Why buy data add-ons?

[Ruth_C]

I have run out of data and I have 10 days left in the month, I'm considering my options. I am wondering what the  advantage of buying a data add-on would be? It says off-plan data use is £3/GB and an add on is £20/3GB - if the add-on costs more why not just go off plan? What am I missing?

[Andrew-G]

Check the wording carefully.  Looks to me like the £3/GB is for "up to 1GB per day".  In that case, if you used 0.3 MB each day for ten days, then you'd be paying £3 per day, so £30 for ten days of out of plan use.  Whereas the data add on lasts until the 3GB is used or your plan refreshes, and is "only " £20.

So if you can avoid data use altogether (eg by turning mobile data off when not needed), and used exactly 1 GB on three days without going over (which either gets blocked or triggers the daily out of plan charge of £3) then that's £9 you'd pay "out of plan", compared to the easier to manage £20 add on.

It's designed this way to make the maximum money for the company - and VM aren't unusual in that sort of structure.

[JoeKing1VM]

Just to add some times it works out cheaper to change your tariff depending on your budget. Every so often Virgin has a promotion deal on their sim only so it's always good to look online or even shop around elsewhere.

Just say.

Joe

[Ruth_C]

Thanks for your reply, that makes sense. That may work out cheaper for me so I think I will just use off plan for now.

No point upgrading plan - I have a 2GB allowance and normally only use 0.1 - 0.5GB, but I am helping family move house and have had no wi-fi access for a week, won't be set up until Tuesday, so I am chewing through data!!