Forum Topic

Poor Reception in W3 ?

Has anyone else experienced very poor mobile phone reception in Acton with Virgin Meia?I just changed my provider from Orange to Virgin Media but find that I am mostly getting the message 'Emergency calls only' which means Ihave to go into the garden to make a call!The reception was so bad when trying to speak to someone at Virgin Media I couldn't even hear them properly. I have written to Virgin Media but would be interested to know whether any other people on this service have experienced problems.Thanks a lot.

Jean F Fernandez ● 5470d24 Comments

Sometimes cuts out during a call, and only one bar inside the house.  Let's see what my new phone does, Nokia X6 on the Virgin network, which shares with T Mobile.  It maybe that T Mobile is at fault, (rubbish provider, they cut you off if you don't make enough calls, even on PAYG and in credit.)

Nicola Howard ● 5470d

Nicola, T Mobile reception was really poor in this area when we tried them a few years ago!There should be a chart somewhere where one could check the reeption before going to the trouble of changing providers. So much hassle!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5470d

Orange actually cut me off on my spare phone earlier this year and their excuse was that I hadn't made any calls for a while on that phone!I fought them and managed to get my £8+ credit back, and my mobile number which they wanted to pass on to someone else! Cheek!These Mobile Phone companies just was to rip us off. They should send a text message to the customer saying 'use it or lose it' and then at least people would know that they are threatening to pull the plug!Don't let them away with anything folks!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5470d

Just checked in the bathroom...as usual no signal.  sitting by the computer 3.5 bars, move to the window 1 bar.  Crazy.I forgot to mention, I need a 2yr old to show me how to use it.  I thought touch screen would have been easier, how wrong I was.As for checking the reception of providers, this has been found to be misleading, as the providers only want to sell their networks.  There should be some law about misrepresentation.

Nicola Howard ● 5470d

Also typical of T Mobile.

Nicola Howard ● 5470d

I have no trouble with T Mobile, and, although being a very rare user on PAYG have never been cut off.  What am I doing right?

Nina Battleday ● 5470d

Always had excellent Virgin reception in Gunnersbury Park.

Susan Kelly ● 5470d

Jean, my Virgin Mobile signal is rubbish too! There is an area on the mobile phone companies websites that shows you the coverage. When I checked for my postcode on Virgin, it said it was 'good', but I dispute that! I am on contract so I cannot change until it is up for renewal, next August, or pay to leave - it is very annoying. I never get full signal in the house, but my husband does on O2. It's not only in Acton that the signal is poor - I met a friend at Carluccio's in Chiswick last week, and while she had full signal in the restaurant (Vodaphone) I had none until I went upstairs to the toilet!Roll on next August, when I can change provider, unless of course Virgin do what TMobile have done, and 'tag on' to the Orange Signal, then if you have no Virgin signal, you can pick up Orange signal, which is much better around here.

Amanda Knights ● 5470d

Amanda, I checked my postcode and it also said 'good' but indoors it's impossible to get a signal with Virgin Media.Fortunately I am only on PAYG and I am waiting for a reply from Virgin Media regarding poor reception.There is not much point in getting cheaper calls and texts if I can't even get good reception!I agree they should try and connect with Orange so customers can get a better service.What a shame you are on contract and have to wait for it to end. Did you write to Virgin Media to complain about the poor  reception? Perhaps if they get a number of complaints it might just make them do something.Apparently they have been aware that this area has been having problems for some years with certain mobile companies but done nothing to rectify the situation.

Jean F Fernandez ● 5469d

JeanHave you tried dialling 789 option 0 (zero) to speak to an advisor?  I know this is for PAYG, but, not sure for contract.

Nicola Howard ● 5469d

Yes Nicola, I did mention it to him, in fact I told him I had to go right into the garden and still couldn't hear him properly!My husband had to take over the phone to try and hear what he was saying.According to him the reception indoors could be a little unstable - that's putting it mildly!!! It was so difficult in continuing the conversatin that I decided to send them an email.Apparently it takes up to 5 days for them to reply.

Jean F Fernandez ● 5469d

Five days to reply.  Might be time to contact BBC watchdog (rogue traders.)Seems strange that a reply takes so long. I can e-mail a musical instrument manufacturer in Paris and, get a reply in less than 24 hours.  About time Virgin looked at their customer service.

Nicola Howard ● 5469d

I agree Nicola, 5 days to reply to a question does seem rather ridiculous.Thank goodness I don't have a mobile phone contract with them!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5469d

Jean,I have tried to e-mail them, but do not know if the message has been sent or not - all I got was a blank screen after clicking the 'send' button.Tried 3 times, so they might get them all. Waiting to see if I get an e-mail acknowledgement - if not I will try again. I haven't had many problems with Virgin Mobile customer service in the past - but they are by no means the best or worse company for answering questions in a timely manner!

Amanda Knights ● 5469d

Amanda & Nicola,Hurrah I just received a reply from Virgin Media. They have given some instructions on what to do if reception is poor. I have no idea how to post this on to the forum but if you want a copy I can send it on to your email address.Otherwise their email address I used is:theteam@virginmobile.co.uk

Jean F Fernandez ● 5468d

JeanPMPut it on the site through flicker.  (Jpeg formatting)

Nicola Howard ● 5468d

Nicola, You sound very clever, I wouldn't know where to start!!! please could you do it for me? Thanks. Jean

Jean F Fernandez ● 5468d

JeanE-mail it over to me.

Nicola Howard ● 5468d

Had a text message today saying that Virgin mobile is now on the Orange network, at no extra charge.  Just switch off your phone and on again.  Has anybody else had this message and will it improve the reception/signal?

Nicola Howard ● 5419d

Found this on the Virgin web site.COVERAGE IN THE UKCoverage here, there and everywhereWe already cover 99% of the UK population, and now you can also use your mobile on the Orange network, so you'll be able to stay in touch here, there and pretty much everywhere.Your phone will automatically use the Orange signal, where there isn't Virgin Media coverage. Best of all, you'll still pay the same great value Virgin Mobile rates.To check there's coverage in your area, select 2G for phone coverage, or 3G for Mobile Broadband. Enter your city or postcode below, and away you go.

Nicola Howard ● 5419d

Yes, it does work, switch the phone off and on again. I find reception much better recently on Virgin Media!

Jean F Fernandez ● 5419d

Yes Nicola, it does improve reception! I now find my phone saying 'Orange' not 'Virgin' quite frequently - just shows how poor the reception is from Virgin around here!

Amanda Knights ● 5419d

My broadband still appears to be playing up. Does anyone know what the latest sit rep on this is from Virgin Media?

Tony Crumpton ● 5418d

I have been with 3 mobile on a contract (just because it works out cheaper) Nokia X6, but the reception I get is absolutely terrible, especially if I am in the flat. I would say that I have no signal for at least 60 -70 % of the time I am indoors. I have complained to no avail, and as I need to have a signal to call them to complain, it usually doesn't get done when I feel like it. I will never go with 3 again even if they were to offer me free intercontinental calls to anywhere on the earth. I am so ashamed that I have a 3 mobile a/c I don't tell people they are my provider, seriously though I think Vodaphone and Orange have the best signal and I have a £5 phone I bought from Talk Mobile which always gets a signal

John Pollastrini ● 5417d