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

lets_rock

What I have :

Virgin 10mb wireless broadband £17.82 pm
Sky + (basic package - no movies or sports) £18.50pm
No landline phone

Current monthly cost = £36.32

Ideally what I would like:

To move to virgin V+ with sports (i.e. cancel my sky package)
A basic virgin landline phone package

Before I call Virgin Media, can anybody kindly recommmend the least costly way to achieve this? I see that topcashback are offering £65 back on a cable package purchase from virgin media and virgin are offering a £30 refer a friend offer.

Note I am about 8 months into a 12 month sky contract.
The sports package is preferable but not critical
I am trying to move everything to virgin so that I can get a phone into the house.
BT is not a viable option for me...

Thanks in advance

xshark

I just wanted to vent my frustration at Virgin Media. I am an exisitng customer (over 12 years) and currently have Broadband L and basic phone + call charges (4p Plan). I am currently paying way over the odds for these services and have been, because of lethargy, for some years.

With the analogue switch-off happening in our area very shortly, we decided that it was time to change our package as we noticed that Virgin's website was offering a bundle (Broadband L, TV M+, phone L and a V+ HD box) for around the same price as I am paying now.

My first attempt to change was via the internet where Virgin's webpage has a section for existing customers. I should have been suspicious when after selecting my choices I was not presented with a monthly package price. Subsequently, I received an email asking me to contact customer services. There, after being placed on hold for 20 minutes, I was told that my order "had not gone through" for "technical reasons" and I would have to replace my order via telephone. Imagine my suprise when I was quoted around £14 pounds more than a new customer would have to pay for the same package. How come I asked? Ah, well those prices are for new customers was the reply. When I pointed out that Virgin's T&C say that bundles are available to existing customers taking a new service I was told that I must have been mis-interpreting the website. Suprisingly, I expressed my displeasure and declined to accept the new quotation.

Several hours later, after having calmed down, I tried again and received a similar quote. I again pointed out that this was more expensive than for new customers.

Customer advisor: "Please can I put you on hold Sir?".

Five minutes pass by.

Customer advisor: "If you upgrade your broadband I can give you a special price".

Me: "No, no, no please quote me for the package I want or nothing".

Cusotmer advisor: "Please can I put you on hold Sir?".

Another five minutes passes by and a new customer advisor comes on the line. Lo and behold she can offer me the same price as for new customers and a reduced insatallation charge !!!!


Me: "Why couldn't your colleague offer me that price?"

New customer advisor: "She doesn't have access to all the codes"

The result is that I've accepted the new price but it's left a nasty taste in the mouth. I could still probably obtain cheaper elsewhere and I won't think twice about changing in 12 months time?

And the moral of this story? Loyalty means nothing and you really need to play hardball.


(Sorry for rant. I know all this type of stuff has been said before but I really need to get this off my chest)

Babbler

xshark wrote: »

I just wanted to vent my frustration at Virgin Media. I am an exisitng customer (over 12 years) and currently have Broadband L and basic phone + call charges (4p Plan). I am currently paying way over the odds for these services and have been, because of lethargy, for some years.

With the analogue switch-off happening in our area very shortly, we decided that it was time to change our package as we noticed that Virgin's website was offering a bundle (Broadband L, TV M+, phone L and a V+ HD box) for around the same price as I am paying now.

My first attempt to change was via the internet where Virgin's webpage has a section for existing customers. I should have been suspicious when after selecting my choices I was not presented with a monthly package price. Subsequently, I received an email asking me to contact customer services. There, after being placed on hold for 20 minutes, I was told that my order "had not gone through" for "technical reasons" and I would have to replace my order via telephone. Imagine my suprise when I was quoted around £14 pounds more than a new customer would have to pay for the same package. How come I asked? Ah, well those prices are for new customers was the reply. When I pointed out that Virgin's T&C say that bundles are available to existing customers taking a new service I was told that I must have been mis-interpreting the website. Suprisingly, I expressed my displeasure and declined to accept the new quotation.

Several hours later, after having calmed down, I tried again and received a similar quote. I again pointed out that this was more expensive than for new customers.

Customer advisor: "Please can I put you on hold Sir?".

