BHIC - if you did top up with credit yourself while overseas why did you say in a previous post that as far as you were aware you couldn't top up a PAYG with credit abroad? or I have misunderstood you?

sanji - I think he has moved to my shoulder....

I can certainly top up my PAYG overseas, and it shows the balance in £ sterling with no charge to check.

If you click onto the Virgin Website HERE you will find a list of all the Virgin Tarriffs including costs to use your mobile abroad, or dial 789 from your handset, press option 5, then press option 3.

It costs .35p per one page of text to send a text message from overseas, and it is totally free to receive text messages.

Meerkat2505 wrote:

BHIC - if you did top up with credit yourself while overseas why did you say in a previous post that as far as you were aware you couldn't top up a PAYG with credit abroad? or I have misunderstood you?

Because in as far as I am aware, it is NOT possible to buy airtime credit vouchers for Virgin Mobile whilst in Spain. Indedd you cannot use your Etop up card to buy airtime credit. I am sorry if I confused you, I forget to mention you can use your Debit Card. that was an oversight on my part and I apolise if my replies appeared somwhat ambiguous (spelling?)

Meerkat2505 wrote:

it shows the balance in £ sterling with no charge to check.

I did not say you WOULD be definately charged, but in as far as I am aware, SOME networks DO charge to check your balance.

Wow that was quick BHIC, Thanks

Thats ok, sorry if I confused you. That was clearly not my intention. I was trying to say with SOME networks, including Virgin, it may not be possible to buy airtime vouchers whilst overseas.

I totally forgot about topping up via your Credit or Debit card.

Aha! thanks BHIC - you meant vouchers and I was thinking of debit cards. Confusion over.

It does not cost anything to check your balance whilst abroad if you are on Virgin Mobile and as B.H.I.C. says, it's 35p to text but nothing to receive and I believe that it's 95p a minute to make a call and 65p to receive calls.

Sue

Indedd you cannot use your Etop up card to buy airtime credit

Indeed you can

http://www.virginmobile.com/mobile/services/abroad/payasyougo/when_you_get_there.jsp

SanJi

Use the Telefonica booths to phone the UK, gets rid of all the shrapnel you pick up on nights out. Use mobiles with Spanish SIM cards to keep in touch around the resort. I don't want anyone phoning me up when I'm on holiday anyway, I can't imagine any news so good it won't wait and I sure as hell don't want any bad news!

This was on the news tonight.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5172418.stm

SanJi x

Sanji wrote:

Indeed you can

I am with Virgin and I have tried to top up my Virgin PAYG in numerous outlets in Benidorm, including Andy's Phone Shop in the Indoor Market. And in all of these places I have been unable to use my E-TopUp Card (For VIRGIN).

I contacted Virgin and they confirmed that it IS possible to use your E-TopUp card in Spain, but I have so far not found anywhere where this is possible.

Perhaps Sanji, you would care to name the outlets in benidorm where this is possible as this would be a big help.

The link you have provided does not list any outlets.

BHIC ... I would suggest that you may best pursuing that matter with Virgin, if it is suggested on their website that such a facility is available.

David

The link you provided confirms that it is NOT possible to buy airtime vouchers for Virgin abroad and while I appreciate it sttes in the link that you can use your EtopUp card in Spain, I have not been able to find abywhere in Benidorm where this is possible. I have seen the sign in many shops where it displays the International EtopUp service, but when you show the shopkeeper the Virgin EtopUp card, they simply shale their heads in a negative manor indicating 'no'.

Virgin Mobile vouchers aren't available overseas, so make sure you take some with you, or register your credit or debit card before you go. If you've registered your card and you have access to the Internet, then you can top up online

BHIC ... as I have already said, I suggest that this is a matter you pursue with Virgin.

David

David HT Mod wrote:

BHIC ... I would suggest that you may best pursuing that matter with Virgin, if it is suggested on their website that such a facility is available

David, I did that, I sent them a very long detailed E-Mail but I never received a reply....just a standard email saying my email had been received and was being dealt with.....that was last October and to date Virgin have failed to respond.

But I assure you I have attempted to use my Virgin E-TopUp card in Benidorm, following Virgin'ds vrebal instructions, I spoke to an Operator on 789, and what they told me is simply not possible.

I'm NOT saying you cannot iuse other Network EtopUp cards in Spain (Benidorm), but from what I have personally experienced it is NOT possible to use Virgin E-TopUp cards in Spain.

If anyone knows any outlets anywhere in Benidorm where this IS possible I would appreciate your feedback and the names and locations of these outlets for future reference.

Ok, I stand corrected and apologies to Sanji. I have this minute spoken with a Virgin Operator on 789 and asked her if it is possible to use my Virgin E-TopUp Card in Spain (Benidorm).

The information she gave me is as follows:- As from July 2004, it has been posible to use your Virgin EtopUp Card in Spain, Italy Greece and Portugal. However you can only top up with £10 or £15 and you will be charged a flat fee of Two Euros in addition to the purcahsed Airtime credit. It should be noted however, that at the moment the number of outlets where it is possible to use your Virgin E-TopUp card in the aforementioned countries is very limited and it may not be possible to use your card in some outlets despite them displaying the International E-TopUp sign (ETU).

That would explain why I was unable to top up my Virgin PAYG with my Virgin E-TopUp card. So maybe if any HT members are aware of anywhere in Benidorm where this is possible, they could post names and locations?

To save all that hassle I'd give Virgin the old heave ho and change networks, no problem at all with my Vodafone PAYG! The Passport service gives you cheaper calls too!

Regards - Taggy

Taggy wrote:

To save all that hassle I'd give Virgin the old heave ho and change networks, no problem at all with my Vodafone PAYG! The Passport service gives you cheaper calls too

Hi Ya Taggy. I agree with you and would like to do that, but the reason why I remain with Virgin is because in as far as I am aware, Virgin are the only Network to offer Text Messages at .03p per one page of text message sent.

My elderly mother is on Virgin PAYG and as she is only in receipt of a basic State Pension is she on a somewhat restricted tight budget. If I switch to another Network Service Provider, and she has to pay .10p, .12p, .15p or even .20p a message to send, and she tends to send me text messages comprising of at least six pages, she maight decide that is too expensive and I would loose my daily contact with her via this method of communication. I'm talking of course when my mother uses her mobile in the UK.

Sorry that was a wee bit , but I hope you can see that whilst I appreciate your advice, in my own individual case, that is not really possible.

Thank you anyway.

Gary