Virgin Media - Retention Deals?
Discussion
Well, that worked out well.
They offered me £42 off the bat for the same package. I told them 'no', it was either all or nothing.
They then offered TNT, with sky sports (inc F1 noawadays) and cinema for £59 along with an upgrade from 250Mbps speeds to 350Mbps as the mrs is an O2 customer. However, the sky sports wasn't HD, so I told her that I'd like to cancel, in that case.
She then 'found' some Black Friday deals on the system and gave me a mega bundle inc HD, Netflix and 500Mbps(!) for £55, in exchange for 18 months commitment. I've just checked the download speed and it's 550Mbps. She also pushed through this month for £42, saving me a bundle off this month's bill, which is nice.
I can also (as can anyone, I suspect) request a new remote to upgrade the box to 360 software, whatever than means, the quid pro quo being that I'll lose the existing recordings.
The price also increases in April by at least 3.9% due to RPI increases, so she suggested I call to cancel an there'll probably be an automated line set up to offer discounts to those who ask. It really is a case of 'don't ask, don't get'.
I have to say, that she was bright, breezy and easy to deal with. I think that the key was just saying no and we got there in the end.
They offered me £42 off the bat for the same package. I told them 'no', it was either all or nothing.
They then offered TNT, with sky sports (inc F1 noawadays) and cinema for £59 along with an upgrade from 250Mbps speeds to 350Mbps as the mrs is an O2 customer. However, the sky sports wasn't HD, so I told her that I'd like to cancel, in that case.
She then 'found' some Black Friday deals on the system and gave me a mega bundle inc HD, Netflix and 500Mbps(!) for £55, in exchange for 18 months commitment. I've just checked the download speed and it's 550Mbps. She also pushed through this month for £42, saving me a bundle off this month's bill, which is nice.
I can also (as can anyone, I suspect) request a new remote to upgrade the box to 360 software, whatever than means, the quid pro quo being that I'll lose the existing recordings.
The price also increases in April by at least 3.9% due to RPI increases, so she suggested I call to cancel an there'll probably be an automated line set up to offer discounts to those who ask. It really is a case of 'don't ask, don't get'.
I have to say, that she was bright, breezy and easy to deal with. I think that the key was just saying no and we got there in the end.
I just couldn't face 'playing the game' yet again after 30 years of being a customer. We were disconnected a couple of weeks ago and they want their router back, but forgot to send the packaging. Typical 
Interestingly, though we can't get any live TV any more, we can still watch all the stuff we have recorded on the two Tivo boxes - that should keep us busy for at least six months 
Now got my old Surface tablet hooked up to the TV to watch BBC/ITV/C4/C6/Dave etc. It's a bit more of a faff but I'm not missing Virgin in the slightest!
Interestingly, though we can't get any live TV any more, we can still watch all the stuff we have recorded on the two Tivo boxes - that should keep us busy for at least six months Now got my old Surface tablet hooked up to the TV to watch BBC/ITV/C4/C6/Dave etc. It's a bit more of a faff but I'm not missing Virgin in the slightest!
bolidemichael said:
Well, that worked out well.
They offered me £42 off the bat for the same package. I told them 'no', it was either all or nothing.
They then offered TNT, with sky sports (inc F1 noawadays) and cinema for £59 along with an upgrade from 250Mbps speeds to 350Mbps as the mrs is an O2 customer. However, the sky sports wasn't HD, so I told her that I'd like to cancel, in that case.
She then 'found' some Black Friday deals on the system and gave me a mega bundle inc HD, Netflix and 500Mbps(!) for £55, in exchange for 18 months commitment. I've just checked the download speed and it's 550Mbps. She also pushed through this month for £42, saving me a bundle off this month's bill, which is nice.
I can also (as can anyone, I suspect) request a new remote to upgrade the box to 360 software, whatever than means, the quid pro quo being that I'll lose the existing recordings.
The price also increases in April by at least 3.9% due to RPI increases, so she suggested I call to cancel an there'll probably be an automated line set up to offer discounts to those who ask. It really is a case of 'don't ask, don't get'.
I have to say, that she was bright, breezy and easy to deal with. I think that the key was just saying no and we got there in the end.
You did pretty well there. Did the final package include Sky and TNT Sports for £55 all in ? They offered me £42 off the bat for the same package. I told them 'no', it was either all or nothing.
