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Save 50% Switching Virgin to BT

Hi there,

Fed up of Virgin reducing the level of their services while increasing their prices.

So desperate to transfer, unfortunately the sneaky !!!!!!s ripped out the BT line when they installed the Virgin line. This seems almost like criminal damamge to me and I certainly never aske them to do this?

Currently I am paying circa £30 a month for unlimited w/e calls/ 10 meg broadband and Virgin TV (which is basically just freeview). And that is about to increase byabout £3.

Luckily my contract period is up and I am looking to leave. I realise I have to inform them in writing.

I am thinking to take BT basic package for 11.45 and the Plusnet basic package currently available for £4 a month thus almost halving my current outgoings?

I will also have to splash out on a freeview box (circa £20) and it can;t be worse than the Virgin one!

Also BT say that it is not necessary to contact my current provider they will take care of it for me.

Just want to check are my calculation above correct? Should I still contact Virgin to Cancel or let BT handle it?

Baz

Comments

  • ACDeag
    ACDeag Posts: 742 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Bazman wrote: »
    Hi there,

    Fed up of Virgin reducing the level of their services while increasing their prices.

    So desperate to transfer, unfortunately the sneaky !!!!!!s ripped out the BT line when they installed the Virgin line. This seems almost like criminal damamge to me and I certainly never aske them to do this?

    Currently I am paying circa £30 a month for unlimited w/e calls/ 10 meg broadband and Virgin TV (which is basically just freeview). And that is about to increase byabout £3.

    Luckily my contract period is up and I am looking to leave. I realise I have to inform them in writing.

    I am thinking to take BT basic package for 11.45 and the Plusnet basic package currently available for £4 a month thus almost halving my current outgoings?

    I will also have to splash out on a freeview box (circa £20) and it can;t be worse than the Virgin one!

    Also BT say that it is not necessary to contact my current provider they will take care of it for me.

    Just want to check are my calculation above correct? Should I still contact Virgin to Cancel or let BT handle it?

    Baz

    What about the BT installation charge?
  • that's what I am trying to figure out?

    I think it s like £125 but if you stay for 12 months or whatever they refund it?

    In theory anyway!!

    That's why I want to get the experiences of people who have made similar transfers.
  • ACDeag
    ACDeag Posts: 742 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Bazman wrote: »
    that's what I am trying to figure out?

    I think it s like £125 but if you stay for 12 months or whatever they refund it?

    In theory anyway!!

    That's why I want to get the experiences of people who have made similar transfers.

    They don't refund it. I think it is £122. They used to have an offer for free install in return for 18 month contract, but I think that has ended.
  • jem16
    jem16 Posts: 19,494 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Bazman wrote: »
    Also BT say that it is not necessary to contact my current provider they will take care of it for me.

    As far as taking over your phone number that may be true. However taking up BT will not cancel your BB and TV services with Virgin.

    Much better to phone up and cancel yourself.
  • Ypaymore
    Ypaymore Posts: 2,802 Forumite
    If you dont have a working phone line eg one where you can still get a dialling tone your usually be subject to a connection charge. BT ,s charge is £124.99 (12 month contract),no refund !!! Check out Plusnets phone service £11.25p a month including evening and weekend calls, and they were doing half price connection about £50. I dont know if this half price offer is still available.
  • spike7451
    spike7451 Posts: 6,944 Forumite
    Bazman wrote: »
    Hi there,

    So desperate to transfer, unfortunately the sneaky !!!!!!s ripped out the BT line when they installed the Virgin line. This seems almost like criminal damamge to me and I certainly never aske them to do this?

    Baz
    Sorry,but that does'nt sound right to me.
    Why would the Virgin installer rip out the BT phoneline when Virgin does'nt even work on the same system as BT, VM install their own cabling from the street cab to your home.
    Ther may have used the internal wireing after the BT 77A junction box but they would'nt touch the BT wireing before that.The'd be no point making more work for themselves.
    If I had a penny for every time a homeowner blamed the utility companies for something they done themselves,I'd have well over a few quid.
  • Well I was with BT before I went to Virgin, so I defintely had a line then.

    I quickly became disillusioned with Virgin and decided to switch.suddenty I no longer had a BT line. There have been no other engineers through the door?

    The line in not just inactive it is completely removed according to BT records.
  • OK spoke to plusnet they still do line install for £49.99 and its just a BT line in eeffect and you are free to switch after 12 months.

    He also said that BT routinely rip out your BT line when you switch to cable, so sorry Virgin for that one.

    Still though even with the line installation I will save the best part of £150 in the first year! I will also get more free calls inclusing 0845 numbers that Virgin charge for.
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