Sky, Virgin & BT TV Haggle down prices and get serious discounts Article Discussion

brewerdave

jeff_tower wrote: »

Any advice on BT Vision would be appreciated.

1. You do realise that BT Vision is just Freeview (via aerial NOT dish) with on demand stuff via your internet connection?
2. You need a reliable and relatively fast internet connection (>4 Mb)to stream on demand stuff.
3. On demand streamed TV eats thru your monthly b/band allowance at a rate of knots!!!
4. There are strong rumours that BT are going to drop Sky Sports supplied via the Freeview system.
5. BT Customer services are even worse than Sky's!!!!

mawey

Out of contract with virgin, but really want to stay with them. So shopping around for offers so I have info when I ring them:


I currently Have with Virgin:

XL Broadband 30mb (wireless modem included)
XL TV (175 channels) including HD Channels
M Telephone (Unlimited weekend Calls)
X1 V+ HD Box
X2 Virgin HD multi room boxes

£69.90 per month


Offer from Online chat advisior from sky:


Phone:
Talk freetime
TV
Entertainment Extra
Sky Movies 1 & 2
HD Pack
Sky Anytime+
Broadband
Broadband Unlimited
Equipment:
Sky+ HD box
Multiroom x2 Sky HD

---

Monthly Cost: £76.25
One off fee: £49.00
Free M&S Voucher: £50.00

---

BT

Unlimited Broadband (40mb)
Evening & Weekend Calls with BT Infinity
Unlimited Pack for TV
BT Vision+ box

One-off charges £46.00
Monthly charges £47.10



Overall I think quite a good deal from Sky, don't know if I could get better by phoning them but it gives me some ammo with Virgin.

Would love some advise, tips from someone whos recently called them, quite prepared to give them notice if I have too

jeff_tower

brewerdave wrote: »

1. You do realise that BT Vision is just Freeview (via aerial NOT dish) with on demand stuff via your internet connection?
2. You need a reliable and relatively fast internet connection (>4 Mb)to stream on demand stuff.
3. On demand streamed TV eats thru your monthly b/band allowance at a rate of knots!!!
4. There are strong rumours that BT are going to drop Sky Sports supplied via the Freeview system.
5. BT Customer services are even worse than Sky's!!!!

Brewerdave
yep, I can't deny I am nervous, and realise that its Freeview and through the aerial. I do have BT Broadband with a 40GB allowance, although I am assured that on demand does not affect your allowance, see quote below from BT
" BT Vision usage does not count towards broadband bandwidth usage. This means you can watch as much on-demand entertainment as you want without exceeding your broadband usage guidelines. BT Vision also benefits from a separate allocation of bandwidth that means it is not affected by congestion at peak times"
If they drop SkySports that may be a problem, worst case scenario is I will have to go to pub and watch a match,.before you remind me, yes I will end up spending more than the Sky package. I will cross that bridge if they drop SkySports.
If I am honest, I have seen all the films on SkyMovies because they seem to perpetually recycle all the same films, they are even still showing the odd xmas film and my recorder is full of dramas etc. from ITV and BBC that my wife has recorded. Do I really get £700's worth a year? I am not so sure.
Like I said, I am very nervous, to me, its all about the picture quality, if that stinks then it will be HD Freesat through the dish, and I have lost 12x£4 plus £40 connection fee, but I would try and claim this back if I felt it was justified.
Will keep you posted with an honest appraisal.

Geordie_bear

jim786a wrote: »

hi, i called virgin media today to "cancel" my account in the hope of some good discounts.

all i got was to be told that in april my bill would go up :mad: (apparently all VM customers are going to get charged more) and the best deal they could give me was to keep my price at the same price as i already have "lots of discounts on my account".
also they tried to flog me L phone with no discount. :mad:

i had read up that if you cancel they call you back before your 30 days to try and keep your custom.

is this true? :eek:

has anyone done this before? when i can expect a call and do they offer much discount?
HELP PLEASE!

