Should I trust Virgin?

Adaline

I just phoned retentions because my one year contract is coming to an end soon. I'm on Phone M, Broadband L (was M but now with upgrade will be L, although still not received the 10 meg yet, grr), and TV XL. I got a good retention deal last year, which with the price increase, is £33.50. I phoned up thinking I'd have to renegotiate as usual, but the retentions person said that this deal would continue beyond the year, until the point that Virgin tells me it's changing. This isn't what's happened in the past, so I just wondered if I should believe him, or phone up again to check? Or is it just best to leave it and hope the for the best??!

donnac2558

Way back when SKY and Virgin had their tiff. I phoned about what can you do for me. So I got free weekend calls and 10mg boardband, I pay £25 for the BB and the free weekend calls. But so far I still get my free weekend calls and it has been well over the 12 months. I do check my online bill and it says Free Weekend Calls 00.00. But I also check what calls I make and it never shows the calls I make at weekends to friends, they are long ones.

Adaline

Thanks very much donnac. Maybe I should trust them, then. I just didn't want to be sent a huge bill in September, and then have to argue with them about it! But let's see what happens.

staffie1

Adaline wrote: »

I just phoned retentions because my one year contract is coming to an end soon. I'm on Phone M, Broadband L (was M but now with upgrade will be L, although still not received the 10 meg yet, grr), and TV XL. I got a good retention deal last year, which with the price increase, is £33.50. I phoned up thinking I'd have to renegotiate as usual, but the retentions person said that this deal would continue beyond the year, until the point that Virgin tells me it's changing. This isn't what's happened in the past, so I just wondered if I should believe him, or phone up again to check? Or is it just best to leave it and hope the for the best??!

Out of interest, whats the XL TV like? Are you pleased with it / value for money?
£33.50 for all that sounds like a good deal. Does that include phone line rental of £11?

Adaline

Hi Staffie,
Yes, the £33.50 includes line rental. I got a good retention deal last year because of Sky making a good offer. That's why I was worried that it would disappear this year, and I'd have to pay £15 more per month!
Tbh, I did consider downgrading the XL to L, if I didn't keep the same deal. I don't watch the sport channels, and now with ESPN replacing Setanta, I'm sure this is why a lot of people take it. But I do like Sky Arts, and also On Demand, as I work erratic hours, so often miss things, and I like being able to watch old series when I like. But if you have to pay their current advertised price for it, I wouldn't bother. Other people may think differently, of course. Hope that helps!

staffie1

Adaline wrote: »

Hi Staffie,
Yes, the £33.50 includes line rental. I got a good retention deal last year because of Sky making a good offer. That's why I was worried that it would disappear this year, and I'd have to pay £15 more per month!
Tbh, I did consider downgrading the XL to L, if I didn't keep the same deal. I don't watch the sport channels, and now with ESPN replacing Setanta, I'm sure this is why a lot of people take it. But I do like Sky Arts, and also On Demand, as I work erratic hours, so often miss things, and I like being able to watch old series when I like. But if you have to pay their current advertised price for it, I wouldn't bother. Other people may think differently, of course. Hope that helps!

Thanks Adaline. I don't use VM at present but thinking of switching phone & BB from BT to them. Wasn't going to take TV unless I was convinced it was good value (and not paying to watch TV adverts every 5 mins)!;)

Adaline

staffie1 wrote: »

Thanks Adaline. I don't use VM at present but thinking of switching phone & BB from BT to them. Wasn't going to take TV unless I was convinced it was good value (and not paying to watch TV adverts every 5 mins)!;)

Actually, if you take a phone line you can get their 'M' bundle for free, which is the basic channels.

tfspark

Adaline wrote: »

Hi Staffie,
But I do like Sky Arts, and also On Demand, as I work erratic hours, so often miss things, and I like being able to watch old series when I like. But if you have to pay their current advertised price for it, I wouldn't bother. Other people may think differently, of course. Hope that helps!

If you are paying for the XL package why not consider, for a one of payment (and you seem to be good at negotiating!!) a V+ box.

It doesn't cost anymore for XL customers, you can record to your hearts delight (not everything is on On Demand) and you will also get the HD channels for nothing. Which seem to increasing all the time at the moment.

We got one earlier in the year and it's brill:T

staffie1

tfspark wrote: »

If you are paying for the XL package why not consider, for a one of payment (and you seem to be good at negotiating!!) a V+ box.

It doesn't cost anymore for XL customers, you can record to your hearts delight (not everything is on On Demand) and you will also get the HD channels for nothing. Which seem to increasing all the time at the moment.

We got one earlier in the year and it's brill:T

Good idea! If I haven't got an HD TV would it still work ?

tfspark

staffie1 wrote: »

Good idea! If I haven't got an HD TV would it still work ?

It certainly would. Just connect it via scart as you do now.

Zeldazog

A few months back, after I rang to ask how I cancel (they asked why, explained cheaper with Sky, they made offer I couldn't refuse!)

I'm not on XL tv and have a V+ box, which I had to one off fee for, but service is free.

To be honest, I didn't think we use the XL *that* much, and certainly could do without it but -

I LOVE having a V+ box (I didn't have recorder anyway, so if I wasn't in and it wasn't on iplayer/catch up, I was stuffed).

And just asked DS, who's 11, and he pointed out a few channels he watches, that music on demand is all free (not on L), and there are some channels we do watch.