Virgin Media Retention thread

spud17

Was on Broadband (M 10Mbps) only, paying £8.50/mth which had crept up to £9.00. Very pleased.

Best they could offer this week was £15/mth for Large, because M is now an "outdated product", she said.

Gave it a few days and phoned back to cancel, pushy guy told me that I'd lose my free security, free backup and my email address.

I told him Virgin were the only ones that used that email, and for the others I made my own arrangements.

Also, just to wind him up, I told him I generally use Linux for everyday surfing, so didn't bother with security.

He asked who I was moving to, I said I was looking at LLU O2, whereupon he told me that I would only get 3Mbps.

He then told me that Linux doesn't work with the O2 router.

I said a router is a router, he then back-pedalled and said I wouldn't get any support if I had problems. I said Virgin don't support it either, I was then told "I'm Cisco trained and Microsoft certified, so I know what I'm talking about"!

I told him, I've already done my research, I've checked with the BT Wholesale ADSL availability site, SamKnows and the O2 site, all say at least 6Mbps.

He then came back with " my checker is more official than yours", eh? I used THIS BTW.

I've always had a BT line and use the various MSE options to reduce costs, so I can live with the reduced speed, after all I managed with 2Mbps from Virgin for 3 yrs.

reduceditem

It's possible to get deals without being 'retained'.

I get 10mg BB and line rental from Virgin on a rolling basis as I've been out of contract since May. It works out at £24.49 a month I think. Now, I could get that down a bit if I sign up for another 12 months (I think they said they'll do it for £21ish), but as I prefer to stay out of contract to keep my options open I employ a different strategy. I just phone up every 2 months or so to give notice to cancel both products.....a tip is to always be armed with the exact (lower) prices of the competitor you are switching to. They will then explain why Virgin is better, etc....then I explain that anway I can't afford the higher prices from Virgin and just repeat that whatever they say. First time I did this they gave me £5 off a month for 3 months (reducing the monthly cost to less than what it would be if I signed a new contract). Then when that expired I phoned again with the same routine and I was given a £30 CREDIT on my bill!.......the equivalent of another 6 months at £19.49.....or 3 months at £14.49. But the beauty of it is that as soon as that credit has gone through my next bill, I'll be back on the blower to get another discount.

So there it is.......10mg BB and phone line rental can be got for LESS than what you would pay with a new contract whilst staying happily contract-free.

Sas1979

reduceditem wrote: »

It's possible to get deals without being 'retained'.

I get 10mg BB and line rental from Virgin on a rolling basis as I've been out of contract since May. It works out at £24.49 a month I think. Now, I could get that down a bit if I sign up for another 12 months (I think they said they'll do it for £21ish), but as I prefer to stay out of contract to keep my options open I employ a different strategy. I just phone up every 2 months or so to give notice to cancel both products.....a tip is to always be armed with the exact (lower) prices of the competitor you are switching to. They will then explain why Virgin is better, etc....then I explain that anway I can't afford the higher prices from Virgin and just repeat that whatever they say. First time I did this they gave me £5 off a month for 3 months (reducing the monthly cost to less than what it would be if I signed a new contract). Then when that expired I phoned again with the same routine and I was given a £30 CREDIT on my bill!.......the equivalent of another 6 months at £19.49.....or 3 months at £14.49. But the beauty of it is that as soon as that credit has gone through my next bill, I'll be back on the blower to get another discount.

So there it is.......10mg BB and phone line rental can be got for LESS than what you would pay with a new contract whilst staying happily contract-free.

We are paying £14.46 for 10mb Broadband and the phone line with unlimited calls including 0845 numbers. Just say you are switching companies and give them notice to quit and the should phone you within a few days asking why you are leaving so just say you are going to sky and getting their unlimited calls package + free broadband for £16 a month.

The funny thing is we can't even get that package in our area!!! :rotfl: If they don't check before phoing then that's not my problem.

Over the phone they did offer me the M+ package on the tv package for the same price but they are now denying that was ever said so I've phoned up sky and got a multiroom box added to my order which is getting installed on Monday. (Complete package with HD & Multiroom for £30.50 for a year) :j

spud17

reduceditem and Sas1979,

I've successfully used those exact tactics for the last 3 years, however this time they didn't/couldn't come up with a satisfactory deal, I'd have paid £10/12 per month, for BB only.

I gave them all the details of the O2 LLU deal, 3months free plus cashback.

I've had a really good and reliable service, billing did go through a sticky patch, but was always resolved without any loss to me.

When the guy started to try and browbeat me, it made me more determined to leave.

jimdale

I'm with Virgin and paying £52 a month for phone, TV & broadband. Here is my latest bill:-

Line rental £11.99
TV XL £24.50
Broadband XL £37.00
XL Triple savings -£20.95

TOTAL £52.54

I have talk unlimited included but I'm trying to reduce costs and wondered if anyone has secured a better deal for a similar package.

Thanks,

Jim

xssc32x

hi,
currently paying £18.00 per month just for BB (size L), should be at end of contract so rolling over month on month. Do you feel I could be getting a better offer if I rung up? Virgin are currently offer this to new customers for £15 per month for first 3 then goes up to £20 per month.
cheers
Si

onejontwo

Wow they're sure getting tougher at Virgin, I usually get a decent contract with them without too much trouble but this time after twice getting a couple of quid knocked off I finally managed to get a package that although it's not great it was the best I could get without actually cancelling my contract. So basically it's
L Broadband (up to 10 meg)
XL Telephone (any time unlimited)
Landline
Caller display
for £25.49 per month.

Adrian_Hughes

I have just been offered :
2 x V+ (Lounge and bedroom for HD and recording TV etc!)
1 x Standard set top box (Son's bedroom)
XL Broadband
XL TV
XL Phone
the above for £ 62.44
or with sports & movies for £ 90.94

Can these be got cheaper you think??
I am at the end of my contract with what I have at the moment, so I have some power in discount i take it!!! (hope anyway!)
Ade

spud17

xssc32x wrote: »

hi,
currently paying £18.00 per month just for BB (size L), should be at end of contract so rolling over month on month. Do you feel I could be getting a better offer if I rung up? Virgin are currently offer this to new customers for £15 per month for first 3 then goes up to £20 per month.
cheers
Si

See my post just above.

I'm out of contract and they offered me that for £15/mth or £15.99 for BB (L) plus phone.

I was on £9/mth BB (M) only.

jimdale

jimdale wrote: »

I'm with Virgin and paying £52 a month for phone, TV & broadband. Here is my latest bill:-

Line rental £11.99
TV XL £24.50
Broadband XL £37.00
XL Triple savings -£20.95

TOTAL £52.54

I have talk unlimited included but I'm trying to reduce costs and wondered if anyone has secured a better deal for a similar package.

Thanks,

Jim

The prices above were from last months bill. Just received the new bill for this month and it's gone up to £60. :mad: They have started charging for the talk unlimited at £7.95.

Need to get this price down. Any tips on how to go about it? I'm out of contract.

Thanks,

Jim