Digital TV Cost Cutting Article - Discuss What You've Been Offered

andyforbes

I phoned the turnaround dept yesterday at about 19:00. Said I was going to cancel as I couldn't afford it, kids at uni (big fees), better choice elsewhere etc. I'm on full package of £43.50 and have been since 1999 and was an analogue customer before that. Was offered Sky+ for £49.00, which I don't really want. I said I can't afford it as it is so how do you expect me to afford that. I kept saying I wanted to cancel but I had to sit through 30 minutes of the chap trying to get me to chop and change my package to a less price. This was just their standard packages that they sell. I was done in by this stage so I said I'd think about it and ring back in a couple of days. No chance. Not a mention of a deal for two or three months, just tried to push Sky+ onto me. I'll give it a few3 weeks and try again, they were certainly hard work.

hunni

andyforbes ~ make sure you are doing it through-08000512595(Cancellations and then Turnaround )the others cant really help you!..i rang in the daytime..tried it twice as the first woman was a bit grumpy..second one was lovely so i guess it just depends on who you get....hope this is of help!!:D

BaileyB

So i take it there are no half price deals atm?

chrisk123

This is a copy from another post of mine, but thought it would be appropriate in here as well, I phoned NTL last Friday and got my Family pack + sports +talk unlimited + 4mb bb which was costing me £67.50 a month down to £39.75 and the movies free as well.

I've written a list of things - now remember you are trying to sell the idea to them, dont make it sound hopeless for them, but give them the chance to save you. They earn a commission for every customer they "save" the same as any retentions department.

I started by complaining about the service "It took me an hour (after people cutting me off etc) to get through to you" Advisable to ring at a busy time so that you can use this excuse.

Then I complained about the general quality of the service, box freezing all the time - channel guide blank loads and remote is crap etc.

I then said about sky's 3 for £26 deal, forgetting to mention line rental... and other deals available. Saying SKy is loads better, I can get HD with all the channels available if I stay with you and wait for TVDrive even then I only get 2 HD channels "I'll be saving £30 a month at least" this is normally good!!

Start prompting that it would be hassle for you to switch though so that you give them a prompt that they may be able to save you. "It would be such a hassle to have to get a BT line installed again"

Then just say "but you are leaving me no choice, I'll have to switch - can you cancel for me"

They will say yes and start to go through the disconnection process, but as they start it they will say something like "well i am not sure if i can save you £30p/mth sir/madam, but I can see what I can do with your monthly bill" - Try and sound suspicious of this, but then say "well lets see what you can do then"

Say that their first offer is not good enough, or if like me, just ask for an upgrade to movies/10mb BB for free and you'll stay.

They'll normally give you the extra bit of discount and the jobs a good un'!!!

Hope this helps everyone, and remember that they want to save you (NTL and the Advisor)

Dont forget to use the retentions number 0800 0529403.

Good luck!

chrisk123

fellop wrote:

Hello to all,
I have today received in the post two booklets from Virgin Media, one of these tells me [it seems] that NTL, Telewest, Virgen.net and Virgin Mobile are joining together to form a new company called Virgin Media.

These new company it seems will be able to bring, lucky me [being sarcastic] Digital TV, Broadband, Phone and Mobile all in one package, just how lucky can a chap get [sarcasm again].

The second booklet is headed ‘Terms and Conditions’ and as you might expect is full of small print telling me all the legal mumbo jumbo etc etc.

I have at the moment NTL Broadband and Phone, nothing else; I don’t even own a Mobile. Sky provides my TV [but for not much longer and I revert to normal terrestrial TV]

Anyone know anything about this? Is this just clever marketing on the part of Virgin hoping I will change from NTL to them. There is nothing about this on NTL Web Home Page.

Regards to all.

This has more to do with Branson than it does anything else, as he is NTL's largest single shareholder. When they bought Virgin Mobile it wasn't for cash it was for shares.

Also, you wont have to change to virgin, your servics will just become branded virgin media!

So nothing really to worry about, its all in the name...

Hopefully this means I'll be able to get TVDrive sooner rather than later! :T

allan2006

i rung up sky 2 weeks ago, my box is a bit knackered and keeps locking up, did wonder if they would offer me a refurbished one or something but they didnt, so i gave my months notice to cancel.

i noticed ntl is doing 2 for £20, broadband and tv

web_wiz

Chrisk - depends on where you are in the country (or more appropriately, which NTL platform) we are on the Langley Platform (the other one is Bromley) and you can find out which you are on here:

http://www.dslzoneuk.net/ntl_region.php

TVdrive is available on the Langley platform now - our install date is 18th Feb - and it's coming soon on the Bromley one too.

They recently had a software update to the TVdrive that fixed some of the bugs that had been brought up on various forums, so it looks like they are listening to us!

I have read somewhere that they might not be offering deals after they are re-branded as Virgin Media (from 1st Feb?) so might be worth a call sooner rather than later - bought my costs down by quoting the SKY equivalent at them too.

Good Luck!

Web.

Spendaholic_Chick

I really want Sky plus, but the best I could get outta them was a £49 sky+ box and £10 a month charge (my current package is £21 a month)

I said if itr was one or the other I'd go for it, but they wouldn't budge. Anyone got a better deal?

Peartree

Seems a lot of people recently are getting offered the Sky+ for £49. No mention if this is only if you pay the extra £10 per month for it/take multi-room/go for a premium package.

Currently just have the basic packages, no movies or sport. Have no desire to take these or multi-room. Would love Sky+ at a one off £49 but not sure about it being worth an extra £10 a month to me.

What's the latest on that one?

hunni

peartree...I am getting sky+ for a one off upfront payment of £49..not getting multiroom..but i do have the movies mix (£37 a month)...there is no monthly charge on the box because of that.
Sky+ Subscription is free when you subscribe to sports and/or movies mix.
(Otherwise £10 a month)