Bloody Virgin Media, putting up my costs again!

[AmitG]

Got "the letter" 2 weeks ago.

I have just landline and broadband, no TV etc. Bill is going up by 3.25 GBP/month which is an 8% increase. Part of that includes a steep rise in the cost of having paper bills.

TBH, I'm OK with it. It hasn't gone up for the past 2 years, and during that time they upgraded me to 60Mb at no charge (including new modem/router). I doubt that BT will be much cheaper and I don't fancy running the gauntlet of the low-cost providers for such a critical service.

The service from Virgin has always been good but I really wish they would stop pestering me to take out a mobile phone with them, I've asked them many times to stop ringing me about it

[Saleen836]

Myself and Mrs Saleen went through all the channels we actually watch on the XL tv package we have and decided to downgrade to the M+ as we would only lose 3 channels we actually watch!. Gave Virgin a call and they were very helpfull, told them I wanted to cancel everything and explained why when they asked, was then asked if there was anyway they could keep my business and I said yes if you do me a good deal on a different package, have dropped to M+ tv, dropped back to 30mb broadband (tbh I never noticed a difference when they put us up to 60mb anyway) and with the lowest telephone package he lot comes in at just over £30 a month

[scottri]

Saleen836 said:

Myself and Mrs Saleen went through all the channels we actually watch on the XL tv package we have and decided to downgrade to the M+ as we would only lose 3 channels we actually watch!. Gave Virgin a call and they were very helpfull, told them I wanted to cancel everything and explained why when they asked, was then asked if there was anyway they could keep my business and I said yes if you do me a good deal on a different package, have dropped to M+ tv, dropped back to 30mb broadband (tbh I never noticed a difference when they put us up to 60mb anyway) and with the lowest telephone package he lot comes in at just over £30 a month

I was thinking about doing exactly the same thing. £30 is more reasonable than nearly £70 i'm paying now for XL TV, 60MB, M phone.

Do you have tivo for that price and HD?

[NewNameNeeded]

Been with Virgin Media for three years with phone, TV L and 20MB broadband.

Have had same router and media box all that time.

Phoned up last week to see if they would upgrade our equipment and they said they would, but they would charge the installation fee.

I said that wasn't good enough and I wanted it for free.

They went to speak to someone more senior to see what they could do, came back with small discount.

Repeat half a dozen times with increased escalation to supervisor, relationship manager, customer care team, etc, etc and in the end we got another year with them for £20 less a month than we pay now, with 60MB broadband, new superhub and Tivo box.

Result.

[CraigyMc]

NewNameNeeded said:

Been with Virgin Media for three years with phone, TV L and 20MB broadband.

Have had same router and media box all that time.

Phoned up last week to see if they would upgrade our equipment and they said they would, but they would charge the installation fee.

I said that wasn't good enough and I wanted it for free.

They went to speak to someone more senior to see what they could do, came back with small discount.

Repeat half a dozen times with increased escalation to supervisor, relationship manager, customer care team, etc, etc and in the end we got another year with them for £20 less a month than we pay now, with 60MB broadband, new superhub and Tivo box.

Result.

With this sort of thing, it's likely the best way to start is "I want to close my account". Get put straight through to the "retention team" who are in a position to do what you want. Same goes for mobile phone companies.

[Saleen836]

scottri said:

Saleen836 said:

Myself and Mrs Saleen went through all the channels we actually watch on the XL tv package we have and decided to downgrade to the M+ as we would only lose 3 channels we actually watch!. Gave Virgin a call and they were very helpfull, told them I wanted to cancel everything and explained why when they asked, was then asked if there was anyway they could keep my business and I said yes if you do me a good deal on a different package, have dropped to M+ tv, dropped back to 30mb broadband (tbh I never noticed a difference when they put us up to 60mb anyway) and with the lowest telephone package he lot comes in at just over £30 a month

I was thinking about doing exactly the same thing. £30 is more reasonable than nearly £70 i'm paying now for XL TV, 60MB, M phone.

Do you have tivo for that price and HD?

The package you have is what we had including tivo for which we were paying just over £52 a month, the new package still includes tivo and basic hd channels from bbc1 - ch5,wasn't bothered by hd as IMO the extra isn't worth it.

[markcoznottz]

My mate was just explaining what he's done. Tesco broadband costs £15 quid a month near as dammit, that includes phone & broadband combined. It's supposedly unlimited at 15mb which is enough for browsing etc. The plan is to then buy a second hand you view box for catch up and Netflix etc although to be fair I get all my DVDs of the latest films off 'a mate' streaming films seems a faff around tbh.

