Virgin Media chasing money from 2005 - can't supply bills

dcox78

olly300 wrote: »

They are unlikely to use a court they are more likely to use debt collectors to harass you, and then add something to your credit file.

As already stated with any digital TV service the company maintains ownership of the box you just pay for the installation.

1. Write to them using recorded delivery asking for them to post you a copy of the bills within 28 days where you owe them the money. If you have any of their equipment even if it's faulty, add that they are welcome to come and collect it, and they should contact you for a mutually convenient time. State this is the telephone number they can contact you to arrange the pick up of equipment only and this has an answering service so they can leave a message if you don't answer. (Give them a day time telephone number where they can contact you with an answering service)
At the end tell them if they do not send the bills you requested by post or do not contact you to arrange collection of the equipment you will take the matter further.

2. After 28 days if the bills don't turn up and they haven't phoned you and either contacted you or left a message to pick up the equipment, write another letter again sent by recorded delivery asking them to stop harassing and threatening you as you have given them ample time to sort the issues out and they clearly no intention of sorting out the issues raised otherwise you will take them to court for breach of contract. Add if they attempt to add anything detrimental to your credit file you will take them to court for damages.

3. After 8 weeks from your first letter (which is why I said send it recorded delivery to prove the date you sent it) if they don't say the issue is closed or they refuse to contact you properly to pick up the equipment make a complaint to CISAS http://www.cisas.org.uk/

Thanks olly.

I'll see what they come back with in response to my latest email (which basically explained that I'm not willing to pay the bills unless they can send me copies to prove I owe the money). I also added that this is the main reason I won't be renewing my contract in January and will be going to Sky. Hopefully (though unlikely) they'll choose not to pursue it because they can't actually prove I owe any money. If not, I'll go down the route you suggest.

Heinz

olly300 wrote: »

As already stated with any digital TV service the company maintains ownership of the box you just pay for the installation.

That is not the case with Sky digiboxes where, although heavily subsidised, the box becomes the subscriber's property immediately after installation.

dcox78

As an update on this situation, after putting a message on another forum, an administrator who has contacts within Virgin Media passed on my complaint. This morning I got a call from someone in the Chief Executives Office at Virgin Media, who said that because they can't prove I owe this money then it will be written off. I've obviously asked for this in writing which they're doing.

So after a lot of complaining and messing around the issue is now resolved.

jb66

dcox78 wrote: »

As an update on this situation, after putting a message on another forum, an administrator who has contacts within Virgin Media passed on my complaint. This morning I got a call from someone in the Chief Executives Office at Virgin Media, who said that because they can't prove I owe this money then it will be written off. I've obviously asked for this in writing which they're doing.

So after a lot of complaining and messing around the issue is now resolved.

So you'll be staying with virgin then?

dcox78

jb66 wrote: »

So you'll be staying with virgin then?

Not likely after the way this has gone, I shouldn't really have to go all the way to the Cheif Executives office just to get something simple sorted out.

I was told today that I won't have to stick around until January if I don't want to, they'll allow me to leave before then without any penalty. I'll be contacting Sky tonight to see what deal I can get again (they've already offered me quite a good one).

It's a shame because I'm going to have to massively downgrade my broadband (currently on 20mb), but if it avoids the hassle of Virgin Media billing then so be it.

Though at least now I do know a good route to getting problems resolved - go to the admins of a certain forum who have senior contacts is Virgin Media and get it looked into properly.

DVardysShadow

dcox78 wrote: »

Not likely after the way this has gone, I shouldn't really have to go all the way to the Cheif Executives office just to get something simple sorted out.

I was told today that I won't have to stick around until January if I don't want to, they'll allow me to leave before then without any penalty. I'll be contacting Sky tonight to see what deal I can get again (they've already offered me quite a good one).

It's a shame because I'm going to have to massively downgrade my broadband (currently on 20mb), but if it avoids the hassle of Virgin Media billing then so be it.

Though at least now I do know a good route to getting problems resolved - go to the admins of a certain forum who have senior contacts is Virgin Media and get it looked into properly.

Good result. BUT you'll never get it in writing from them, so write in now and confirm the terms on which you are settling. Keep a copy. You'll need it.

dcox78

DVardysShadow wrote: »

Good result. BUT you'll never get it in writing from them, so write in now and confirm the terms on which you are settling. Keep a copy. You'll need it.

Good advice, thanks. I'll do that. He did say on the phone "I'm writing it now", but then again I was told the balance was cleared several times and it wasn't, so better safe than sorry.