Five minutes pass by.

Customer advisor: "If you upgrade your broadband I can give you a special price".

Me: "No, no, no please quote me for the package I want or nothing".

Cusotmer advisor: "Please can I put you on hold Sir?".

Another five minutes passes by and a new customer advisor comes on the line. Lo and behold she can offer me the same the same price as for new customers and a reduced insatallation charge !!!!


Me: "Why couldn't your colleague offer me that price?"

New customer advisor: "She doesn't have access to all the codes"

The result is that I've accepted the new price but it's left a nasty taste in the mouth. I could still probably obtain cheaper elsewhere and I won't think twice about changing in 12 months time?

And the moral of this story? Loyalty means nothing and you really need to play hardball.


(Sorry for rant. I know all this type of stuff has been said before but I really need to get this off my chest)

ALWAYS ask to be put through to retentions or select "thinking of leaving us" in the phone options. IF you dont get anywhere with the first person hang up and call back.

Some of the reps are jobsbodies and some are very friendly.

Best time to call is Friday around 4pm when they will play ball with pretty much anything.

Glad it was sorted in the end...

xshark

lets_rock wrote: »

What I have :

Virgin 10mb wireless broadband £17.82 pm
Sky + (basic package - no movies or sports) £18.50pm
No landline phone

Current monthly cost = £36.32

Ideally what I would like:

To move to virgin V+ with sports (i.e. cancel my sky package)
A basic virgin landline phone package

Before I call Virgin Media, can anybody kindly recommmend the least costly way to achieve this? I see that topcashback are offering £65 back on a cable package purchase from virgin media and virgin are offering a £30 refer a friend offer.

Note I am about 8 months into a 12 month sky contract.
The sports package is preferable but not critical
I am trying to move everything to virgin so that I can get a phone into the house.
BT is not a viable option for me...

Thanks in advance

Following on from my sorry experience, Virgin will try and quote you your current price plus the cost of any extra services.

I actually believe that there might be a fault in Virgin's pricing system. If you are a new custosmr then the cost of a phone line is £11 per month rental and then additionally the cost of any package you select (e.g. £3.45 for Phone L).

If you are an exisitng customer they quote £11 per month for the line rental and then £14.45 if you also select Phone L. i.e. they appear to try and charge twice for the line rental.

So, make sure you work out what the cost would be for a new customer and then don't accept any higher price than that.

Jomo

lets_rock wrote: »

What I have :

Virgin 10mb wireless broadband £17.82 pm
Sky + (basic package - no movies or sports) £18.50pm
No landline phone

Current monthly cost = £36.32

Ideally what I would like:

To move to virgin V+ with sports (i.e. cancel my sky package)
A basic virgin landline phone package

Before I call Virgin Media, can anybody kindly recommmend the least costly way to achieve this? I see that topcashback are offering £65 back on a cable package purchase from virgin media and virgin are offering a £30 refer a friend offer.

Note I am about 8 months into a 12 month sky contract.
The sports package is preferable but not critical
I am trying to move everything to virgin so that I can get a phone into the house.
BT is not a viable option for me...

Thanks in advance

Hi, I thought you had to have a landline phone to get Sky?

jammin_2

Jomo wrote: »

Hi, I thought you had to have a landline phone to get Sky?

Only for multiroom.

Jomo

jammin wrote: »

Only for multiroom.

Ah right, must have changed since I got it!

chriswilmore

Hi, I don't know if i'm posting in the correct section but here we go...


Basically, I've been with VM since around March this year, in two weeks time i'm moving house. Will i still have to carry on with their services? or will they let me take out a new contract with them?


any advice appreciated, thanks.

Chris.

Jomo

chriswilmore wrote: »

Hi, I don't know if i'm posting in the correct section but here we go...


Basically, I've been with VM since around March this year, in two weeks time i'm moving house. Will i still have to carry on with their services? or will they let me take out a new contract with them?


any advice appreciated, thanks.

Chris.

I would say yes as long as the services are available in the area you are moving to.

kah22

Anyone know if there are any Freeview HD boxes or PVR's on the market yet. I'm on the lookout for one.

Are there any televisions on sale yet that have built in Freeview HD capability

Many thanks