Virgin Media: Haggle down your costs.

c_smith

superknight wrote: »

Is this normal for the retentions team to simply lie and mislead you on the call and then give you something different?

Yes is the short answer.

Not saying they're all the same, cause there's good and bad everywhere, but my experience over the past year and a half is that they lie through their teeth to keep you. And complaining is a waste of time.

bobdauilda

superknight wrote: »

A couple of weeks ago I had a conversation with retentions, and I managed to obtain a £10 reduction on my monthly contract, but with the addition of a Tivo 1TB (now making 3STBs - 1 Tivo, 1 V+HD, 1V), and upgrading my 10MB BB to the next level (which I believe is 30MB), and obtaining a Superhub as well. I was told that there was a special offer and this was for £49 (activation fee) - I confirmed that it was the larger 1TB box, to which the lady said yes. I re-confirmed and this was still a yes.

Two weeks later, someone else in Customer service read the notes and it turns out that it wasn't a 1TB box - it was 500GB. And not only that, my BB wasn't upgraded and I was given a normal hub. They said that if I wanted the 1TB box it would be £99 and they wouldn't be waived at all. I cancelled my contract with them as I was not impressed with their lying.

Is this normal for the retentions team to simply lie and mislead you on the call and then give you something different?

Tip: always get an email confirmation of what was offered otherwise they will tell you one thing and make a note of something else.

Thoughts? Anyone have similar experiences?

Lastly, anyone able to get a free Tivo box (no installation or activation fee) for either 500GB or 1TB?

I have had that done to me by the anal retentive team twice now. Complaining gets you nowhere either. Always get them to email you the offer details whilst you are still on the line with them as from experience they are like greased eels.

Darath

Just rang again armed with more information about other companies and how i can get it cheaper. Ended up with a -£9 reduction which is half price line rental and some money knocked off the handling charge.

Not too shabby for 2 phone calls, and i asked for a new modem as the hamster in the one we have, which was provided by NTL, is wanting a holiday.

We've had a disrupted service for the past 5 days, so if anything should not be right on my next bill - that shall be my ammunition.

samirD77

Darath wrote: »

Just rang again armed with more information about other companies and how i can get it cheaper. Ended up with a -£9 reduction which is half price line rental and some money knocked off the handling charge.

Would be interested to know what info you were armed with.
I saw a Sky sales rep at those stands you get at shopping centers and they can male me a £10 a month saving. I'm awaiting a call back from retentions...

Sons_of_Beaches

I pay £33.62 for the smallest TV package Virgin do, a phone line i dont want, and the Large BB. The only thing i really want is the TV and BB (primarily because I cant afford to get a digital aerial fitted at the moment). I have just given 30 days notice to VM, they offered to knock £10 off per month. Now however, Im worried:

a) Will retentions call back and if so how long should I wait as i really don't want to cancel?

b) Is £23.62 a fair price for the package?

c) Should I hold out for more? i:e; extra channels etc....


I hate being forced to keep a telephone line I don't want but I do value the Broadband. The TV Package is worse than Freeview. I argued with the operator who told me its more channels than freeview. Thats true but freeview at least have channels I want to watch, VM's small package is basically terrestrial.

Please help:(

Darath

samirD77 wrote: »

Would be interested to know what info you were armed with.
I saw a Sky sales rep at those stands you get at shopping centers and they can male me a £10 a month saving. I'm awaiting a call back from retentions...

I looked for BB and unlimited phone on all the companies i could think of, and the 2 picks sky TV = all came to £45

For similar, i'm paying £60.

So i just said, i can get what i want for much less money.

He started going down the, "oh lets see here, theres a HD package you have to pay for monthly..blah blah" So i said "you can check my logs, i don't watch he HD channels" - so he couldn't add that on to his estimations.

So less money is good. I wanted to reduce my bills not have them stay the same.
I'll work on getting a good deal with TiVo and more internet soon enough. >)

barneygumble

Darath wrote: »

Just rang again armed with more information about other companies and how i can get it cheaper. Ended up with a -£9 reduction which is half price line rental and some money knocked off the handling charge.

Not too shabby for 2 phone calls, and i asked for a new modem as the hamster in the one we have, which was provided by NTL, is wanting a holiday.

We've had a disrupted service for the past 5 days, so if anything should not be right on my next bill - that shall be my ammunition.

I'm on the smallest package
Broadband Size: L, TV Size: M and line rental and paying £28.99

Has anyone managed to get a reduction on this?

chinesedeli

Hi there, would anyone please be able to help me as I am going to try and get my VM bill reduced as I am so annoyed at the way they have hiked up their prices on my bill. I was paying almost 30 last year and now it is almost 50 for the same thing!

I pay the following:

Service charges Service charges Terms & Conditions
Includes VAT at the appropriate rate(s) £43.49 Advance charges These are the charges for the services you've subscribed to, all charged a month in advance.

£43.49 £43.49 Line Rental
15 July - 14 August£12.99 Talk Unlimited
15 July - 14 August£8.00 Triple Saving
15 July - 14 August-£13.00 TV Size: X L
15 July - 14 August£26.00 Bedford Bc CATV Bulk Discount
15 July - 14 August-£16.50 Broadband Size: L
15 July - 14 August£26.00

I would just really appreciate any help on this and what sort of price you think that I could end up paying, thank you xx

Irratus_Rusticus

MMM. Read this thread first time last night. Rang up VM today armed with MSE's better deals. Didn't say i was disconnecting, just asked for my contract get-out costs (£30 for six months early cancellation of BB).

Kind lady said that if i renewed all my services for a year she could give me £4 a month off my existing cost to £28.90 including August's hike in line rental.

Clearly I don't have this haggling malarky fully worked out because I took the offer

Still, I'm better off by £4 a month thanks to MSE and I've no idea if Plusnet or Primus really would have given me a good service for such cheap prices. I'm now going to cover my ears and ignore any recriminations for being stupid

sumeet

Quick question, if you are out of your contract and therefore cancel or threaten to cancel, if you later change your mind and withdraw the request, does that start another 12month contract by default??