Virgin Media Retention thread

Rev

jem16 wrote: »

I would find it very unusual for O2's estimate to be so far out. O2's estimate for me was 7Mb - in reality I usually get about 5.5Mb - 6Mb and probably could get more if I used the master socket.

What package did you try out for a week and what is your internal wiring like? Do you have extension sockets and was that what you were using to connect?

I can only say what the site told me, even now if I put my number in it says they estimate 13meg, when I know I can't get more then 4-5meg

I went with the top package, I have the main socket in the next room so used a short extension cable to connect to that. According to the BT site, I can get 2meg ADSL, or if I went with a company using LLU, I'd get between 4.5 and 5.5 meg.

o2's CS was great though, I called to explain and they cancelled my contract without issue. My friend also joined at the same time, they estimated 15meg, she gets 17meg. I'm obviously just too far from the exchange.

123sonny123

Hi Guys,

My first post here. Been with Virgin Media/Cable for a loooong time.
My contract with them ended a couple of months ago.

Here is what I currently have:

Line Rental (LR) £12.24
Phone, Talk Unlimited 8.00
V+ HD Box * 5.00
Broadband L (10Mb) 25.25
TV Size M 0.00
Call barring 2.00
3 item discount -11.00

---

Total £41.49

*This V+ box charge is so that I can record onto it's Hard Disk.

The mobile phone reception in our house is useless (T-mobile), otherwise I would have cancelled the phone/phone line altogether.

I want to pay £2 Call Barring so none of the kids ring mobile phones (it only lets you dial 01, 02, 03 numbers).

I rang tonight to say that it is hard to stay with them when so many competitors were offering good packages. I said the 10MB Broadband I am on is too fast for my needs, and 5MB is more than enough. The lady that picked up sounded depressed and tired and not in the mood for conversation - I don't blame her; must be a tedious job.

She said the best she could do is reduce the Talk Unlimited cost from £8 to £4.55, BUT this would tie me into a 12 month CONTRACT - a minor 3.45 off and it ties me into a contract!
Also, 10Mb is the slowest they do.

£41.49 (my current monthly cost) - £3.55 (her discount) = £37.94

Is £37.94 a fair price to pay for what I get? She said I can also knock off a further fiver that I am paying towards the V+ HD box, but this means I would lose the ability to record programs onto its hard disk.

Currently, Talk Talk and Plusnet are offering BB + Unlimited calls + Line Rental all for £28-£32 in my area.


Thank you for your help.

latecomer

first thing is that any change will involve you agreeing to a new contract.

Did you quote what you could get from the other providers or just say you can get a better deal from them. I'd always use a definite example for bargaining power. trouble is if you take off the V+ box cost and the call barring then you are down at nearly the same price as you are using for leverage.

123sonny123

latecomer wrote: »

first thing is that any change will involve you agreeing to a new contract.

Did you quote what you could get from the other providers or just say you can get a better deal from them. I'd always use a definite example for bargaining power. trouble is if you take off the V+ box cost and the call barring then you are down at nearly the same price as you are using for leverage.

Thanks for your reply. Yep, I told her for £27 Talk Talk is offering Line Rental, "Unlimited" Internet and Anytime Calls. I'm not too fussed about TV.

I realised that too; if I take the V+ HD box charge off, and got rid of the call barring then I would be on a ~ £31 monthly cost, compared to Talk Talk's £27.

It's a shame new customers are offered half price deals for the first 6 months. I have a Virgin Media newspaper advert from the Evening Standard offering all 3 for £10ish for the first 6 months and £19.50ish thereafter.

When I was doing some Xmas shopping a few weeks ago, there was a Virgin Media 'stall' in the shopping centre, and the salesman told me to quit Virgin Media and to restart under my wife's name to qualify for the 'new user' offers...

Anon

123sonny123 wrote: »

When I was doing some Xmas shopping a few weeks ago, there was a Virgin Media 'stall' in the shopping centre, and the salesman told me to quit Virgin Media and to restart under my wife's name to qualify for the 'new user' offers...

The problem is that you cannot transfer your phone number Virgin Media to Virgin Media (unless someone knows different) and you lose your email address, which may be an issue for some. If you go that route, Quidco are offering an increased £100 until tomorrow (time unknown, could disappear at any time from experience) then will likely drop back to £65 which is the normal cashback.

Anon

Lagosbound

Hi

First posting and glad to have found this thread.

