On 16 Mar, 19:29, "dg" <drgree...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I am finding that I don't need all my free minutes and texts from my
> contract plan, and may not use any some months.
>
> I've seen some good offers from various PAYG plans, so I am
> considering moving to one of these.
>
> There is a potential big cost saving, but are there any disadvantages
> in moving to PAYG?

I use Virgin PAYG, with a direct debit mandate so that I can use the
phone overseas. I get itemised billing, a reasonably cheap call rate
(most months my bill is less that 75p) free connection to voicemail in
the UK, and perfectly good service. I can browse the whole internet
if I am feeling financially reckless, and it all seems to work. I can
see no reason to have a contract.

on one SIM I turned off voicemail, because when in countries where you
pay to recieve calls I was paying for calls to go to voicemail, but
the voicemail was purged before I returned to the UK and could access
it. I had charges of about £35 on the phone for which I had received
no benefit and for which Virgin could not even provide the number that
had called me (I think this is because I was in India)

The only other downside I have found - apart from Virgin's relentless
"yoof" style of talking to you when you call customer service - is the
total absence of any way of reporting network problems. Being told
to return my phone for repair when it worked all over the UK but not
on Plymouth Hoe was simply ridiculous. But I have little doubt that
contract customers would be treated no better, although I cannot
compare directly.

I would not hesitate. If the money makes sense, do it. After all, if
you do find a snag there is no long-term contract to cancel!