[DSLiverpool]

Guys what is the best technique to get a deal from Virgin, I pay £50 for 50mb broadband and phone - no tv , BT Infinity is about £40 with free BT sport and 76mb - I am ok with my speed etc so a cheaper deal would suit me - best way? call, email, threaten ?

[Saleen836]

DSLiverpool said:

Guys what is the best technique to get a deal from Virgin, I pay £50 for 50mb broadband and phone - no tv , BT Infinity is about £40 with free BT sport and 76mb - I am ok with my speed etc so a cheaper deal would suit me - best way? call, email, threaten ?

Just give them a call and tell them you want to cancel your package with them, do you need 50mb?

Look at my post a couple posts up at what we have, since that post I negotiated a bit more and currently paying just under £24 a month!

[DSLiverpool]

I don't take tv but bb and phone inc calls is £50 ish plus I have BT sport so maybe better on infinity

[megaphone]

After starting this thread I called Virgin for a haggle. Although it was hard going, they kept telling me I was on the best deal, I did have some success. If you pay your line rental a year up-front then there are some savings to be made.

In the end I payed line rental up-front at £120. (it's now, £140 I think?) plus I'm paying £33/m for my package, so all in £43/m . That's for 60MB BB, phone and the XL TV package with a Tivo and second V+ box.

Oh and the BB will go up to 100MB soon.

[DSLiverpool]

Christ I am getting ripped, BUT I cant use Virgin TV its not as good as SKY as we need two boxes with the ability to record on each Virgin dont do that.

[mnkiboy]

megaphone said:

...so all in £43/m . That's for 60MB BB, phone and the XL TV package with a Tivo and second V+ box.

That's exactly the same as my package, but I pay £68/m. It also includes a large 'friends and family' discount apparently, though i'm not sure it's worth anything. Time for a phone call I think.

[Randomthoughts]

DSLiverpool said:

Christ I am getting ripped, BUT I cant use Virgin TV its not as good as SKY as we need two boxes with the ability to record on each Virgin dont do that.

Yes they do?

You are getting absolutely hammered though. I pay less than £35 a month for 120MB and a phone line.

[megaphone]

DSLiverpool said:

Christ I am getting ripped, BUT I cant use Virgin TV its not as good as SKY as we need two boxes with the ability to record on each Virgin dont do that.

I have two recording boxes, one Tivo and I kept my old V+ box which sits in my office, rarely used!

[DSLiverpool]

Randomthoughts said:

DSLiverpool said:

Christ I am getting ripped, BUT I cant use Virgin TV its not as good as SKY as we need two boxes with the ability to record on each Virgin dont do that.

Yes they do?

You are getting absolutely hammered though. I pay less than £35 a month for 120MB and a phone line.

Plus your line rental?

[scottri]

Thought i'd bump this as i got a letter through this morning saying that they have reviewed my package and i should call them and quote 'Big Kahuna 30' and that 'i wouldn't be disappointed'.

I wasn't expecting good things but they just bumped up my broadband from 60mb to 152mb for a 1 a month less. I also removed my extra box saving me another 6 a month.

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/3525885339

So, it might be worth a call and see how their new packages compare to the old ones. Certainly better value for me than before.

[DervVW]

scottri said:

Thought i'd bump this as i got a letter through this morning saying that they have reviewed my package and i should call them and quote 'Big Kahuna 30' and that 'i wouldn't be disappointed'.

I wasn't expecting good things but they just bumped up my broadband from 60mb to 152mb for a 1 a month less. I also removed my extra box saving me another 6 a month.

http://www.speedtest.net/my-result/3525885339

So, it might be worth a call and see how their new packages compare to the old ones. Certainly better value for me than before.

yes I too managed a better offer by quitting...

[megaphone]

Here we go again! Just got a letter from Virgin, my package is going up by £3.99 in Feb. That's after a £3 rise earlier this year, they're taking the pi$$ again!

Time to get back on the phone to cancellations. I may even bite the bullet and dump them, there are some cracking deals for new Sky/BT etc contracts, lots of cash back on Quidco etc. Yes, Virgin's BB is excellent, but I don't really need 200Mb/s!

Edited by megaphone on Wednesday 9th December 08:13

[FurryExocet]

megaphone said:

Here we go again! Just got a letter from Virgin, my package is going up by £3.99 in Feb. That's after a £3 rise earlier this year, they're taking the pi$$ again!

Time to get back on the phone to cancellations. I may even bit the bullet and dump them, there are some cracking deals for new Sky/BT etc contracts, lots of cash back on Quidco etc. Yes, Virgin's BB is excellent, but I don't really need 200Mb/s!

It's the same every year! I moved to BT, be warned that the grass isn't always greener!