They then offered TNT, with sky sports (inc F1 noawadays) and cinema for £59 along with an upgrade from 250Mbps speeds to 350Mbps as the mrs is an O2 customer. However, the sky sports wasn't HD, so I told her that I'd like to cancel, in that case.
She then 'found' some Black Friday deals on the system and gave me a mega bundle inc HD, Netflix and 500Mbps(!) for £55, in exchange for 18 months commitment. I've just checked the download speed and it's 550Mbps. She also pushed through this month for £42, saving me a bundle off this month's bill, which is nice.
I can also (as can anyone, I suspect) request a new remote to upgrade the box to 360 software, whatever than means, the quid pro quo being that I'll lose the existing recordings.
The price also increases in April by at least 3.9% due to RPI increases, so she suggested I call to cancel an there'll probably be an automated line set up to offer discounts to those who ask. It really is a case of 'don't ask, don't get'.
I have to say, that she was bright, breezy and easy to deal with. I think that the key was just saying no and we got there in the end.
outnumbered said:
bolidemichael said:
Well, that worked out well.
They offered me £42 off the bat for the same package. I told them 'no', it was either all or nothing.
They then offered TNT, with sky sports (inc F1 noawadays) and cinema for £59 along with an upgrade from 250Mbps speeds to 350Mbps as the mrs is an O2 customer. However, the sky sports wasn't HD, so I told her that I'd like to cancel, in that case.
She then 'found' some Black Friday deals on the system and gave me a mega bundle inc HD, Netflix and 500Mbps(!) for £55, in exchange for 18 months commitment. I've just checked the download speed and it's 550Mbps. She also pushed through this month for £42, saving me a bundle off this month's bill, which is nice.
I can also (as can anyone, I suspect) request a new remote to upgrade the box to 360 software, whatever than means, the quid pro quo being that I'll lose the existing recordings.
The price also increases in April by at least 3.9% due to RPI increases, so she suggested I call to cancel an there'll probably be an automated line set up to offer discounts to those who ask. It really is a case of 'don't ask, don't get'.
I have to say, that she was bright, breezy and easy to deal with. I think that the key was just saying no and we got there in the end.
You did pretty well there. Did the final package include Sky and TNT Sports for £55 all in ? They offered me £42 off the bat for the same package. I told them 'no', it was either all or nothing.
They then offered TNT, with sky sports (inc F1 noawadays) and cinema for £59 along with an upgrade from 250Mbps speeds to 350Mbps as the mrs is an O2 customer. However, the sky sports wasn't HD, so I told her that I'd like to cancel, in that case.
She then 'found' some Black Friday deals on the system and gave me a mega bundle inc HD, Netflix and 500Mbps(!) for £55, in exchange for 18 months commitment. I've just checked the download speed and it's 550Mbps. She also pushed through this month for £42, saving me a bundle off this month's bill, which is nice.
I can also (as can anyone, I suspect) request a new remote to upgrade the box to 360 software, whatever than means, the quid pro quo being that I'll lose the existing recordings.
The price also increases in April by at least 3.9% due to RPI increases, so she suggested I call to cancel an there'll probably be an automated line set up to offer discounts to those who ask. It really is a case of 'don't ask, don't get'.
I have to say, that she was bright, breezy and easy to deal with. I think that the key was just saying no and we got there in the end.
We now have FTTP in our area and I can finally leave Virgin and their ‘cancel dance’
I’m getting 900 up and down for £29/month
Best Virgin could do when calling me back a couple of days after I cancelled was £35/month for 1gig down and 100 up (reality is 900 down as they refuse to upgrade my router to a hub5 with 2.5g ports)
I’m getting 900 up and down for £29/month
Best Virgin could do when calling me back a couple of days after I cancelled was £35/month for 1gig down and 100 up (reality is 900 down as they refuse to upgrade my router to a hub5 with 2.5g ports)
Phunk said:
We now have FTTP in our area and I can finally leave Virgin and their ‘cancel dance’
I’m getting 900 up and down for £29/month
Best Virgin could do when calling me back a couple of days after I cancelled was £35/month for 1gig down and 100 up (reality is 900 down as they refuse to upgrade my router to a hub5 with 2.5g ports)
Happy with my Virgin at the moment (M350/£30)I’m getting 900 up and down for £29/month
Best Virgin could do when calling me back a couple of days after I cancelled was £35/month for 1gig down and 100 up (reality is 900 down as they refuse to upgrade my router to a hub5 with 2.5g ports)
But City Fibre have just finished digging up my area, started getting info from other full fibre companies through the door. Will be available from January.
