Virgin Media refusing to supply unless I pay previous owner's debt

cake21

The previous owner of my house owed money to Virgin Media, and they are saying that they won't supply me unless I pay that off. It's not a huge amount of money (£20), but I can't be held responsible for someone else's debt, can I?

Does anyone know a way around this?

I'm a bit tempted to pay it off anyway, but I don't need the service - I'm with BT/Eclipse at the moment, just wanted to save some money, and with the £30 connection fee, it all adds up to not much saving.

Thanks very much for any help, and sorry if it's in the wrong place.

bankersmug

cake21 wrote: »

The previous owner of my house owed money to Virgin Media, and they are saying that they won't supply me unless I pay that off. It's not a huge amount of money (£20), but I can't be held responsible for someone else's debt, can I?

Does anyone know a way around this?

I'm a bit tempted to pay it off anyway, but I don't need the service - I'm with BT/Eclipse at the moment, just wanted to save some money, and with the £30 connection fee, it all adds up to not much saving.

Thanks very much for any help, and sorry if it's in the wrong place.

Personally I wouldn't bother on principle.
Have you tried o2 Broadband? up to 16meg connection for £15 a month, or £10month if you have an o2 mobile. They get good reviews and have a UK based 24/7 freephone customer service number if you get stuck! (oh and you get a wireless router too plus 100 days cooling off period)

skintas_2

do you rent, if so i had this problem before , with another company i had to send a photo copy of my tenacy agreement........... to prove thati lived there and not the previous tenant

cake21

bankersmug wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't bother on principle.

I feel the same way! But it would be a £17/month saving (I don't need a landline)...so tempting

bankersmug wrote: »

Have you tried o2 Broadband? up to 16meg connection for £15 a month, or £10month if you have an o2 mobile. They get good reviews and have a UK based 24/7 freephone customer service number if you get stuck! (oh and you get a wireless router too plus 100 days cooling off period)

Sounds good - particularly like the sound of 100 days cooling off period and UK freephone number

cake21

skintas wrote: »

do you rent, if so i had this problem before , with another company i had to send a photo copy of my tenacy agreement........... to prove thati lived there and not the previous tenant

I don't rent, but I could do the same thing with the land registry documents, thank you

skintas_2

yeah tell them to check the council tax , list or whatever its called cant remeber, but good luck

cake21

Thanks very much, hopefully now sorted, have got an installation date

SPANIEL36

they cant make you pay it. I had this problem when i split from my ex. I cancelled his account giving 30 days notice and then requested an account inmy name. They said i had to pay outstanding balance... "sorry i said, i havent got a contract with you at the moment nor have i had one in the past so even if you took it to court you wouldn't get a penny, chase the right person" They then realised that i was right, i had no contract with them it was the ex and they set me up on my account!!

do you have a forwarding address for other person, if so give it virgin

Incisor

cake21 wrote: »

Thanks very much, hopefully now sorted, have got an installation date

How did you manage that?

cake21

cake21 wrote: »

Thanks very much, hopefully now sorted, have got an installation date

Incisor wrote: »

How did you manage that?

Not sure what happened! When I called back to offer proof of change of ownership and/or speak to a supervisor, I spoke to a very lovely girl who said "sorry, the email telling you your installation date can't have gone through" and then forwarded it to me while I was still on the phone and apologised for her colleague.

Very pleasant contrast to the unhelpful and rude oik who told me I HAD to pay the previous bill or I couldn't get service, and then hung up on me!

Incisor

cake21 wrote: »

Very pleasant contrast to the unhelpful and rude oik who told me I HAD to pay the previous bill or I couldn't get service, and then hung up on me!

Every village has its idiot.