Anyone else been lied to when taking a sim only?

[Rdibble]

Hello,

Curious to know if anyone else was lied to, to take a 18 month contract and pay in good time to get a mobile contract later down the line?

I was categorically told, after 3 months I could upgrade and there would be no credit check.

This was obviously a total lie because I have had this contract 6-8 months now, and there is a credit check, that in my books is being mis sold something, this is not how you retain customers... as soon as my contract is up I am off and will never return, I know the agents need to make commission but lying is NOT OKAY.

[Arissa_H]

Hi Rdibble. 

Thank you for posting and welcoming you back onto our forums.

Sorry to see you have been misinformed regarding the credit check. 

If a customer decides to upgrade, we will run affordability checks/soft credit check but we'd only perform a hard credit check if it's their first time taking out a handset loan with us.

Has this recent search appeared on your credit history? 

Thank you.

[Rdibble]

Hello Arissa,

There is no searches on my credit file I just checked, On my account it says my credit limit is £100, I was trying to get a phone for £34 a mere £20 more than I am paying now? 

I am also a Virgin Broadband customer for more than a year and never missed a payment

Thanks

[Arissa_H]

Thank you for replying Rdibble. 

Can you please elaborate on what has happened? 

Was your order progressed after the result of the credit check?

Thank you.

[Rdibble]

Sure

I spoke to chat support, he instantly said I was unable to get the phone I wanted (S22 Ultra) but said I can get a cheaper priced phone, so I agreed to have a look at what other phone I may be able to get, I consented to a credit check (As stated I was promised when I was sold my current contract that as long as I pay on time, there would not be a credit check)

I was not able to get any phone and the man on chat support tried to sell me an o2 sim instead, again saying "If you take this 30 day sim only with o2 you will be able to upgrade after three months) It seems like the sales team will lie to sell you something for commission at all costs.

I would much prefer if they was up front and honest and said "You may be able to upgrade after 3 months" I am sure that would be classed as mis selling something?

[Arissa_H]

Thank you so much for explaining Rdibble. 

So I can look into this in more detail, I will be private messaging you. 

Please watch out for the purple envelope.

Thank you. 

[enlli · Accepted solution]

Selling you an O2 SIM will not get you a new phone on Virgin. The two accountancy systems are separate and any phone upgrade would have to be done through O2.

Also O2 requre a credit check for first time SIM only contracts so that would be a search that stays on file for 6 months.

[Rdibble]

Oh yeah!
I know, they merged but still separate, ofcs the sales guy just wanted commission and again to mis sell me a contract on the false promise of a phone upgrade later when I have proven I can afford it

Thanks though, I never took a second contract, I learned my lesson with Virgin getting me locked in for 18 months on false promises!