Virgin-Media Charge almost DOUBLE the rate for non-geographical numbers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Scrudge

Hi I have been using call checkers on this website for a number of years:
http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/intcallchecker/
http://callchecker.moneysavingexpert.com/ukcallchecker/

I have signed up to NTL over 10 years ago and did not have major problems until they were taken over by the both obscene and obscenely named Virgin Media.

Shortly after takeover they introduced paperless billing that are not easy to access at all. (Took me 1 hour to get an "instant" password!!!!)

I have recently took the trouble of reviewing my E-bills and was shocked o discover that I was charged about TWICE the proper rate for the Call checker access numbers. Over the last year alone I estimate they overcharged me by about 200 pounds.

However the last paper bill that I have from two years ago is absolutely correct. So it looks like the definitely-not-Virgin Scumbags first introduced Ebilling then put the charges up. I was not informed of the charge increases. I definitely did not get their tariffs in the post. Do not have them in my emails. They probably put them up somewhere on their website but the long standing principal is that any terms have to be brought prominently to the other party - the less trivial the term - the more prominence is required. Doubling the charges is clearly not trivial!!!!

So will definitely pursuing VM. Now looking for another way of making calls - probably through using forst Premium rate number to charge the account and then geographical numbers that are free on my package to access the service.

Selftrade have also inconspicuously introduced a charge - so I challenged then via Financial Services Ombudsman - and they agreed to refund. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=30831693&postcount=462

Heinz

Check out what they charge for ½p/minute 0844 numbers then.

Never mind double, last time I checked Virgin were charging SIX TIMES that - 3p/minute.

Scrudge

Heinz wrote: »

Check out what they charge for ½p/minute 0844 numbers then.

Never mind double, last time I checked Virgin were charging SIX TIMES that - 3p/minute.

I have written to MSE Callchecker asking them to put up HUGE warning for VM charges - so that no-one makes similar mistakes.

Also definitely will be pursuing as did not receive any notification of these major increases in charges as not so long ago their charges were in line with what they should be. If they raised charges just by inflation - then could understand that they could snick them somehow - but with DOUBLING charges or even SIXFOLDING charges - they would clearly have to make an effort to notify!!!!!

Banks with their much campaigned against (and probably illegal) overdraft charges are Saints compares to Virgin Media. At last banks do take care to inform their victims of the penalties quite clearly.

Ypaymore

The checker,s clearly say

"Always double-check prices on providers websites before calling.Prices may vary from non-BT landlines. More info "

Scrudge

Ypaymore wrote: »

The checker,s clearly say

"Always double-check prices on providers websites before calling.Prices may vary from non-BT landlines. More info "

That sounds like a standard disclaimer that a solicitor would insist on even if the costs were in fact the same across all the providers.

I would call for something more conspicuous - that could at the same time name-and-shame underhand providers like VM who charge up to SIX!!!!!!!! times more. One option is for customers to select their providers and then there could be a HUGE warning message if rogue suppliers like VM are selected. The callchecker would not have to check how much each supplier charges but if for example VM is selected there could be a HUGE message saying. "WARNING Virgin Media re known to be charging up to SIX times the rates shown below. The rates shown below are for BT landlines"

ACDeag

0845 numbers can be 20 times the BT rate (10p/min against BT's 0.5p/min).

KimYeovil

Of course charges are going to increase and vary wildly. How else will the business models work? It really amuses me when people are caught by the very structures they are seeking to exploit. If you jump in to a cut-throat leech on top of leech industry then stop whingeing whenever you carelessly make the wrong choices. Providers are not magicians.

patricia1066

I used a 0844 number on my mobile a few days ago and spent 5 minutes hanging on while I was connected to the right person. Two days later the call charge was £1.26
I rang VM to ask them when had their 0844 changed from an inclusive one to a non-inclusive one and was referred to the tariff pdf on their website. They have at 30 different 0844 tariffs so you wont know if they are a 10ppm or more. These change regularly so you need to check regularly.

Is there a call override for those times when you need to use a virgin landlone or mobile to call 0844?

ACDeag

patricia1066 wrote: »

I used a 0844 number on my mobile a few days ago and spent 5 minutes hanging on while I was connected to the right person. Two days later the call charge was £1.26
I rang VM to ask them when had their 0844 changed from an inclusive one to a non-inclusive one and was referred to the tariff pdf on their website. They have at 30 different 0844 tariffs so you wont know if they are a 10ppm or more. These change regularly so you need to check regularly.

Is there a call override for those times when you need to use a virgin landlone or mobile to call 0844?

You could try Cable Saver from First Telecom, I have not checked their 0844 charges, but cannot be more than Virgin.

http://www.firsttelecom.com/other-products/cable-saver

Charges here:

http://www.firsttele.com/sites/default/files/Cable%20Saver.pdf

Heinz

ACDeag wrote: »

You could try Cable Saver from First Telecom, I have not checked their 0844 charges, but cannot be more than Virgin.

http://www.firsttelecom.com/other-products/cable-saver

Charges here:

http://www.firsttele.com/sites/default/files/Cable%20Saver.pdf

Not very competitive!

For example, g14 calls, 8p/minute at all times on BT, are 10.5p/minute at all times.

g22 calls, 0.5p/minute at all times on BT are (this must be an error on their site), are 7.25p/minute at all times!

g9 calls, 2p/minute at all times on BT, are 3.02p/minute at all times!

g6 calls, 5p/minute at all times on BT, are 9.76p/minute at all times!

ACDeag

Heinz wrote: »

Not very competitive!

For example, g14 calls, 8p/minute at all times on BT, are 10.5p/minute at all times!

Unfortunately nearly every company charges more than BT for these types of number, the real task is to find someone almost as cheap as BT.