please help about Virgin Media!

catalina66

Hi :-)

I've been monitoring for 8 days using NetMeter, and on VM's M-package download speeds are averaging 10 KB/s, sometimes even 1 or 2 KB/s, and cut-outs happening too. Can't listen to webcasts, watch or download streaming media e.g. iplayer, loading of pages is dreadful, can't update programs. And I'm not throttled. Only downloaded 380 meg in the 7-day period of monitoring using NetMeter, and during the whole time have only had one brief burst of expected speed of 256 KB/s.

I've just found out today that VM's launch of the 50-package means M is no longer being sold. I've called VM retentions today about the problems and they called me back and put me through to tech support, which was good of them, especially when I read elsewhere they don't usually do callbacks. But the tech call was very brief and he just said to stop using the router and observe if speeds improve over the next 24 hours. No signs of it improving yet and I called at least 9 or 10 hours ago.

My own feeling is that the 50-package is meaning M-package users may be being 'whittled down' (I realise they're possibly oversubscribing bandwidth too?), therefore I don't know what to do, as I can't afford a BT line. Anyone know of any good news in the pipeline about VM?! The tech guy was stunned that my average speed is 10 KB/s, but nothing else was offered just then.

I can't do anything I normally do; it's shocking. My modem is an NTL Home 200 ... I've been checking that out (can't see the 'tools' bit in it's page, where I could've apparently been able to reset it/open it up so it downloaded at better speeds), and have seen on my travels that the modem's capable of handling VM's L-package. Had no problems with router and modem and downloading until this month, when VM have brought in the 50-package. Just seems a bit odd, and am unsure how to manage to use VM's service when it is so unusable, especially when I can't afford a BT line!

Any advice is more than welcome.
Many thanks, Cat

catalina66

Barry_Scott wrote: »

Why not drop the main man an email and express your concerns that way

Email [EMAIL="neil.berkett@virginmedia.co.uk"]neil.berkett@virginmedia.co.uk[/EMAIL] he's the CEO of Virgin Media Operations and one of his dedicated teams should contact you back, they are the team who can really make a difference, they helped me tremendously.

Emailing now! Many thanks, plus glad the team were a help to you. :beer:

Pikeyp

Alternatively you could hop over to the cableforum where a few virgin techs hang out who can usually lend a hand .. http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/ ..

aliEnRIK

Did they not even check if theres any work being done in your area?
I have M package too with no problems

duchy

I stuck with Virgin for ages as I am not prepared to pay £130 for line instalation. On Friday I had a line installed via Sky for free (ironically outsourced to a BT openreach engineer-probably the same chap who'd have instaled it if I went to BT direct and paid £130).
Sky started this around Christmas so it isn't widely known about yet-but worth a phone call I'd think
My BB goes live next week so I'm keeping my VM for now to do a direct comparison before kicking Virgin to the kerb.

catalina66

Pikeyp, many thanks for the link. Going to post the same message over there. Much appreciate.

aliEnRIK, thanks. No, they didn't mention anything else. Am in Middlesbrough. Glad to hear M-package is fine for you. Maybe it's different areas/a lot of subscribers around my area?

aliEnRIK

This will tell you if any are ongoing ~
http://status-cable.virginmedia.com/vmstatus/summary.do

But id phone them up and DEMAND something be done if theres nothing there

catalina66

duchy wrote: »

I stuck with Virgin for ages as I am not prepared to pay £130 for line instalation. On Friday I had a line installed via Sky for free (ironically outsourced to a BT openreach engineer-probably the same chap who'd have instaled it if I went to BT direct and paid £130).
Sky started this around Christmas so it isn't widely known about yet-but worth a phone call I'd think
My BB goes live next week so I'm keeping my VM for now to do a direct comparison before kicking Virgin to the kerb.

Hi again duchy!

I think what's holding me back with that is incase I can't get just broadband, but also a neighbour mentioned Sky today, so I really should try giving them a call, now it's been mentioned twice! I'm on £10 with VM, as I called retentions, and would struggle with even double that. Think that's why I'm holding back a bit. If Sky would work out price-wise and install BT no problem, that would be great. I only use a mobile and wouldn't have any need for making landline calls, but if the line rental was cheap with Sky, it may well work out being a really good move.

Thanks for advice. Will give them a call. :beer:

duchy

Can't hurt to ask-line rental is I think £10 (same as BT)

DCFC79

catalina66 wrote: »

Hi again duchy!

I think what's holding me back with that is incase I can't get just broadband, but also a neighbour mentioned Sky today, so I really should try giving them a call, now it's been mentioned twice! I'm on £10 with VM, as I called retentions, and would struggle with even double that. Think that's why I'm holding back a bit. If Sky would work out price-wise and install BT no problem, that would be great. I only use a mobile and wouldn't have any need for making landline calls, but if the line rental was cheap with Sky, it may well work out being a really good move.

Thanks for advice. Will give them a call. :beer:

what speed would sky give you,

catalina66

duchy wrote: »

Can't hurt to ask-line rental is I think £10 (same as BT)

Thanks duchy, will give Sky a ring tomorrow. Much appreciate. :beer: