getting virgin media cheaper

[loltolhurst]

Anyone had any luck recently reducing their bundle package? Really need to reduce the cost of mine.

Currently have medium bband, tv large and talk unlimited.

need tv large ( honest ) but dont need that fast net but do need a phone.

currently pay £38.95.

anyone get it cheaper and if so how did you go about it - threaten to leave etc?

Thanks

[andy-xr]

Have a look at the phone side of things, they can make their system do trends on what numbers you call and see if there's a different package thats more suitable. I think I moved to 400 from Unltd

Unless you just want the same stuff you've got but cheaper I dont think there's an easy way without downsizing

[agentsmith]

moneysaving expert -> Telephon Forum -> Virgin Media Retention Thread

(this from memory, take a look) YMMV.

[Orb the Impaler]

Did this a couple of weeks ago - simply go onto their website and choose what you want. They don't reserve the offers for new customers.

We've got XL TV (165 channels inc Setanta), 20Mb broadband, 2 STBs (V+ boxes with HDD and 3 tuners in each) and unlimited "free" phone calls for 52 quid a month (ish). That's an awful lot for the money. (Don't forget all the TV/Movies/pop videos/iPlayer etc as well)

[root 666]

I've just come off the phone as my contract ends in April.

They offered me Setanta (I'd sooner have bowel surgery) and a film package of some description.

I've asked them to email their best offer(s) as my wife makes the decisions. (Not really but it removes you from the firing line)

I always state that I really couldn't care less who I get my tv/broadband/phone/gas/electric from but my wife has seen/been offered some megadeal from another supplier (unspecified as you neither know nor care who it is, you're just obeying orders).

They always seem more amenable when you're just a happy friendly bloke doing the supposed bidding of a rather domineering wife.

It seems relatively easy to get free add-ons, less so to reduce the bill.

[loltolhurst]

hmm rang then up and changed tv to tv starter thats not advertised on the web and reduced the phone so its £30.95 all in. better if not amazing

[King Herald]

We pay £50 a month now, as our £30 a month deal expired recently. We have tv, broadband and telephone. I don't know what particular packages but I'd like to pay less, seems a bit steep for just basically entertainment.

[root 666]

They won't give you anything if you don't ask.

Phone them and tell them that if they put you back on the original deal you'll stay, if not you're off.
It takes five minutes, And they connect you VERY quickly.

I'll put money on you getting a better deal at the very least.

[youngsyr]

The other half worked wonders by playing Sky off against Virgin, and I'll think she'll forgive me for saying she's not an expert negotiator.

Just ring up Sky, tell them what you're paying Virgin and see what they say. Then ring up Virgin, tell them what Sky have offered you and repeat.

[crmcatee]

The thing is - why don't we as existing customers get the beast deal anyway rather than having to call them up and ask for it ? Mmmm Money.

I did just that this morning. Currently on 10mb broadband, have a couple of lines and a basic telly service. The Broadband is a line item at £25.00 month.

Call them up this morning as I'ld seen that they're offering deals to new customers... Got told I could have 20Mb when bundled with one of my lines and still be better off cash wise. Not what I wanted as I'm happy with 10Mb - so after a minute or two my broadband is now £15 a month. Exactly what I wanted.

But why should I have to ask for it.


Oh and also called Sky this morning and decided to clear out the crap that I don't want / use / economise since we don't watch that much TV. Down from 21.50 a month down to £3 / month for four months and then I'll see if I keep it or not.

Two nice bottles of wine a month saved...

[cjs]

I currently pay £35 for XL TV and a V+ Box, 10Mb BB, Phone with Eve/Wk Ends. I paid £25 for 6 months so over the year it averages out at £30/m.

Mines up in April so we will see if they want more money. I would happily dump the eve and wk end free calls, I rarely use the landline. TBH the XL Tv is a waste for me, I hardly watch anything that is not available on freeview, I do like the V+ box though!

[King Herald]

crmcatee said:

The thing is - why don't we as existing customers get the beast deal anyway rather than having to call them up and ask for it ? Mmmm Money.

I did just that this morning. Currently on 10mb broadband, have a couple of lines and a basic telly service. The Broadband is a line item at £25.00 month.

