You've probably spied them in Rite-Aid or CVS.
Virgin Mobile hawks cheap phones at the local pharmacy that you can snatch up and activate without a credit check or long-term contractual agreement or deposit.
The premise is simple.
Buy a phone (in the price range of $19.00 for a no frills model or $39.00 for one touting special features such as text messaging), purchase a "top up" card ($20.00 minimum) to cover prospective monthly calling fees, then hop on the internet and activate the phone with little ado.
Ha!
What a load of baloney.
Consumers are complaining that Virgin is not only engaging in deceptive business practices, but outright fraud.
For example, one shopper purchased a lower-priced model and a twenty dollar top-up card, and was taken aback when he logged onto the sign-up web site and encountered a rude onscreen alert informing him the code was not recognized by the system.
So, the customer was forced to return the $20.00 top-up card to Rite-Aid for credit back, and use his credit card to pay the start-up monthly fee.
Annoying, because the purchaser did not want to give out his credit card number online.
Notwithstanding, due to a prior bad experience with another retail store, the consumer was also concerned that if his credit card was on file at Virgin, charges may be billed automatically to his account without notice.
Other individuals have also experienced a wide range of problems which smack of deceptive business practices - and in some instances - outright fraud.
For example, one customer purchased a cell phone to use in emergency situations only.
So, during the course of the month - there being no moments of crisis to warrant use of the cell phone - a credit remained on the account in the sum of approximately $19.00.
At this juncture, the owner of the phone began to receive urgent notices from Virgin that he must immediately "top up" the card with a $20.00 payment or face disconnection.
Calls made fast and furious to Virgin were ignored.
So, when a top-up was not forthcoming, the mobile team cut service.
And, the customer was out $19.00 cash and the cost of the cell phone!
In addition to deceptive business practices, failure to disclose, and fraud - Virgin recklessly and without remorse - violates a customer's right to privacy without batting an eye, too.
For instance, within two days after a cell phone was activated, the startled consumer began to receive rude calls from bill collectors!
Imagine that!
Virgin made the number public without notifying the client or obtaining permission first!
Ironic, because the customer activated the new number for the express purpose of having a private line exclusively for close friends, family members, and co-workers.
Again, in this instant case, Virgin ignored complaints that were lodged with high-level management at the company headquarters.
In fact, when the individual filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, Virgin did not respond to the BBB queries in respect to their investigative probe, either.
Although Virgin execs have had over a month to address the allegations of wrongdoing, no one at the cell phone carrier has uttered one peep or made any good-faith effort to resolve the dispute.
Clearly, Virgin Mobile is run by a bunch of arrogant S.O.B.'s, who care nothing about providing the goods and services promised, customer satisfaction, or honoring a citizen's right to privacy.
In sum, Virgin is a rogue cell-phone carrier that should be avoided like the plague!
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