Comments for This Virgin Mobile FAQ Is Honest, But Not Very Helpful

This Virgin Mobile FAQ Is Honest, But Not Very Helpful

2008-05-14T17:20:40Z

Reader Aiden was considering buying a Virgin Mobile phone, but he had some questions about their Studio V program. (It allows you to make wallpapers and ringtones and sell them for $0.10 in airtime credit to other Virgin Mobile users.) The FAQ he found was honest, but not very helpful.

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I am looking into a new Virgin Mobile prepaid phone after my old one broke awhile ago. While browsing their site, I noticed an ad for one of their services, "Studio V," claiming that if you design a phone background and people download it you can make money. Naturally, I looked into it.

After not finding anything major referring to it, I referred to their help pages. I located its file, and, well let's just say someone fell asleep at the wheel. I got enough information, but I certainly got a kick out of some of their FAQ responses on the page...Virgin Mobile has no idea how to use their own product!

Whoops.

Virgin Mobile Help

Comment from mrearly2 on 2008-05-16

2008-05-16T15:20:51Z

@razremytuxbuddy:
Dunno, but I think Virgin uses the Sprint network (y'know, the cell antennae, etc.)

Comment from kellyd on 2008-05-15

2008-05-16T03:18:00Z

I love everything about VM. The pay as you go. The phone--mine's the Slice, and it's awesome-thin. The service is great. I LOVE Simone, the answer-bot. Favorite thing about them: I called them to order a replacement charger after my dog chewed through the cord on mine. The friendly guy helped me place my order, then informed me that my phone was under warranty and I was entitled to a replacement accessory during the warranty period, so it would be free. AND they mailed it Express. (He was not in India either.) Awesome company!

Comment from rlee on 2008-05-14

2008-05-15T04:07:28Z

VM user for over a year now. No complaints about service, but as a BabyBoomer I feel the urge to reach into the phone and smother their "Simone" automated response system for trying to be so hip and cool and froody it's positively painful.

Comment from TechnoDestructo on 2008-05-14

2008-05-15T02:35:34Z

@REPTILE-DYSFUNCTION:

After the quarterly billing errors with AT&T, my thus-far-trouble-free service with Virgin Mobile has been quite welcome.

That cancellation comment has me concerned, though.

Comment from louveciennes on 2008-05-14

2008-05-15T00:59:48Z

@astruc: Nor I. I've had Virgin Mobile prepaid with a Kyocera Flipback for about a year, and I've got no complaints. Steve Jobs can kiss my rear end, I won't touch his precious iPhone until he allows no-contract ownership.

Comment from louveciennes on 2008-05-14

2008-05-15T00:54:54Z

@stanfrombrooklyn: You don't have to cancel service on temporary phones. They will go out of service themselves if you don't add any minutes to it for 6 weeks.

Comment from ellastar on 2008-05-14

2008-05-15T00:10:20Z

@mariospants: Sprint doesn't have anything to do with Virgin Mobile except for the fact that Virgin uses Sprint's towers. Going into a Sprint store will accomplish nothing, and as far as I know, Virgin Mobile only has retailers selling their phones, no actual stores. Your suggestion about calling up their customer service is most likely the only way to do it.

Comment from YokoDadlet on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T22:30:47Z

My husband figured out how to use it, and bought a ring tone and background image for his phone. The connection was disconnected in the middle of the transfer of the ring tone, and the file for the image was corrupted when he received it. I looked all over the website for a way to resend something we already paid for, but once it's sent, it's sent. We contacted customer service, and they said if it doesn't work, we get an automatic refund. We only got a refund on one. We were only shorted $2.50, so I'm not wasting any more time on it. I guess with Virgin Mobile, you just have to cross your fingers and hope the transfer goes through the first time, or you're out of luck!

Comment from astruc on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T22:04:28Z

I've been using a Cyclops for Virgin for a year or so. I love it. Their phone support is lacking but the phone and minutes are cheap enough and there's no contract. I will never sign another cel phone contract.

Comment from REPTILE-DYSFUNCTION on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T20:32:00Z

As a contrast to all the Virgin Mobile naysayers, I've had a VM account for the past 5 years & have had 4 of their phones during that time. (I've had multiple phones because I upgraded, not because of any problems.) The phone service has always been excellent, and their FAQs for other topics have been helpful. I'd recommend them over AT&T GoPhone any day.

Comment from razremytuxbuddy on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T20:14:45Z

Thanks for clarifying, CBragg & MrEvil. I used to have service from another prepaid company that used the Sprint network. It was called Liberty Wireless. It was the best, most hassle-free wireless service I've ever had, and I wish I could have stayed with them. It made me a believer in prepaid services, but from what I'm reading here, not all prepaid services are equal. I'd recommend trying Liberty Wireless if you need the Sprint network but can't handle Sprint. But beware--if you are ever in an area off the Sprint network, roaming with Liberty Wireless was either a very expensive hassle, or just not available.

Comment from cnosal on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T20:00:45Z

Thanks for pointing this out. We are in the process of updating our FAQs. Studio V is available to Virgin Mobile USA customers with all handsets except the older Flasher.

