Virgin Media: Haggle down your costs.

malc6161

Called Virgin Media with news that I intended to switch to TalkTalk to save approx £20 per month, they immediatly lowered my tarrif by £21 per month,
and I gained free calls to UK landlines during the day (was evenings and weekends previously) so thanks for the tip I feel richer already !!!!

Nice one

Tom_Jones_4

I had a package TV + broadband + phone with Virgin which initially cost 35 GBP a month. A year ago I called them because of something else and mentioned, in passing, that I had seen on their website that they were offering the same package I had but for 30 GBP.

Without hesitating the guy on the phone reduced my costs to 30GBP. I laughed and asked this person whether I needed to call them every time I saw an new offer so that I get the better deal and he said "Basically, yes!". I told him it was a bit unfair it did not happen automatically and he said that is the way it is.

So, I was still paying 30 GBP a month for the above until an hour ago. I called Virgin, said I was thinking of leaving and wanted my MAC. I told them Talk Talk would give me phone and broadband for 16.40GBP and that I did not need TV.

They offered me TV + BB + Phone incl. some extras ("free" calls) for 24.95 GBP. I told them this was still more expensive than TalkTalk and started to discuss the details in order to see what kind of "free" features this included. I said I did not need the "free" extras and asked for the price without them. This person then told me she had to speak to their manager. After a couple of minutes they came back with an offer for 19.95 GBP a month incl. phone, free UK calls anytime, and BB at 2 MB speed (the speed I had before). The freeview channels would be for free anyway.

So, I got rid of 100 extra channels I hardly ever watched, got free UK calls anytime and saved 10 GBP a month!

My advice is that you should definitely give it a try! Read a bit online about what you would get elsewhere, call Virgin and show them you know your alternatives.

If I can do it (I HATE haggling), you can too!

Good luck!

lisamarie1972

I just rang Virgin Media and said I wanted to cancel my phone and broadband package as I had Sky TV and wanted to move phone and internet over to them as it cheaper. They immediately cut my existing package down from £47 per month to £19 per month!!
I then rang Sky TV to tell them I wanted to cancel to go over to Virgin TV and they cut my cost down by £10!
All in all, fab savings for a few minutes work!!!

fieldreg

Make that call.... 150 (virginmedia customers) I went to the "lets talk about something else" phone option....
I easily (too easily) got a £10.50/month reduction in our bill. It took me 5 mins. Mind you we were paying full whack for TV (XL) , broadband (L)) and phone. I might try again when I've done more research into what is a realistic comparison. Our problem is that we don't have a bt phone line so options are limited. Mind you even these savings would pay for a BT new installation in a year.

.What I said...I just noted the following which is from the small print at the bottom of their 'New customer' broadband page (re-quoted below in italics) so.... new customers get £11.50/month for 4MB broadband now... but even after 12months will go to £16/month for 4MB broadband.... so why are we paying £25/month! CAn you offer us a better deal.
It literally took 5mins and the conversation was only 3 mins and all very very polite no problem.... I prob could have got a better deal but I need to do more research about what we want and what others are offering.

Addendum... see my post later about getting hit with a new 12 month contract though....



Broadband prices are for 12 months when you take Virgin Phone. Broadband Size: M (up to 2Mb) is £4.50 a month, Broadband Size L: (up to 4Mb) is £11.50 a month, Broadband Size: XL (up to 20Mb) is £23.50 a month. Standard monthly prices (currently up to 2Mb is £9, up to 4 Mb is £16, up to 20Mb is £28) apply thereafter when taken with Virgin Phone.
Virgin Phone prices start at £11 a month. Available to new customers only (subject to status and credit checks).

Catbird

I just managed to get a better deal from Virgin. First of all I rang their sales dept and they wanted to charge me £15 per month for their basic broadband package on top of my current TV and phone payments, plus a £30 connection fee. When I tried to query this I was told that I was already getting a good deal on my TV and telephone and they remained intractable. I then rang the disconnections department and had a very nice conversation with a lady who could not have been more helpful and I now have freeview TV, unlimited telephone calls to UK landlines (any time), free caller id, 25% off the cost of mobile calls and their medium broadband package for £19.95 per month and no connection fee. That all sounds pretty good to me... and no haggling, just a mention of SKY's current £19 deal. Thank you moneysavingexpert.com! :A

icstm

A small question..

What is the "Freeview" package on VM?
Is it different from TV package "M"?
I see a few of you mentioning that you have been offered it.

I am looking for BB XL, Phone and Freeview TV.

tia

Lady_K

icstm wrote: »

A small question..

What is the "Freeview" package on VM?
Is it different from TV package "M"?
I see a few of you mentioning that you have been offered it.

I am looking for BB XL, Phone and Freeview TV.

tia

I just checked my bill and thats what I've got. I've got m broadband 2mb and freeview tv which on the bill says tv size m at 0 per month and I have the xl phone. Thats 19.95 a month. I set that in november as a loyaly thingy so they locked me into another 12 month contract even though I've been with them since year dot

taz142

Just phoned Virgin to get my mac and they asked me why was I leaving and I told them that I can get cheaper phone and broadband. At the moment i am paying out 42.20 just for the phone and broadband L. The man asked me to hold for a couple of mins and came back with a deal of 26.95, also I enquired about including the tv package and he quoted 54.00, which is a saving of 22.00 a month, we have sky television which is 30.00 plus. Also i asked about free evening and week-end calls and he said that they only do free week-end calls? Is that right? Not yet decided what to do and they are phoning me back tomorrow. Any sound advice would be welcomed.

turner_chris1

I just told them I thought I was paying too much

got about £10 a month off :rotfl::rotfl::D

no trouble at all

doit now!:beer::j:T:rotfl::rotfl:

fieldreg

Addendum to my quick £10/month discount from VirginMedia....A few days later I receive a letter to 'confirm' the 'Special offer" I've taken up and informing me I'm under a new 12 month contract... I have a right to cancel withinin 7 days. I was not under contract before so need to factor this in to any decision. I suppose this gives me the same rights as a new customer getting the same deal...

on a brighter note Virgin seem to be upgrading their broadband speeds (up to) 4mB will become (upto) 10mB. Pretty good?