Lyla Lindsey
Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) was a telecommunications company based in Sydney, Australia, that offered prepaid and postpaid mobile plans. On May 30, 2018, Optus, the parent company of VMA, announced that it would phase out the Virgin Mobile brand in Australia and transfer customers to Optus. Virgin Mobile Australia has ceased operations and is no longer taking new customers. Customer reviews of Virgin Mobile Australia are mixed, with some praising its value for money and customer service, while others complain about poor network coverage, rude staff, and issues with payments and the app.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company | Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) |
| Type of Company | Telecommunications |
| Base of Operation | Sydney, Australia |
| Retail Outlets | 73 including flagship stores in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane |
| Network | Optus |
| Phasing Out | 30 May 2018 |
| Customer Service | Poor |
| Online Top-Up | Available |
| Current Status | Ceased trading in Australia |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Virgin Mobile Australia's customer service
Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) was a telecommunications company based in Sydney, Australia, that sold through over 73 retail outlets, including flagship stores in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as via telesales and an online store. On May 30, 2018, Optus, Virgin Mobile's owner, announced that they would be phasing out the Virgin Mobile brand and transferring customers to Optus over the next two years. Virgin Mobile Australia ceased trading in Australia in 2020.
Reviews of Virgin Mobile Australia's customer service are mixed. On ProductReview.com.au, the company has received 1.8 out of 5 stars from 663 reviews. Some customers have described the customer service as "terrible," "unprofessional," and "the worst," with staff described as "rude" and "not trying to help." One reviewer wrote that they spent four hours on the phone trying to complete a basic account setup and SIM activation, describing the experience as "infuriating." Another reviewer described a dispute with Virgin Mobile Australia over a faulty phone and SIM plan, which was never resolved before the company ceased trading.
On the other hand, some customers have praised Virgin Mobile Australia's customer service as "great," with one reviewer saying they planned to move another account from another operator due to their positive experience. Other positive reviews describe the company as "worth the money."
In terms of complaint resolution, one source notes that level 1 staff at Virgin Mobile Australia are "terrible," which is a common issue among telcos. However, most cases are resolved at level 2, and only a few reach levels 3 and 4, where the ombudsman makes a determination.
Dining Options Near Australia Zoo: What's Available?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Virgin Mobile Australia's coverage
Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) was a telecommunications company based in Sydney, Australia, that offered both prepaid and postpaid mobile plans. The company sold through over 73 retail outlets, including flagship stores in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as via telesales and an online store.
On 30 May 2018, Optus, the network operator for Virgin Mobile Australia, announced that it would phase out the Virgin Mobile brand and transfer its customers to Optus. The phase-out process was expected to take approximately two years. As a result, Virgin Mobile Australia stopped selling all prepaid and postpaid mobile plans to new customers on 15 June 2018.
During its operation, Virgin Mobile Australia received mixed reviews for its coverage and customer service. Some customers reported issues with network coverage, such as regular black spots and poor signal strength. There were also complaints about customer service, with reports of unhelpful staff, difficulties in resolving issues, and problems with account setup and SIM activation.
On the other hand, some customers praised Virgin Mobile Australia for its value for money, affordable plans, and good customer service. It is worth noting that individual experiences may vary based on location and other factors.
In June 2020, Virgin Mobile Australia announced a temporary extension of its closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure customers remained connected. This extension lasted until 30 September 2020.
As of 2020, Virgin Mobile Australia was in the process of phasing out and was no longer accepting new customers. Existing customers were likely transferred to Optus as part of the brand phase-out.
Sending Money to Australia via Venmo
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Virgin Mobile Australia's phase-out
Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) was a telecommunications company based in Sydney, Australia, that sold through over 73 retail outlets, including flagship stores in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The company offered pre-paid and post-paid mobile phone and mobile broadband plans.
On May 30, 2018, Optus, which had owned Virgin Mobile Australia since 2006, announced that it would phase out the Virgin Mobile brand in Australia and transfer customers to its own network. Optus stated that the phase-out would take approximately two years. As a result of this decision, around 200 jobs were expected to be cut, and 36 stores were closed across Australia.
Following the announcement, Virgin Mobile stopped selling all prepaid and postpaid mobile plans to customers on June 15, 2018. In June 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Virgin Mobile Australia announced a temporary extension of its closure date to September 30, 2020, to help customers stay connected.
As of 2023, Virgin Mobile Australia no longer exists, and former customers have reported difficulties in resolving disputes related to their Virgin Mobile accounts, as they are directed to contact Virgin Mobile directly, despite the company's cessation of operations in the country.
Vanadium in Australia: Where is it Found?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$14.99 $7.95
$62.35
Virgin Mobile Australia's online top-up
Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) was a telecommunications company based in Sydney, Australia. It offered pre-paid and post-paid mobile phone and mobile broadband plans. VMA sold through over 73 retail outlets, including flagship stores in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, and Brisbane, as well as via telesales and an online store.
On May 30, 2018, Optus, the network provider for Virgin Mobile Australia, announced that it would phase out the Virgin Mobile brand and transfer its customers to Optus. The phase-out was expected to take about two years. Following this announcement, on June 15, 2018, Virgin Mobile stopped selling all prepaid and postpaid mobile plans to customers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Virgin Mobile Australia temporarily extended its closure to September 30, 2020, to help customers stay connected.
While Virgin Mobile Australia is no longer operational, customers can still top up their prepaid Virgin Mobile SIM cards online through third-party services such as doctorSIM and Monito. These services offer instant mobile recharges with secure payment methods and no hidden costs. They also provide deals, promotions, and special offers for Virgin Mobile Australia top-ups.
To use these third-party services for online top-ups, customers need to select their preferred secure payment method and enter their Virgin Mobile phone number correctly. Once the payment is received, the phone will be topped up immediately.
Australian Botanical Soap: Is It Worth the Hype?
You may want to see also
Virgin Mobile Australia's stores
Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) was a telecommunications company based in Sydney, Australia, that sold through over 73 retail outlets, including flagship stores in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide, Canberra, Melbourne, and Brisbane. They also sold via telesales and an online store.
VMA offered pre-paid and post-paid mobile phone and mobile broadband plans. The company targeted mainly younger populations with flexible price plans and bundles.
On 30 May 2018, Optus, which owned VMA as a subsidiary, announced that they would be phasing out the Virgin Mobile brand and transferring customers to Optus. This phase-out was expected to take roughly two years. In June 2020, Virgin Mobile Australia announced that they were temporarily extending their closure to 30 September 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to help customers stay connected.
As of 2023, some customers have reported issues with being contacted by debt collectors for outstanding payments to Virgin Mobile Australia, despite the company no longer existing.
For any queries or complaints, customers can contact Virgin Mobile Australia's customer support team via phone, email, social media, or their website.
The Evolution of Australian Entertainment: Trends and Transformations
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, Virgin Mobile Australia (VMA) is no longer operational in the country. On 30 May 2018, Optus, the parent company of VMA, announced that it would phase out the Virgin Mobile brand and transfer its customers to Optus.
Virgin Mobile Australia stopped selling all prepaid and postpaid mobile plans to customers on 15 June 2018. The company extended its closure to 30 September 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virgin Mobile Australia received mixed reviews during its operation. While some customers praised its worth for money and great customer service support, others complained about poor network coverage, rude staff, and issues with payments and apps.
Yes, Virgin Mobile Australia had over 34 retail stores across Australia, including flagship stores in major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra.
