Go to Virgin from Rogers?

[Abez316]

what do you guys think? should i make the jump from Rogers to Virgin? i heard good things about them and they have good plans. Not to mention better reception from parent company Bell. Let me know about your experience with Virgin.

[ank529]

I recently switched from Rogers to virgin. I had been with Rogers for more than 7 years. I've been with virgin for 2 months so far so good. Much better reception every where I go, faster data speeds, better higher end android smartphones, better plans and better customer service.

Only bad thing I've noticed is that tech support isn't open 24 hours a day. Tech support with virgin is only open when customer service is open. Also customer service isn't open all the time. In order to talk to tech support you have to first talk to customer care then get transferred to tech support.

Virgins plans and phones arent marked up as high as Rogers. I get pretty much full bars everywhere I go. Although I am paying more with virgin I am happier. My current plan with virgin gives me unlimited calling and texts.

My current plan:

$50 - unlimited Canada wide calling anytime

$30 - 6gb data

Free caller id/voicemail and unlimred texting to anywhere

$80

[Abez316]

wow thanks for the reply, i have been with Rogers for awhile but i work for the source now and they are owned by Bell,which also own Virgin here in Canada. Everyone at work has Bell or Virgin and they get reception and i dont. Also i would get a discount if i went with virgin or Bell since i work for The Source. The only phone worth getting on Virgin right now is the galaxy s2.

[whoa-albert]

There's only been one time I need to call customer service and they weren't available because it was 2AM. But I think it's a fair trade off since their customer service representatives are always pleasant to talk to.

Since you get a discount, there's no reason not to go with Virgin.

[ank529]

wow thanks for the reply, i have been with Rogers for awhile but i work for the source now and they are owned by Bell,which also own Virgin here in Canada. Everyone at work has Bell or Virgin and they get reception and i dont. Also i would get a discount if i went with virgin or Bell since i work for The Source. The only phone worth getting on Virgin right now is the galaxy s2.


I tried the s2 first but I didn't like it. I ended up going with the sensation. I'm very happy with it. I rooted it, its and nice fast plus great battery life now. Both phones are great. It's just a matter of preference.

[Abez316]

Thanks for the info guys. my contract is up at the end of the month with Rogers so ill wait on that.

[Machina]

Hm... is Virgin subject to the same customer service woes that I keep on hearing from Bell? I admit that I haven't paid much attention to the subsidiary networks (Fido, Koodo, Solo, etc.) before, but I was looking at switching over to Bell or Telus and getting ahold of the Nexus.

However, I was wondering what people's experiences with Virgin are; any particular reason to choose Virgin over Telus here in the lower mainland, B.C. (aside from the fact that I'd have to wait an extra month for the Nexus w. Telus)

[MattyMattMatt]

Hey there fellow employee... Yes, our discount is nice, but it only affects the base plan price. Virgin is also much faster at handing it out. Virgin is a good company to go with. I actually think entry level is nice too. Gio and wildfire anyway. You could always wait on the nexus. If you tell your manager he will source one for you.

[manster2029]

Hm... is Virgin subject to the same customer service woes that I keep on hearing from Bell? I admit that I haven't paid much attention to the subsidiary networks (Fido, Koodo, Solo, etc.) before, but I was looking at switching over to Bell or Telus and getting ahold of the Nexus.

However, I was wondering what people's experiences with Virgin are; any particular reason to choose Virgin over Telus here in the lower mainland, B.C. (aside from the fact that I'd have to wait an extra month for the Nexus w. Telus)
I went from Bell to Virgin and I can tell you that even though they are really the same company the service is night and day different (awesome with Virgin, beyond horrible with Bell).

[ank529]

I went from Bell to Virgin and I can tell you that even though they are really the same company the service is night and day different (awesome with Virgin, beyond horrible with Bell).


I agree. I kinda use the comparison between future shop and best buy. Their both owned by the same company. But I always have a much better experience at best buy than I do at failure shop, I mean future shop.

[ih8reno]

Virgin mobile is a great provider. Always has the best customer service and great signals in most areas. I came from crappy Bell (parent company) and couldn't be happier about the switch.

[THS1989]

I recently switched from Rogers to virgin. I had been with Rogers for more than 7 years. I've been with virgin for 2 months so far so good. Much better reception every where I go, faster data speeds, better higher end android smartphones, better plans and better customer service.

Only bad thing I've noticed is that tech support isn't open 24 hours a day. Tech support with virgin is only open when customer service is open. Also customer service isn't open all the time. In order to talk to tech support you have to first talk to customer care then get transferred to tech support.

Virgins plans and phones arent marked up as high as Rogers. I get pretty much full bars everywhere I go. Although I am paying more with virgin I am happier. My current plan with virgin gives me unlimited calling and texts.

My current plan:

$50 - unlimited Canada wide calling anytime

$30 - 6gb data

Free caller id/voicemail and unlimred texting to anywhere

$80

I get canada wide calling, north america texting, unlimited incoming, caller id, vm ect

All for $30.

Then $10 for flex data.

This is with fido though.

