Currently with Virgin Media - can anyone save me money please?

whiskywhisky

Hi All

Can someone please advise for a bit of a numpty in this subject if I should stick with Virgin Media or move elsewhere.

- Currently on a Virgin Media package costing £23.98 a month, which includes unlimited landline phone calls, Broadband (7mb I think) and basic TV (freeview). We hardly use the phone as have plenty of free mobile phone minutes, I would guess we use about 30 mins a week. I use the internet at work all day, although I will need to keep at home but only really use it for a few hours a week. I am not bothered about the TV, as have spare freeview boxes at home.

Can I save money by moving elsewhere? please note I already have a Sky Dish installed and have a working sky box (tested and used as freeview). I do not know if there is a BT line, I have however found a redundant "raw" phone line behind the skirting, it does not have the plug but guess I could buy 1. I assume this is BT but obviously have no way to test. I did just ring Virgin Media and received no help, I was actually informed that I am on a very good package and by making changes and cutting the package I could pay more. Personally think I have been stupid to be paying £23.98 for years when I have only been using the boradband, anyone got any ideas?

Many Thanks

macman

The sticking point is that to get any other broadband than VM you need a working BT line, which have to pay to get activated whether the hardware is there or not. So you'll have that one-off cost regardless of who you get to activate it. BT is just one option.
If you have a Sky dish and box then you can get all the Sky FTA channels that way, so no TV expenditure required. (What you are getting is not Freeview, which is a terrestial service only).
The cost of line rental and broadband will depend on your exchange and what sort of broadband service you want, go to www.samknows.com and do an exchange search to see what your LLU options are, these will be the best deals.

whiskywhisky

Thanks

Another point I forgot I mention in the post, as I am currently with VM. If I move will I be given a new telephone number? I have just rang Talk Talk and the chap mentioned I will, does anyone know if this will occur to whoever I move to?

This is dissapointing as we have had this number for years and do not want to change.

macman

You can port numbers from VM to BT lines normally.

whiskywhisky

Thanks macman.

As I want to keep my number I guess I could be restricted into going direct to BT, as after having a quick look around it does seems others do not port the number.

macman

Not sure on that point, but you can take your line rental from BT but your broadband from a decent ISP.

whiskywhisky

I am sure I can take just line rental from BT and get broadband from another, you mentioned "decent ISP" = I do not know so does BT not have a good reputation as a decent ISP?

Just looking at the BT site, it states "A connection charge may apply for new lines £127.99 for calls only, £50 for broadband & calls packages" therefore if I need a new line and if I look at it from a 12 month or 18 month contract point of view, I will be better off getting both broadband/line from BT. There are also more cashback available on Quidco when taking out both.

macman

whiskywhisky wrote: »

I am sure I can take just line rental from BT and get broadband from another, you mentioned "decent ISP" = I do not know so does BT not have a good reputation as a decent ISP?

Just looking at the BT site, it states "A connection charge may apply for new lines £127.99 for calls only, £50 for broadband & calls packages" therefore if I need a new line and if I look at it from a 12 month or 18 month contract point of view, I will be better off getting both broadband/line from BT. There are also more cashback available on Quidco when taking out both.

Are you serious?

http://www.dslzoneuk.net/isp_ratings.php

What are your LLU options from samknows?

Stuart_W

Many LLU providers will NOT accept a number that is ported from cable. I know because I'm stuck with a ported cable number.

They will claim they will, and then let you down prior to transfer and insist on a number change - or at least this was my experience. I ended up being offered the non-LLU prices despite being in a LLU area because my number is "not compatible" - whether this is technologically correct or not I don't know, but it certainly seems to be how it worked for me.

You could always downgrade to broadband only from Virgin for £20/month.

jb66

You have a good deal, £15 bt line rental plus o2 bb (7.50) is 22.50 and that doesn't give you free calls during the day and no tv

macman

Where do you get £15 line rental from? BT line rental is £11.54.