Virgin Mobile (USA) can't activate iPhones

I got a replacement from Apple store & Virgin customer service couldn't said the meid wasn't valid , which wasn't true they just need to add it to there database . But they told me they were gunna investigate my case which could take 8-10 business day heck no!! I emailed SaveMe@Thevirginangels.com gave them my name phone # account # & iphone meid # I was skeptical but the next morning they replied & said it was activated !:) ooo when you call back ask to speak to technical support customer service doesn't know anything & will say you will have to wait ! Which you don't !

I have my own sordid tale of woe with this. I purchased an iPhone 5 for my son off the Virgin site for Christmas. Activated it Christmas day, all is well..EXCEPT the 3G connectivity doesn't work. After 4 hours on the phone with the jabronis at Virgin tech support, I bring it to my local Apple Store in Roosevelt Field in NY. That crew is awesome, they game me a replacement phone. I get home, and Virgin can't get it activated. WiFi is on (I have Fios) and that's not an issue, but the phone won't see the cellular network. I did the ##873283# thingy and nothing happened. Send my info to the Virgin Angels as well.

Mind you I just got the replacement at 9:30 PM NY time today, and as of right now (11:43 PM) the phone isn't activated. The Virgin Jabroni Tech told me to power off the phone and wait two hours. I guess I'll try it, but I don't know what that will do.

Anyway, if anyone has any other suggestions I am ALL EARS. I am sick of Virgin customer service, and have spent over 5 hours in the Apple Store in the past 2 days. This should NOT BE THIS DIFFICULT!!!

THANK YOU so much for the link to saveme@thevirginangels.com. I had the exact same problem that you did and it was resolved within 30minutes after I emailed them. I have a feeling that you save me A TON of aggrevation.

Thanks everyone for all the posts. After jumping through no end of hoops, I finally got my own account transferred from one iPhone to another. If helpful for anyone else, I can personally confirm the following process works:

Virgin Mobile iPhone Replacement - Quick Guide

1) Get a replacement phone from the Apple Store. The phone must support Sprint or Virgin, and the SIM card (if you need to get a new one) must match your iPhone model (5, 5s, 5c, etc). Replacement is free and same-day, if in warranty and Apple's fault. New iPhone SIM cards are $30 from Apple, Radio Shack, Virgin, or Best Buy. Valid phone if it says "Virgin" or "Sprint" under "Settings > General > About > Carrier". Valid SIM if the phone lets you boot to the home screen. Easiest if you keep your original SIM.

2) Prepare to call Virgin Mobile Customer Support. Have your new phone powered on, connected to WiFi, and SIM inserted. Also have the following info ready: full name, mobile phone number, Virgin PIN, new phone serial (MEID), and SIM serial (UICCID). Be prepared to spend 30-60 minutes.

3) Call Virgin Mobile at 1-888-322-1122. Enter your info and select "troubleshooting", "phone won't start", etc. until you get a live rep. Avoid the "other > swap handsets" option, which may not work.

4) Provide your info to the rep. If all goes well, you'll be all set in 15 minutes.

5) If there's any issue, confirm your phone and SIM are valid. If your MEID isn't valid on Virgin's end, no big deal; they just need to have a tech add it to their database. Politely ask to escalate the case, get a case number, and be transferred to a higher-level tech. If they refuse any of these things, hang up and call back immediately to get another rep who will help.

6) Even with any issues, provided you have a valid phone/SIM and an open support case, Virgin Mobile will be able to activate your phone within the next 72 hours. If you talk to a tech directly, you can get it done in 5 minutes. In any case, when your phone says "Activated", bring up the keypad and call "##873283#" (which will finalize the activation). Then test call your own phone; a ring (or busy signal) means all is well.

7) If all else fails, try the official Virgin Mobile Facebook page or the associated support e-mail address posted there, saveme@thevirginangels.com. It may take a few days to get a response, but others have reported success with it.

Virgin Mobile must be stepping up their game.

I just got my third replacement iPhone after having various hardware issues over the past two years. The first time it took three days for Virgin to activate my new phone and the second time it took an entire week. Make sure to ask for at least a month of free service if this happens to you. They'll debit the money to your account.

But this time, I only had to call once. Virgin still needs to get their system ironed out because I wasn't able to set it up automatically online or through the support number, but once I got on the phone with a representative they quickly transferred me to a technician who got the phone working in five minutes. I repeat 5 MINUTES.

Don't know why it took so ridiculuously long the previous two times (there was even a farcical episode where Virgin apparently called the phone number which I couldn't activate to let me know that their tech support could now help me), but I'm just glad I didn't have to go through all that again.

Try ##update# this worked for us by calling this number.

Hey, I had the same problem with Virgin. I told them I must have the phone today. Need to speak with a supervisor! I told them I will need a credit for each day I was without service. This out a fire under their *****., got my phone activated within 15 minutes, go figure. What is up with Virgin Mobile?

I have had a Virgin Mobile USA 32GB iPhone 5S working perfectly for 11+ months with no issues. Then came along iOS 8.4, which installed sometime around July 4th. The update caused my phone to bluescreen, reboot over and over, finally crashing the screen and blacking out.

I set up a Genius Bar appointment at my local Apple Store a week later July 11th. The automated email that comes from booking an appointment requested me to turn off Find My iPhone. When I logged onto iCloud.com from my computer, clicked Find My iPhone, clicked "Play a sound" it successfully played a sound on my phone, and the screen lit up.

By the time I got to the Apple Store though, the screen had blacked out again. Would not light up. The Genius Bar associate tested the battery, attempted troubleshooting, then told me I would be getting a new phone. I was one month shy of my One-Year Warranty expiring, so this was good timing (http://www.virginmobileusa.com/14-day-guarantee: All mobile phones purchased directly from Virgin Mobile, or one of our authorized resellers, include a one-year warranty from the original equipment manufacturer) (You can check your warranty expiration date by entering your Serial Number at https://getsupport.apple.com/ProductSelector.action)

We chatted about Virgin Mobile's notorious incompetence with activating new phones issued from Apple Stores. When the associate attempted to activate the iPhone on a store macbook, activation promptly failed. Rather than having the associate struggle through Virgin customer service over the phone on my behalf, I said I would be emailing them to help me with activation. (Spent 20 minutes tops at the store before walking out with an identical new 32gb 5S. Apple customer service is the absolute best.)

Having bookmarked this thread, I emailed saveme@thevirginangels.com requesting activation help. I gave them my name, phone number, and MEID number. Ten minutes later, saveme@thevirginangels.com sent me the following automated message: "Thank you for emailing the Virgin Mobile Angels. Our hours of operation are M-F 6am-10pm CST; and Sat-Sun 6am-9pm CST. We have received your request and will respond to you asap."

After several emails sent back and forth, with promises of 24-72 hours wait time for activation, I finally had my phone activated on July 18, a full week later. Make sure to ask to be compensated for your time without service. I received unlimited talk on my account.

Just an FYI, the email for Virgin Angels is no longer in service! 😟

And to let any poor soul stuck in this same situation, this is still happening in 2016. Apple customer service= top notch, no problems. Virgin Mobile? An utter disaster.

I am also having this problem. I was given an iPhone 5 for Christmas because my Android was broken. When I tried to have the iPhone activated, I was told there was nothing anyone could do to activate it and that it was basically useless. So, I ended up buying another Android and every time I tried to use my Android it says it is not activated. I wish Virgin Mobile could just update it's system. I'm very close to taking my business elsewhere.