So when the inevitable price hike of RPI + comes, I’ll just switch next time.
City Fibre have dug most roads, on mine there is a fibre box on the Openreach pole. The actual fibre will come in overhead.
Edited by James6112 on Thursday 7th December 07:53
Just been through the painful dance.
Only have 250mb BB and a landline which I don't use.
WhatsApp chat offered me £43 a month.
Indian phone operator offered me £45 a month.
Person that could actually cancel the contract offered me £46.
In what world does making it more expensive on every phone call make sense?
The staff gave the most patronising spiel about how the costs have gone up for everyone (surely it's my job to limit my outgoings not to bump up VM's profits) and some nonsense about how it'll cost me more in the long run switching providers when I queried why new customers can get the bundle I have for £32 a month but my bill has somehow ballooned to £66 a month before 'discounts'.
I like their broadband but the way they conduct their selves really puts me off ever going back to them.
Only have 250mb BB and a landline which I don't use.
WhatsApp chat offered me £43 a month.
Indian phone operator offered me £45 a month.
Person that could actually cancel the contract offered me £46.
In what world does making it more expensive on every phone call make sense?
The staff gave the most patronising spiel about how the costs have gone up for everyone (surely it's my job to limit my outgoings not to bump up VM's profits) and some nonsense about how it'll cost me more in the long run switching providers when I queried why new customers can get the bundle I have for £32 a month but my bill has somehow ballooned to £66 a month before 'discounts'.
I like their broadband but the way they conduct their selves really puts me off ever going back to them.
Once again I'm doing the merry dance.
I've been offered £44pcm 18 month contract for M350 (+ phone line) over webchat - which is up from £37 & I expect would also suffer 2 CPI + 3.9% rises over term.
PlusNet are offering Full Fibre 500Mb for £31.99, 300Mb for £29.99 - without a phone line.
I have dance fatigue and have said to process the cancellation.
ETA: We predominantly use broadband - the TV box has been in a cupboard for most of the 8 years we've been in the house. We have a landline which is significantly unused - and I could live with losing.
I've been offered £44pcm 18 month contract for M350 (+ phone line) over webchat - which is up from £37 & I expect would also suffer 2 CPI + 3.9% rises over term.
PlusNet are offering Full Fibre 500Mb for £31.99, 300Mb for £29.99 - without a phone line.
I have dance fatigue and have said to process the cancellation.
ETA: We predominantly use broadband - the TV box has been in a cupboard for most of the 8 years we've been in the house. We have a landline which is significantly unused - and I could live with losing.
Edited by Chris Type R on Saturday 9th December 11:08
Also just had the usual 18-month dance with Virgin Media as I’ve come out of contract. I was on 250Mb, Maxit TV and landline - £60pm. Going up to £100pm from next week.
I looked at their offer on my account to stay on the same package - £80pm
Called their retention team - £75pm
Went on their online chat this morning and after a lot of silly offers, (where the cost went UP if I reduced the package…) I ended up with:
350mb
Mega TV 3
Landline (irrelevant, as I never use it)
O2 sim (which I doubt I’ll never use…)
And - more importantly, I’ve got them to replace the ancient and useless Hub3 with their latest router, AND they’ve given a ‘WiFi guarantee’ that says I’ll get a signal everywhere in the house, otherwise they’ll give me some kind or repeater/ mesh system
And, I’ve got them to agree to no price increases during the 18 months, so I’ve skipped two lots of inflation plus 3.9% hikes too
All for £64pm - ok it’s still an increase over what I had before, but it feels like a bit of a victory…
I looked at their offer on my account to stay on the same package - £80pm
Called their retention team - £75pm
Went on their online chat this morning and after a lot of silly offers, (where the cost went UP if I reduced the package…) I ended up with:
350mb
Mega TV 3
Landline (irrelevant, as I never use it)
O2 sim (which I doubt I’ll never use…)
And - more importantly, I’ve got them to replace the ancient and useless Hub3 with their latest router, AND they’ve given a ‘WiFi guarantee’ that says I’ll get a signal everywhere in the house, otherwise they’ll give me some kind or repeater/ mesh system
And, I’ve got them to agree to no price increases during the 18 months, so I’ve skipped two lots of inflation plus 3.9% hikes too
All for £64pm - ok it’s still an increase over what I had before, but it feels like a bit of a victory…
Chris Type R said:
Oddly, it looks like I can create a new order on the VM dashboard for £37pcm for 18 months with the same service - or £41pcm to go from M350 to M500. This would have the RPI+3.9% increase in April 2024.