Call them up this morning as I'ld seen that they're offering deals to new customers... Got told I could have 20Mb when bundled with one of my lines and still be better off cash wise. Not what I wanted as I'm happy with 10Mb - so after a minute or two my broadband is now £15 a month. Exactly what I wanted.

But why should I have to ask for it.


Oh and also called Sky this morning and decided to clear out the crap that I don't want / use / economise since we don't watch that much TV. Down from 21.50 a month down to £3 / month for four months and then I'll see if I keep it or not.

Two nice bottles of wine a month saved...

Kind of like More Than house insurance. After four years with them I applied on line to renew the insurance and I found a new customer would be paying just over HALF what I was, for exactly the same cover. So much for looking after your steady customers!? They just shoved the price up every year, hoping we'd not notice.

I gave them a good telling to, then I cancelled it and went elsewhere.

[JDMTim]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreambox if your feeling brave

[aclivity]

JDMTim said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreambox if your feeling brave

I wouldn't waste your money - by the end of the year it will be an expensive brick.

Not to mention that it's illegal to connect it to the network, recommending it on here (I thought) breaches the T's & C's of Pistonheads?

Edited by aclivity on Tuesday 3rd March 22:15

[jules_s]

cjs said:

I currently pay £35 for XL TV and a V+ Box, 10Mb BB, Phone with Eve/Wk Ends. I paid £25 for 6 months so over the year it averages out at £30/m.

Mines up in April so we will see if they want more money. I would happily dump the eve and wk end free calls, I rarely use the landline. TBH the XL Tv is a waste for me, I hardly watch anything that is not available on freeview, I do like the V+ box though!

I've got the same but with an additional box in the bedroom.

It took a fair amount of haggling/negotiation to get my package for just over £40

[DJFish]

When you do negotiate a better deal with a 'nameless Broadband provider', please take a name of whoever got you the deal, record the date and time of your conversation and get them to send you confirmation in writing.

This will make it easier when you have to phone and complain after a few months when they decide to up your monthly direct debit payments without notifying you of the change.

'Nameless broadband provider' is great for broadband speed etc but their payments department is f###ing useless.

[lonny]

Prompted by this topic I called virgin and asked them if they could make it cheaper per month and have now moved from :

XL BB 20Mb, XL TV + V+ box, phone @ £63/month

to

L BB 10Mb, XL TV + V+ box, phone @ £45/month.

I doubt if i'll notice the difference in BB speed - torrents never come in that fast anyway - and £18/month is better off in my pocket than that Branson's... not sure if I could have done better with more haggling but that is a reasonable deal

[Orb the Impaler]

lonny said:

Prompted by this topic I called virgin and asked them if they could make it cheaper per month and have now moved from :

XL BB 20Mb, XL TV + V+ box, phone @ £63/month

to

L BB 10Mb, XL TV + V+ box, phone @ £45/month.

I doubt if i'll notice the difference in BB speed - torrents never come in that fast anyway - and £18/month is better off in my pocket than that Branson's... not sure if I could have done better with more haggling but that is a reasonable deal

Hang on - we're on XL BB, XLTV (with 2 boxes, 1 is a V+) and phone, all in (inc unlimited calls).
Total cost... (I have it here) £55/month.

Yours still seems too dear...

Edited by Orb the Impaler on Wednesday 4th March 14:17

[lonny]

Can't quote but am replying to Orb's post...

For your extra £10/m I think you are getting the 20mb bb and the unlimited phone (I have the 2 boxes as well - one v+ and the old box it replaced). I think the guy said I could keep the 20mb BB for about another £7/m so I am fairly close to your deal - I always use the mobi for calls so not too bothered about phone deals.

Given the state of my finances at the moment i'm happy to have the £7 off. I'll see how I get on with 10mb bb. If it's no good i'll look at upgrading.

I've been through the old retentions stuff in the past and couldn't face it today. i'm just pleased i'm paying less then this morning to be honest.

[King Herald]

Orb the Impaler said:

Hang on - we're on XL BB, XLTV (with 2 boxes, 1 is a V+) and phone, all in (inc unlimited calls).
Total cost... (I have it here) £55/month.

What exactly is this V box we speak of?

We have the old black box that Virgin/NTL furnished us with 18 months ago, but is there something else?

I have no idea what B-band we have, nothing overly fast I guess, or what tv package we have either.