Virgin Media Community

[Stevenrw]

I've been with Virgin Mobile for a few years.

Initially they were using the EE network and the signal was OK at home but useless at a lot of the locations I frequent.

Then I bought a new Xiaomi 5G enabled phone (not from Virgin) and I started looking into the 5G issue.

I got conflicting stories depending on who picked up the call, but the long & the short of it was that I was advised that they also had a tie-up with Vodaphone for their 5G service, and that I could get a new SIM and be migrated over to the Vodaphone network.

I took the precaution of trying a bona fide Vodaphone PAYG SIM before committing to anything and much to my surprise the coverage in my usual haunts was really good. Much better that the old EE service.

So as everything looked good, I also managed to squeeze a slightly improved plan from them and switched over to Vodaphone, but having to sign up to a new 24 month SIM only contract.

Now I hear that because they had already set up a partnership with O2 it appears that Vodaphone subscribers will "soon" be migrated over to O2 network with no change of SIM required.

Problem is that the O2 coverage here (and in my usual stamping ground) is virtually non-existant.

So, after all that my question is if the service is no good can I be released from my contract early? It still has about 18 months to run but it seems to me if they change the service I should not be tied to the contract if it is of no use to me.

Has this happened to anybody else yet?

[enlli]

Yes, the migration to O2 will be within the next few months 

As to leaving? Well this came up with the last move from EE. The answer appears to be with great difficulty and jumping through every hoop they put in your way.

[Tom_W1]

Hi @Stevenrw thanks for your post although I'm sorry to hear of your concerns regarding our switch to the O2 network. 

I can't confirm anything concretely at the moment but like always, we will aim to offer the best possible connection. If you do have issues when you change (even if you believe this is very likely at the moment), please let us know once the migration has happened and we'll absolutely look into this further for you.

Many thanks

[cje85]

O2 and Vodafone generally share masts, and in much of the country coverage isn't hugely different (speeds on the other hand can vary massively). Unfortunately there are always some exceptions.