My M350 at £24 is coming to an end, and rather than do the dance I looked at the 'upgrades' available to me. I'd had an email which indicated it would go up to £63 next month, or £70 depending which bit I read.There it was on the offers page, M350, new 18 month contract, £24 per month. So I put it in the basket and it went through fine, the contract docs confirm it. All exactly the same as now including the price.
karma mechanic said:
My M350 at £24 is coming to an end, and rather than do the dance I looked at the 'upgrades' available to me. I'd had an email which indicated it would go up to £63 next month, or £70 depending which bit I read.
There it was on the offers page, M350, new 18 month contract, £24 per month. So I put it in the basket and it went through fine, the contract docs confirm it. All exactly the same as now including the price.
Exactly what I did. Was going to bin them as I was not willing to do the dance. The 'Upgrades available to me' was acceptable and went for it. There it was on the offers page, M350, new 18 month contract, £24 per month. So I put it in the basket and it went through fine, the contract docs confirm it. All exactly the same as now including the price.
Never going to do the dance again, so if no decent upgrades at renewal time they will go.
karma mechanic said:
My M350 at £24 is coming to an end, and rather than do the dance I looked at the 'upgrades' available to me. I'd had an email which indicated it would go up to £63 next month, or £70 depending which bit I read.
There it was on the offers page, M350, new 18 month contract, £24 per month. So I put it in the basket and it went through fine, the contract docs confirm it. All exactly the same as now including the price.
I just checked my "upgrades", and there's no cheaper options there, despite my contract being up in a couple of days time. This is partly what's so maddening about VM, what you get offered and what you can negotiate seems totally random !There it was on the offers page, M350, new 18 month contract, £24 per month. So I put it in the basket and it went through fine, the contract docs confirm it. All exactly the same as now including the price.
WonkeyDonkey said:
Just been through the painful dance.
Only have 250mb BB and a landline which I don't use.
WhatsApp chat offered me £43 a month.
Indian phone operator offered me £45 a month.
Person that could actually cancel the contract offered me £46.
In what world does making it more expensive on every phone call make sense?
The staff gave the most patronising spiel about how the costs have gone up for everyone (surely it's my job to limit my outgoings not to bump up VM's profits) and some nonsense about how it'll cost me more in the long run switching providers when I queried why new customers can get the bundle I have for £32 a month but my bill has somehow ballooned to £66 a month before 'discounts'.
I like their broadband but the way they conduct their selves really puts me off ever going back to them.
Got a phone call back today offering it me for £28 so took that.Only have 250mb BB and a landline which I don't use.
WhatsApp chat offered me £43 a month.
Indian phone operator offered me £45 a month.
Person that could actually cancel the contract offered me £46.
In what world does making it more expensive on every phone call make sense?
The staff gave the most patronising spiel about how the costs have gone up for everyone (surely it's my job to limit my outgoings not to bump up VM's profits) and some nonsense about how it'll cost me more in the long run switching providers when I queried why new customers can get the bundle I have for £32 a month but my bill has somehow ballooned to £66 a month before 'discounts'.
I like their broadband but the way they conduct their selves really puts me off ever going back to them.
Why go through all the nonsense.
WonkeyDonkey said:
I like their broadband but the way they conduct their selves really puts me off ever going back to them.
WonkeyDonkey said:
Why go through all the nonsense.
I think this is the most relevant bit. It's just so draining going through their convoluted retention processThe day I left and was beyond their pathetic call backs with agents trying to squeeze what they could was a relief
WonkeyDonkey said:
Just been through the painful dance.
Only have 250mb BB and a landline which I don't use.
WhatsApp chat offered me £43 a month.
Indian phone operator offered me £45 a month.
