genie represents anything like 'value for money'. I'm moving to Genie from One2One/T(urd) Mobile next week.

I still think it's ridiculous that we have to pay for SMS in this country when Email is largely free.

I was having a look at Googles Newsgroups & here is an email that T - Mobile sent one of their many unhappy customers! It can be summed up as if you dont like it leave! But have a look for yourself..... Google Email from T - Mobile

Excuse me if I've missed something, but how can you have a one week trial for a tariff that is designed to get cheaper when you spend over £10? To take advantage of the cheap calls after £30, you're going o need to make a lot of calls during you one week trial.

I'd watch. I'm moving away from Genie to Virgin Mobile and taking my handset and number with me. I surrendered my contract (had 3 months to go), but I'm happy to pay the £20 to get off them.

Why? The customer service is the WORST in the world. It took me 5 days to get a PAC Code off them, it cost me over £8 in phone calls. Their customer service is 59p a minute or something from your genie mobile, and 50p a min if you call them from your landline. And even then their crap, as with all BT-related companies.

I just got my PAC code from T-Mobile. Going out to buy a Virgin service pack right now.

T-Mobile is/was a good network, been with them for over 3 years. I hope they realise their new price plans are a mistake soon, because customers, like me, will be voting with their feet.

I'd like to go with Orange, they're my second choice, but they make you pay for Voicemail

It says 30p a min for first 2 mins, then 5p after that on the Pay as you go box, can you not get trading standards involved? or is there small print saying they can alter these prices?

Orange offer the Virgin tariff on their network (which, as Virgin, offers free voicemail).

Are you kidding me?! More info!

Orange have offered the Virgin tariff for some time. If works as the post pay option on Virgin, rather than the pre-pay option (i.e. you need to have the bill sent to you and pay later). But the pricing structure is virtually identical.

Like Virgin, when you buy a new phone you pay more than you would if you were on a normal monthly tariff as the handsets are not subsidised. But the Orange option is still cheaper. For example:

Nokia 3330 - Orange £99, Virgin £129
Nokia 8210 - Orange £179, Virgin £209
(above prices at the Carphone Warehouse)

Added benefits of being on Orange is that you can change to a normal monthly tariff at any time (including most pay monthly tariffs from T-Mobile, Vodafone and O2).

dvs is right about the Virgin talkplan on Orange. Its called Orange Value Promise, its been available for ages. You can even port your existing number to it if you want. Orange Value Promise

I had the letter from T-Mobile and I phoned them to say that if they change my tariff I'm off to Virgin as they have a plan similar to the one I was using with One 2 One, the operator quickly said I could carry on with my tariff and they won't change it unless I do, if I did then I wouldn't be able to go back, she also let me off of the 25p call charge because I complained (if its a complaint or they can't help you, tell them you don't want to pay the call charge and they usually honour it)

Here is what Oftel have to say about the numerous complaints from unhappy T- Mobile customers Oftel In brief it can be summed up as we don't care! Good old Oftel the toothless watchdog!

Yeah they didn't have much to say did they? more like F**k Offtel we're not interested.

If a company like T-Mobile forces its customers to spend more or be charged an extortionate amount for a local call, I think bodies like Oftel should take it more seriously and look into it.

Although i do not like the changes, Pay as you go is for Kiddies, or people who want to use there phone in an emergency. Either way, its better for them, or does not really effect them. For kids, they have that many mates at school, and that many different networks, its making it cheaper for them to call around. 10p a min to another network is not too bad. For people in an emergency, we are talking a a few minutes of calling here, so it will cost them about £1, and how often do emergencys happen?

If you use your phone for more than emergencys then you should be on contract, get the right price plan, and it will be cheaper for you and greater value.

Only make a few calls a month? the first 2 minutes were 30p a minute anyway, so call just 3 minutes, 10 times a month and thats £6.50 on the new one it will cost £2.50 extra, (£9.00) and whats £2.50 now? I see people shove £5 in a slot machine! If you can afford the luxuary of a mobile phone, then £2.50 should not be such a big deal.

Well I just got my five Virgin sim cards for all my family which cost me £50 with £25 of calling credit, so it bye bye T-mobile.

and as for consumer watchdogs there all the same it a con trick, if they fool one person for one minute they think its clever untl you use them then it's back to RIP-OFF BRITAIN.

T-mobile is german, I think, anyone know the german tariffs

It's not a luxury, it's a vital utility.

No they are a luxury, same as TV is. Its just as they are so common now you take them for granted.

And you know what type of work I am involved in and how I use my phone do you?

There is a plan to suit everyone on contract. If you use it for incoming calls then outgoing call charges are not going to matter if they are altered.

Going to get a Pay as you go land line next?

And I *want* to choose a contract over a reasonably priced pay as you go... why?

Because Pay as you go is so expencive, and offers limited services. Also the cost of the handsets is expencive.

So you're telling me, again, that you know which services i would benefit from and/or need... you dont seem to accept that whats right for you isnt right for everyone..

Handset prices dont factor in much for me. I've only had two seperate ones over the last 3 years.

I never said that, i said Contract cover EVERY Situation.

.... which just makes my point. If contract covers EVERY situation then noone over 18 would have pay as you go.