I'm in the same boat as you & 12 months in to a 18 month contract. My package goes up by £4.50 on April 1st & because of the increase my contract becomes null and void so on the 1st March I shall be putting my 30 day notice in! I'm already paying £73 a month to VM & it's going up to £77.50 so I'm certain they will not want to lose me. I'll update you all on my progress fingers crosses :beer:

Geordie_bear

cptncanary wrote: »

My bill was due to increase by £4.85 a month, so called VM cancellations today. They did offer to give me a £4 a month discount on the new total, but I nicely asked to continue with the termination.
The very nice lady did say that she had 'managed' to get all cancellation fees waived for me (I didn't point out that there shouldn't be any), so now I wait and hold my nerve.

let us know how you get on :beer:

Geordie_bear

won1888 wrote: »

The only offer for me was to cancel the £4.50 price rise, quoting the same thing that i'm already on a good deal. Goodbye to my £110+ a month Virgin.

you're kidding they never offered you nowt?:(

mawey

mawey wrote: »

Out of contract with virgin, but really want to stay with them. So shopping around for offers so I have info when I ring them:


I currently Have with Virgin:

XL Broadband 30mb (wireless modem included)
XL TV (175 channels) including HD Channels
M Telephone (Unlimited weekend Calls)
X1 V+ HD Box
X2 Virgin HD multi room boxes

£69.90 per month


Offer from Online chat advisior from sky:


Phone:
Talk freetime
TV
Entertainment Extra
Sky Movies 1 & 2
HD Pack
Sky Anytime+
Broadband
Broadband Unlimited
Equipment:
Sky+ HD box
Multiroom x2 Sky HD

---

Monthly Cost: £76.25
One off fee: £49.00
Free M&S Voucher: £50.00

---

BT

Unlimited Broadband (40mb)
Evening & Weekend Calls with BT Infinity
Unlimited Pack for TV
BT Vision+ box

One-off charges £46.00
Monthly charges £47.10



Overall I think quite a good deal from Sky, don't know if I could get better by phoning them but it gives me some ammo with Virgin.

Would love some advise, tips from someone whos recently called them, quite prepared to give them notice if I have too

Got off the phone with Virgin, asked about leaving and they said thats fine as Im out of contract asked why Im leaving and I said I believe I could get a better deal else where. They went on to say about skys broadbands speeds, but they offered me the following:


XL Broadband 10mb Lowered from 30mb but will go back to 30mb in April-July
XL TV (175 channels) including HD Channels Stays the same
M Telephone (Unlimited weekend Calls) Added free evening calls
x1 500gb Tivo Box free installation Added
X1 V+ HD Box moved upstairs
X1 Virgin HD multi room boxes

£56.90 per month (£13 saving)


Told them Im going to call back after looking over the packages, does anyone think I could get more if I cancel and hoped for a call from retentions?

Geordie_bear

that doesn't seem too bad I'd be happy with that :beer:

Lifes_Grand_Plan

Goffsearisoff wrote: »

The problem that some of you face is, if you threaten to cancel and get passed through to cancellations, you could actually end up losing your viewing with sky because they've taken it literally and not offered you any offers to stay with them.

This assumes that everyone will be bothered if they lose their sky - some may not.

People should remember that if you are already a sky customer and leave, that is bad for them. You already have the dish and the box installed, so there is no fixed cost to Sky if they can keep you, unlike a new customer where they will have to pay out for an install and a dish and box. So anything they earn from a current customer staying with them goes completely to them. Thats why they will do 50% off deals for people. If Sky have already purchased sports packages and movie packages from the people who sell them then they need to recoup that money. Once they recoup the money from subscribers then anything on top is pure profit, so better to have profit at 50% off than no profit at full price.

Ok some people may cancel and Sky not make an offer, but the reward for taking that risk is you get 50% off... I have never failed yet to get 50% off and most recently, Sky's call came within 3 days of my cut off date.

Goffsearisoff wrote: »

Discounts with sky, are normally only given if you are out of contract and you will be put into a new contract for the offers to be applied to. Normally 12 months.

My current 50% off deal is not a new contract. In my experience they only start a new contract if you have a new box or if you take the HD sub.

Lifes_Grand_Plan

mawey wrote: »

Told them Im going to call back after looking over the packages, does anyone think I could get more if I cancel and hoped for a call from retentions?

Just be careful here - you could call back and find they have no record of this offer and they won't make as good an offer next time.

Thats not to say call them back and take it without a second thought, just a helpful warning hopefully.