Corinne Nosal
Corporate Communications
Virgin Mobile USA

Comment from MrEvil on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T19:50:15Z

@CBragg: aughhh, you posted your comment while I was researching mine...curses!

Comment from MrEvil on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T19:49:43Z

@razremytuxbuddy: No Virgin Mobile is part of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin group. In the United States they use Sprint for infastructure. Sprint owns the spectrum and the towers, but Virgin sells and markets the phones and provides customer service.

Comment from Christopher on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T19:38:43Z

@razremytuxbuddy:
No, they're an MVNO that uses the Sprint network.

Comment from jeff303 on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T19:33:07Z

This looks like an entry for [thedailywtf.com]

Comment from mariospants on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T19:29:17Z

@stanfrombrooklyn: "They make it IMPOSSIBLE to cancel your account... I will give anyone a $1 million fake reward if you can go to www.virginmobile.com and find anywhere where they tell you how to cancel service."

I won't criticize your lack of skill, but next time do this: call their sales line and ask to speak to an agent (no waiting on hold there) or go to Sprint/Virgin store (no waiting on hold there either). Tell them you're moving to Canada and they'll thank you for being a customer, mention they have an aunt who lives in Sudbury and kill your account on the spot.

Comment from sketchy on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T18:59:36Z

@sleepydumbdude: Or throw it in a phone recycling box at Staples or a computer store, or whatnot.

Comment from wheresmysamuraii on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T18:35:55Z

I had a virgin mobile phone for a long time, a few years, and found myself in need of a non pay per minute phone (had to start using my cell for work and got rid of my land line). To cancel a pay per minute phone, all you have to do is stop putting money on it. If you have it set up to add money to the account every time it gets low, go to the website and change it. If you have one of their plans for so many minutes a month for so many dollars, I wish you luck, as I have no idea how those work.

Comment from sleepydumbdude on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T18:34:20Z

Why would you need to cancel it anyways. Just go to the site and turn off any autotop up options and turn it off and throw it in a drawer somewhere until the minutes run out. If you are never going to use it anymore just break in half and throw it in the trash.

Comment from Tallanvor on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T18:34:04Z

Never use any Virgin products. Virgin is crap. Cable, DSL, Mobile, their "Zavvi" stores. Everything.

Comment from brianala on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T18:34:00Z

@stanfrombrooklyn: You can have a monthly plan, or you can change to pay as you go. Log into the online account and change it from the plan to the pay as you go option, and then just stop using it.

Comment from heavylee-again on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T18:18:15Z

@stanfrombrooklyn: Did you try logging in to the phone service's online account to cancel there?

Comment from stanfrombrooklyn on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T18:04:29Z

Do not - DO NOT - buy a Virgin Mobile fun. They make it IMPOSSIBLE to cancel your account. I bought one for a temporary employee. After 3 months, we no longer needed it. I will give anyone a $1 million fake reward if you can go to www.virginmobile.com and find anywhere where they tell you how to cancel service. Even if you search in their search box "cancel service" or something similar, you get no help. Finally we had to call their 1-800 #. They give you 5 options. The first 4 are related to purchasing a Virgin phone. The 5th is "Other". We were on hold for over an hour. Finally, someone came on from India and did everything possible to have us continue. I finaly told her that I would reverse charges on our credit card if she didn't cancel the phone.It was a nightmare.

Comment from amyschiff on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T18:00:05Z

with the growing use of content management systems for maintaining websites, the "page under construction" placeholders are less useful. Web designers will set up a page template so that the client can then go in and easily modify the content.

The placeholder can't be used because the designer can't assume the client will know how to link up to the real page when they are finished writing their content--let alone format it properly. The lesson is that a site should be really intensively reviewed before launch...

Comment from leastcmplicated on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T17:57:29Z

its funny because the rest of the questions are answered on that faq... u'd think they'd just put something like "coming soon"

Comment from tedyc03 on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T17:52:53Z

Ok. As a web developer, I'm thinking someone should get fired. Now. Seriously.

This is what happens when you let idiots use version control software.

Comment from weakdome on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T17:52:41Z

Love it.
Way better than Lorem Ipsum.

Comment from BoomerFive on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T17:52:10Z

@WiglyWorm, Exactly right.

Comment from ajc308 on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T17:51:34Z

Maybe "V" is a placeholder too and they haven't even come up with what they are going to name their Studio software.

Studio V cost $X and works on Phone Y. Fits the pattern wouldn't ya say?

(laying on the sarcasm thick)

Comment from Eldritch on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T17:48:22Z

Wow. What ever happened to good old "page under construction" placeholders?

Comment from razremytuxbuddy on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T17:41:38Z

Isn't Virgin Mobile a Sprint company?

Comment from WiglyWorm must cease and decist on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T17:40:30Z

Obviously, the web-designers template got posted instead of the real thing. Hillarious though. Always nice to start the morning off with a laugh.

Comment from Brain.wav on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T17:27:02Z

Only X, Y, and Z phones? Dang, I knew I shouldn't have skimped and bought a W.

Comment from Ash78 ain't got time to bleed on 2008-05-14

2008-05-14T17:25:39Z

I bought a Y phone recently and it wasn't even wallpaper-compatible. I returned it and got my $X back.

Talk about phoning it in.