Australian first for Virgin with launch of month-to-month rollover data - second chance on your data!

Pyro on 04/03/2015 - 19:30

Virgin have announced a first for Australian mobile users: rolling over unused data from one month to the next to deliver a fairer deal on your plan.

It's a simple but significant step that has been taken in other mobile markets, but is a first in Australia and one that will shake-up how contract plans work and boost value for mobile phone users.

The mechanics of it are simple enough: any unused mobile internet data from one month rolls into the next month's billing.

It looks to be both a fairer way to use what've you paid for and a money saver.

http://www.techly.com.au/2015/03/04/virgin-mobile-offer-aust…

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Comments

  • ozhunter on 04/03/2015 - 19:39
    +1

    Your included data will always be used first, then any data value adds, then your rollover.

    It's annoying how this is the order they choose.

    • Pyro on 04/03/2015 - 20:17

      Yep - it's pretty good, but that's definitely a catch.

  • spychiatrist on 04/03/2015 - 20:56
    +1

    Pretty sure rollover data has been done before

    • Pyro on 04/03/2015 - 20:59

      In the US on T-Mobile and AT&T. Calls/texts credits have been.

    • ozhunter on 04/03/2015 - 21:18

      Yea I think so too, and it was Virgin who offered it. I think it was their Big Cap plans.

  • paulojr on 04/03/2015 - 21:40

    Oh what a joke, the catch is Virgin does not have sufficient network access to actually allow you to use this amount of data in a lot of suburbs, they over subscribe their network, so the roll over is their way of saying.. well if you got 5 bars of signal strength this month but no data actually passed through your data connect thanks to our dodgy network prioritization deals then maybe next month you might get lucky!!!

    I had their service for over 6 months with about a 2Gig quota and could never pull more than a tiny fraction of the quota each month in the inner melbourne suburbs no matter what device I used to access it, having a network engineering background I ran extensive tests on this and its most definately their network. e.g. put a telstra sim or even alternative optus provider sim in the device and no problems what so ever. After months and months of technical investigations and no help from virgin one of their customer service reps, Sheldon, that resigned shortly afterwards I found out admitted a very large number of customers had the same issues and I should not expect it to be resolved or get a refund for payments made so far. TIOs viewpoint was that the service agreement with virgin did not actually guarentee data services would be reliable hence virgin is technically not in breach for not providing a usable service!

    There is your catch!

    Buyer beware..

    I did not see the ACA report but I bet those gimmick focused reports at ACA glorified the sales pitch and did not look into the reality of being a virgin victim, oh sorry, customer…

    • Peace Maker on 04/03/2015 - 21:52
      +1

      I read (on Whirlpool from memory) that Virgin is owned outright by Optus and that they don't prioritise their traffic between Optus and Virgin. Not sure about the other MVNO's. The source on this was a tech from Optus.

      I've used Virgin for a few years and get sketchy reception in the outer suburbs, but great 4G speed and signal strength in the city (Brisbane).

      I think there are alot of variables at play. If you had identical handsets in the same location with both an Optus and Virgin sim, that would be a good indicator of what is really happening.

      • Pyro on 04/03/2015 - 22:13

        Virgin are owned by Optus which are owned by Singtel. Virgin use the Optus 3G/4G network.

      • paulojr on 08/03/2015 - 11:23
        +1

        I'm sure the general story from Virgin reps and no, my testing was not in low signal areas, this is in the inner suburbs. My testing was pretty extensive on this which is why I was happy to bring it to the TIO's attention at the time.

        It appears the virgin reps have negged me but this forum is about sharing information so you just show how decietful the company really is by trying to suppress a valid view.

    • hazzad on 05/03/2015 - 07:55
      +1

      Been with virgin for almost 4 years and can't say I've ever had any significant issues. 4g is quite fast for me and I rarely end up in a black spot.

  • eqv on 04/03/2015 - 22:11

    Vodafone prepaid is already offering a data rollover for a while now. Whatever data you buy using the data add-on will be rolled over as long as you recharge it again before the expiry date. http://support.vodafone.com.au/articles/FAQ/Retaining-unused…

    • Pyro on 04/03/2015 - 22:13

      Good point, although this is a post-paid contract

  • inherentchoice on 05/03/2015 - 02:45

    Hmm their SIM only plans still seem double or triple what I pay currently.

    • Jugg.Judy on 12/03/2015 - 19:49

      which network are you on? same data and credit/months?

  • daver on 05/03/2015 - 04:08

    Although they are not revealing the number of GB in this actual post. I am doubtful it is more than 89.1GB into my 4th week on Voda unlimited predated account +dashboard rollover.
    Historically, VF kept infinite features available. reasonable ISP from all accounts.
    (ex-Woolworths $29 per 221.00/5 GB rollover client 2012)

  • djlech on 05/03/2015 - 09:26

    Woolworths now optus has rollover up to total of 15GB for the last few years.

    • hazzad on 05/03/2015 - 09:41

      I think this new offer refers to post paid rather than pre paid. Rollover for data on post paid is something that has been called for, for some time now.

  • dfr on 05/03/2015 - 10:21

    I note that that they are asking customers to 'upgrade' to new plans that have rollover enabled, its not automatic. They say you don't have to resign or pay extra,

    So what are the new data roll-over plans, and are Virgin actually being fair? Well, there’s no surprises or hidden costs.

    Virgin told Techly that customers on an existing plan can swap to a plan of equal or higher value to access data rollover, and the data rollover plans are actually the same as current plans. The only change is actually more value – the $80 plan now has $300 included value for international calls and text, rather than $150.

    I have one of their old $19 plans, $450 inc value + 250MB + 2GB bonus plans and the equivalent plan is now $30 for $450 inc value with 500MB and no bonus data. I doubt if I will be able to get rollover enabled without paying extra but I will be happy if I am wrong.

    • dfr on 05/03/2015 - 14:48

      I called virgin and they confirmed that they could activate rollover but to retain my current data allowance I would have to upgrade to the $60 plan.

      So there are definitely 'extra' charges for some people despite what some articles have reported. In my case its $41 a month to enable rollover. I could get a 12GB monthly broadband sim for less than that.

      I think this is a marketing ploy to reduce uptake.

      • ozhunter on 05/03/2015 - 17:05

        I don't think there is any extra charges for people on their CURRENT plans.

        • dfr on 06/03/2015 - 09:53
          +3

          Agreed. New customers get the benefits. Loyal customers get the shaft.

        • paulojr on 08/03/2015 - 11:41
          +2

          @dfr:
          Certainly fits with my experience. Shafting is Virgin's expertise.

    • Jugg.Judy on 12/03/2015 - 20:11

      how did you get 2gb bonus, I am on $19 as well, 250 call + 250mb only..

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