[DanielRA]

dell plz . (http://50centlyricsindaclub.info)

[stingpan]

In my experience of 3.5 years with Virgin Mobile I have to say it was an aggravating disappointment. I have been negotiating a data plan for the first time and not only have they consistently lied to me and neglected me as a customer but also they refused to dish out what was promised to me. Perhaps the 10 or so sales reps I've had to deal with the last month and a half are incompetent but there is no excuse for guaranteeing a plan and telling a customer that they have put it in my record ready to be activated next time I enter a store only later to have me find out, while I'm in Virgin Mobile store, that they never did such thing.

Just to give a few more examples:

1. a fictitious plan given over the phone which I only realized while I was at the mall ready to purchase the plan.
2. I called customer service again to ask about said plan and have them listen to the recording to prove I wasn't hearing things. A 24 hr call back was in order. They never called back.
3. I inquire again for the recording review. They never had the case sent for review. They said they would review it asap and get to me within 3 days. One week later, and to this day, there is no call back.
4. Finally negotiated a decent plan with a 20% discount which they assured would be applied to the full 3 years contract (originally it was only applied for 1.5 years). I walk into the store happy to purchase the new plan only to find that they never applied the discount for the full 3 years even though they had verbatim relayed their notes in my account during the call.

It all ended terribly with a call where they outright refused to make the appropriate changes to my account of which I was guaranteed. My contract is up and I wouldn't rejoin Virgin Mobile even if they paid me. Absolutely crappy customer incentives will save you barely any money and as soon as you want any changes to your plan or want to ask for something you think you deserve as a long-time customer, they will turn their heads and completely ignore you.

[ank529]

I get canada wide calling, north america texting, unlimited incoming, caller id, vm ect

All for $30.

Then $10 for flex data.

This is with fido though.

But then how is ur coverage? When I was with Rogers always had bad coverage no matter what location or phone I was using. Network speeds were also very slow. Also got tired of Rogers selection of android phones. In the last few months Rogers has gotten better in that department. U get what u pay for. Wanna pay less and get a carppy network? Or pay more and get a better network.

[kirubelkasaye]

I've been with Virgin for roughly 4 years, and so far they have provided no troubles, and i have provided none. When I do need help, their customer service representatives are always friendly and help me solve my problem. I also switched from Rogers and would say that reception is a lot better in places where Rogers would have minimal coverage. My input :)

[wiggy999]

Virgin service and coverage is very good... But I'm thinking of going to Koodo and saving almost 30 bucks a month.... i don't feel that they are competeing on price at all...of course, the big 3 really don't compete :) I need a plan with few talk minutes, VM and flexible data. With my new Playbook, I'll want some extra data room or the flex plan.

[tee]

virgin is a lot cheaper than rogers and i think they have much better smartphones. i don't think you will regret the switch.

[saharreyhan]

I get canada wide calling, north america texting, unlimited incoming, caller id, vm ect

All for $30.

Then $10 for flex data.

This is with fido though.

What is the name of your plan?

[saharreyhan]

I recently switched from Rogers to virgin. I had been with Rogers for more than 7 years. I've been with virgin for 2 months so far so good. Much better reception every where I go, faster data speeds, better higher end android smartphones, better plans and better customer service.

Only bad thing I've noticed is that tech support isn't open 24 hours a day. Tech support with virgin is only open when customer service is open. Also customer service isn't open all the time. In order to talk to tech support you have to first talk to customer care then get transferred to tech support.

Virgins plans and phones arent marked up as high as Rogers. I get pretty much full bars everywhere I go. Although I am paying more with virgin I am happier. My current plan with virgin gives me unlimited calling and texts.

My current plan:

$50 - unlimited Canada wide calling anytime

$30 - 6gb data

Free caller id/voicemail and unlimred texting to anywhere

$80

How did you waive you CID and VM fee?

[Zod5000]

How did you waive you CID and VM fee?

I'm on the $55 dollar smartphone plan (which I think is 60/month now). Includes 200 anytime minutes, 10 buddies (unlimited calling), unlimited texts, a gig of data, and free calling after 6pm/weekends.

Anyways I got them to throw in the free voicemail/call display when I got my new phone last july.

It was sort of convoluted. I was on telus and they didn't have s2, so I was immediately looking to switch to someone who did. I didn't want to use bell, so it left virgin.

I called virgin's customer support line and asked about it. They told me it shouldn't be a problem, but get the kiosk where I buy my phone to do it. I asked the kiosk and they said it could only be done over the phone, after the phone is purchased (ie the kiosk has no flexibility in the packages). Seeing as you have 14 days to return the phone I bought it. I called the virgin customer support line again and explained all this, and she politely added it to my package.

I got the idea from other threads I had read. Some people say it varies on which rep you get. Instead of spazzing out at a rep for not doing it, just say ok and hang up the phone. Then call back later and try again.

Also if you just bought the phone, you can say the kiosk said it would be ok, if not, i'll just bring back the phone? could help.

I'm not sure they would throw it in, if you hadn't just bought the phone, and you were under contract. At that point you have no bargaining power. You can't bring back the phone and you can't easily get out of the contract.

[ank529]

How did you waive you CID and VM fee?

Call customer service and ask for it. You may not get it the first time you call depending on who u get. Also ask for at least a year credit some reps just give 3 months. I was able to get 3 years free. You need to sign up with virgin first and then call them. The kiosks can't do any credits.