Virgin Media: Haggle down your costs.

Arj12

Ok, so I just got of the line with retention (was on the line for just about 1 hour! Was talking to a very enthusiastic lady.)
I currently have:
XL (30mb upgrading to 60mb) BB, XL TV, XL landline, 2x V+HD boxes
All for £64.90!

Here is what I got offered:
30mb BB
XL TV
XL landline
2x V+ HD boxes
All for £55.40.

I am wondering if that is a good deal. It has been said that it is a 12 month contract. I tried to get her to give me a TIVO box to replace one of the current boxes but she refused and said it would increase the price of my package. I also asked if I could get the free upgrade from 30mb to 60mb and she said no as I'll be kept on 30mb (aka moved down a broadband package).

I don't know if I should accept this deal or try and get more as I feel that I can get a better deal than this, but the women was very firm and stubborn saying that was the best price she could do.

olilovespies

Just phoned Virgin to ask when my contract with them was up, was told by a very nice bloke that it finished today (almost spooky) and then I asked to leave- offered £5 off my contract if I signed up for a further 12 months, which I did. Easy and simple- could only save a few more ££ if I went to talktalk, and I'd have an ADSL which would annoy me and there is no hassle.

BB "L" = £22.50/month
Discount = £5/month
Now £17.50

Easy as pie.

priorslee

Tried to get the discount for paying line rental 12 months on advance (as mentioned in the weekly MSE email), but told by VM that I couldn't have it as I am already getting a loyalty discount. Worth a try though!

Equinox1000

You've been misinformed - its in Virgin's interest because your line-rental is non-refundable if you choose to leave.

So call them again and you should get it - maybe they're discouraging you because you'd beat February's price rise.

jhp

Dont overlook the fact you can use 18185 via their 0808 freephone number to avoid VM high call charges if you dont have the appropriate inclusive minutes.

http://www.18185.co.uk/mobilerates.php

tali

I'm joining Talk Talk beginning of May as it works out £15pm cheaper than VM
I am not on contract with VM -so do i have to give a months notice?
And it seems i can't take my VM number to Talk Talk (there is lots of contradictory info on this , yes/no/yes/no/yesno!)

worried_jim

tali wrote: »

I'm joining Talk Talk beginning of May as it works out £15pm cheaper than VM
I am not on contract with VM -so do i have to give a months notice?
And it seems i can't take my VM number to Talk Talk (there is lots of contradictory info on this , yes/no/yes/no/yesno!)

If your number has been ported once before (ie from BT to Talk Talk) it may be the case that it can't be ported again.

anotheruser

Just called them up to see if I could downgrade my package.

LL: £15
BB60: £20
~£35

Was offered:
LL: £15
BB30: £15
~£30

on a new 12 month contract.

I thought I would leave it as it's not worth another 12 months. I thought my contract was for 18 months (ending in November) but I have just discovered it was actually for just 12 according to the contract; I asked for a copy to be sent to me, then found the original anyway.
So when June comes up, I'll look at stopping their service and starting it again in my partners name or moving elsewhere. Woo!

tali

worried_jim wrote: »

If your number has been ported once before (ie from BT to Talk Talk) it may be the case that it can't be ported again.

No it has not been ported before as I've been with VM since the Telewest days
So i'm not sure if i can port my number.Talk Talk said simply said "it is not a BT line -so new number issued"
Another prob is disconnection/transfer because VM made a pig's ear of it when i moved address a few years back


Edit - back on VM FOR 12MONTHS
Unlimited calls 24/7
0845/0870
M+ TV
30MB BB
£34.PM (including advance line rental)

System

I've just cancelled my VM package (L TV, 20MB BB, Standard PL), the package started at £41.90 when we started 18 months ago and now is £51.20, rang 2 weeks ago to try and negotiate a good price, mentioned the price increases etc and was told i could have £5 off per month for 6 months but if i didn't take it then and phoned back later the offer wouldn't be there and that was it and he was extremely pushy and after getting off the phone i was rather frustrated so went hunting for other deals.

Phoned back again today and to be honest it would have been easier for the retentions bloke to say "we don't care if you leave", offered me the same as two weeks ago and basically told me take it or leave it, also slagged off Sky with the "well they only offer you vouchers and money off thats how they get new customers!" i didn't take well to being talked down to like that so mentioned i'd had a leaflet drop from them today offering half price on packages for new customers........yep you do it too!

5th July my packaged ends going with Sky for £15 less per month (but still get everything i want), 1/2 price on the tv package for 6 months plus £60 cashback, plus £100 M&S Voucher.

Hoping for better things from Sky.

Have to say the customer service i've had and the attitude i've had from everyone at Virgin has been downright dreadful from the day we joined, they cocked up our installation before christmas 2011 and couldn't do for some reason so when i rang for help the chap said "well perhaps you should have gone with sky then!!" could understand it if i rang up shouting the odds and swearing and stuff but im always nice and try to be polite as i know they are only doing a job but that's clearly got me no where.