[dave_dph]

Ok the voicemail one is easily resolved.

With Virgin, when you change to direct debit payment your voicemail number changes and all you have to do is store the new number into your handset.

Dial 222 from the Virgin phone and listen to the recorded message. Usually during this message you will receive a text message which should update the simcard with the new number. Exit the voicemail system and read the text message, it will usually be blank or just say "pers". Delete the message, switch the phone off and back on again.

When the phone reboots, press and hold the "1" button to call voicemail.

Has this worked?

If not you need to retrieve your new voicemail number by entering *#67# into the phone and pressing call. After a few seconds the phone will display a message, something like "Divert calls on no reply" followed by the voicemail number. Make a note of this number in full, it will be in the format +44xxxxxxxxxx.

The next step is to view the original voicemail number that is stored on the sim - depending on the make of handset you can access this through the phone's settings. On Sony Ericsson's go to the message menu then settings then voicemail number.

Replace this number with your new voicemail number, save and exit. You can now call voicemail in the usual way.

If for some reason you can't edit the voicemail number then this is usually resolved by putting the sim into a different handset, editting the number and replacing sim back into original phone. Alternatively, just store the new voicemail number in your phone book under "Voicemail" and use the phone book to call the number.

It isn't the sim that stops you editting the voicemail number, it's the make of handset you are using.