Person that could actually cancel the contract offered me £46.
In what world does making it more expensive on every phone call make sense?
The staff gave the most patronising spiel about how the costs have gone up for everyone (surely it's my job to limit my outgoings not to bump up VM's profits) and some nonsense about how it'll cost me more in the long run switching providers when I queried why new customers can get the bundle I have for £32 a month but my bill has somehow ballooned to £66 a month before 'discounts'.
I like their broadband but the way they conduct their selves really puts me off ever going back to them.
I've just had the same problems. My dad has passed away so the bills are being transferred to his partner.Only have 250mb BB and a landline which I don't use.
WhatsApp chat offered me £43 a month.
Indian phone operator offered me £45 a month.
Person that could actually cancel the contract offered me £46.
In what world does making it more expensive on every phone call make sense?
The staff gave the most patronising spiel about how the costs have gone up for everyone (surely it's my job to limit my outgoings not to bump up VM's profits) and some nonsense about how it'll cost me more in the long run switching providers when I queried why new customers can get the bundle I have for £32 a month but my bill has somehow ballooned to £66 a month before 'discounts'.
I like their broadband but the way they conduct their selves really puts me off ever going back to them.
I'm helping out and looked at their broadband. Just out of contract and going from just over £20 a month, to £57!
Thats just for M350 and weekend phone.
They never had a landline connected as always used the mobile, so don't need that.
Whilst my dad used to stream a lot of TV, his partner is not interested in TV, so don't even need M250 let alone 350!
Best they would offer was nearly £40 a month. All she wants is basic internet to access social media and the odd problem on BBC Iplayer!
Had to do the contract ending dance last Friday - 350 Mb internet, Mix-it TV and Phone - they were wanting £75 quid a month 
After pointing out the better deals I can get from sky and the ones they offer new customers (needed to use a VPN to see these offers) and after a long time on the chat - £45 instead. Could probably have got them down further but I was getting bored of the long waits whilst they "check my account again and see what they can do"....
After pointing out the better deals I can get from sky and the ones they offer new customers (needed to use a VPN to see these offers) and after a long time on the chat - £45 instead. Could probably have got them down further but I was getting bored of the long waits whilst they "check my account again and see what they can do"....
Chris Type R said:
Once again I'm doing the merry dance.
I've been offered £44pcm 18 month contract for M350 (+ phone line) over webchat - which is up from £37 & I expect would also suffer 2 CPI + 3.9% rises over term.
PlusNet are offering Full Fibre 500Mb for £31.99, 300Mb for £29.99 - without a phone line.
I have dance fatigue and have said to process the cancellation.
ETA: We predominantly use broadband - the TV box has been in a cupboard for most of the 8 years we've been in the house. We have a landline which is significantly unused - and I could live with losing.
Having put in my cancellation via webchat, I had a landline call this morning and have agreed to £36pcm(from £37) for M500 (from M350), Mixit, Phone with w/e chatter. I've been offered £44pcm 18 month contract for M350 (+ phone line) over webchat - which is up from £37 & I expect would also suffer 2 CPI + 3.9% rises over term.
PlusNet are offering Full Fibre 500Mb for £31.99, 300Mb for £29.99 - without a phone line.
I have dance fatigue and have said to process the cancellation.
ETA: We predominantly use broadband - the TV box has been in a cupboard for most of the 8 years we've been in the house. We have a landline which is significantly unused - and I could live with losing.
I didn't have to do much haggling for this - pretty much said what the PlusNet price would be and that VM would need to be competitive to retain my business. Given that there are price rises built into the 18 month contract, I don't think VM are hard done by.
I could have probably saved money changing, but I'm happy with the VM service, so have parked changing provider for another 18 months.
ETA: The speed change was applied during the call
Edited by Chris Type R on Monday 11th December 13:01
TheLurker said:
Just on the live chat with them now. What an absolute s**t show.
After an hour of wanting to cancel, they've instead offered me the same package I'm currently on for 'only' an extra £20 a month. And then had the audacity to ask 'Sounds great, right?'.
They did that with me, we have a one time special offer, it was actually more expensive than my current deal for nothing extra.After an hour of wanting to cancel, they've instead offered me the same package I'm currently on for 'only' an extra £20 a month. And then had the audacity to ask 'Sounds great, right?'.
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