I have been with Ntl/Virgin since the start. Have never been on any contract and have noticed costs creeping up a lot in recent months.My current costs are

Line Rental 09 January - 08 February £12.24
Talk Evening and Weekend 09 January - 08 February £3.50
Additional Loyalty Discount 09 January - 08 February £-1.75
Triple Combo Pack Loyalty Discount 09 January - 08 February £-18.25
TV Size: X L 09 January - 08 February £25.00
1 Add Set Top Box(es) 09 January - 08 February £15.00
Add Set Box(es) Discount 09 January - 08 February £-9.40
Broadband Size: L 09 January - 08 February £25.25

Total service charges are £54.35

Is this reasonable or should I try and see what I can negotiate? If I give 30days notice to cancel will they ring back and if not how long can I leave it before I cancel the cancellation?- if you know what I mean.

Thanks.

chopps

123sonny123 wrote: »

Hi Guys,

My first post here. Been with Virgin Media/Cable for a loooong time.
My contract with them ended a couple of months ago.

Here is what I currently have:

Line Rental (LR) £12.24
Phone, Talk Unlimited 8.00
V+ HD Box * 5.00
Broadband L (10Mb) 25.25
TV Size M 0.00
Call barring 2.00
3 item discount -11.00

---

Total £41.49

*This V+ box charge is so that I can record onto it's Hard Disk.

The mobile phone reception in our house is useless (T-mobile), otherwise I would have cancelled the phone/phone line altogether.

I want to pay £2 Call Barring so none of the kids ring mobile phones (it only lets you dial 01, 02, 03 numbers).

I rang tonight to say that it is hard to stay with them when so many competitors were offering good packages. I said the 10MB Broadband I am on is too fast for my needs, and 5MB is more than enough. The lady that picked up sounded depressed and tired and not in the mood for conversation - I don't blame her; must be a tedious job.

She said the best she could do is reduce the Talk Unlimited cost from £8 to £4.55, BUT this would tie me into a 12 month CONTRACT - a minor 3.45 off and it ties me into a contract!
Also, 10Mb is the slowest they do.

£41.49 (my current monthly cost) - £3.55 (her discount) = £37.94

Is £37.94 a fair price to pay for what I get? She said I can also knock off a further fiver that I am paying towards the V+ HD box, but this means I would lose the ability to record programs onto its hard disk.

Currently, Talk Talk and Plusnet are offering BB + Unlimited calls + Line Rental all for £28-£32 in my area.


Thank you for your help.

I had a similar package (except the call barring) offered for £ 24 per month for first 12 months increasing by £6 approx. for the final 6 months of the 18 month period.
The cancellations department offered next to no reduction and it was the call back from retentions that came up with some sensible offerings.

iviv

Just spoke with retentions because of internet problems. Tech support in India kept fobbing me off, the problem was coming back every single day. Complained to retentions, they put me through to uk tech support, I mentioned it could be the 8 year old modem, and now there's a new one in the post.

Tried haggling with the price, currently paying around £75 for:
TV XL + Sky Sports
Phone XL
Call divert
Broadband M
V+ HD box
Extra V box

Really wanted a free/cheap upgrade to the 20Mb service, but the guy said I was actually getting £15 discount more than I should be, so there wasn't anything he could do. Oh well

cambb

Anon wrote: »

The problem is that you cannot transfer your phone number Virgin Media to Virgin Media (unless someone knows different) and you lose your email address, which may be an issue for some. If you go that route, Quidco are offering an increased £100 until tomorrow (time unknown, could disappear at any time from experience) then will likely drop back to £65 which is the normal cashback.

Anon

I'm also looking for a deal and i'm 2 weeks into my cancellation period with no call yet. I suppose i could get my wife to set up a new account and get the discounts once my cancellation period expires? Has anybody done this and have been successful?

latecomer

iviv wrote: »

Just spoke with retentions because of internet problems. Tech support in India kept fobbing me off, the problem was coming back every single day. Complained to retentions, they put me through to uk tech support, I mentioned it could be the 8 year old modem, and now there's a new one in the post.

Tried haggling with the price, currently paying around £75 for:
TV XL + Sky Sports
Phone XL
Call divert
Broadband M
V+ HD box
Extra V box

Really wanted a free/cheap upgrade to the 20Mb service, but the guy said I was actually getting £15 discount more than I should be, so there wasn't anything he could do. Oh well

Best thing to do is find out how much the same would be from Sky and if its less use it to get a better deal. BT also have a good deals on Sky Sports but I'm not sure about what other channels you get etc.