Thank you for taking the trouble to reply. With the help of a family member, I have now solved the problem of lack of service. It seems that, as I was on pay as you go, and hadn't used the facility for some time, Virgin in their wisdom withdrew the service. I received no warning, as 'we don't have your e-mail address'. Really? I have all my internet services, including e-mail, from Virgin, and they had previously sent text messages to my phone, but not this one. They were also quite happy to pocket the £10 top-up I mistakenly thought was needed to restore service, and it seems I am not entitled to a rebate. Quite how that makes them 'entitled' instead, I can't fathom.
However, hope springs eternal, and I now have a new SIM card, and a minimal contract to give me a service I will only need in an emergency. I must give credit where it's due, as my complaint was dealt with by customer service efficiently and politely, and at least I now know the whys and wherefores.
