Virgin Media Sky Channels Chopped.

nekde01

Just tried ringing virgin/telewest!! got put through to there customer services where I was stuck in a queue with no reply after 5 minutes but guess what it not a free phone number!!!! So they are even making cash out of there decision. So am now off to Sky to book there broadband package.

ajaxgeezer

nej wrote:

Oh I agree with you. What I'm saying is that the number of supplied channels, or what those channels are, are not specified in our contracts.

I'm annoyed, but as I can find alternative methods to watch the shows I like, I'll survive.
QUOTE]

... I know Nej, and that's probably right in statute. However, Sky One is a massive channel, and for every one person like me, you or others who won't miss it, there will be others that love it. It will be big enough that it was the major signing point for some so therefore a lot of people will feel compromised. If you re-read what I posted, I accepted straight off that channels were subject to change - my gripe was the arrogant way that Virgin did it without so much as a by-your-leave to its customers and then adopted their playgroundish Sky Snooze stance. They just look silly - they are Sion Simon to Sky's David Cameron. It sounds like Trading Standards consider the taking of a big channel like Sky One from those who have signed a contract when it was available to be pretty poor fayre.... let's hope that more is said from Trading Standards tomorrow.

cheers!

ajaxgeezer

For the Sky One lovers who are looking forward to seeing it on Freeview....

... beware... they are taking it off Freeview very soon.

Jdubb

I think these days you'll find in your original contract there were "open" clauses allowing the greedy !!!!!!s to more or less do as they please with the business! (I had the same problem with AOL, luckily they are a decent provider!) Hope someone more in-the-know comes bak to u!

Jdubb

I'm with Sky and thinking of going over to their package - I'd be grateful if you cud let us know how u get on with the changeover, gd luck!

Jdubb

The trouble is altho it's now called Virgin I bet u find your still dealing with the hapless and hopeless old Telewest staff - big mistake on Virgin's part!

zolablue25

nekde01 wrote:

Just tried ringing virgin/telewest!! got put through to there customer services where I was stuck in a queue with no reply after 5 minutes but guess what it not a free phone number!!!! So they are even making cash out of there decision. So am now off to Sky to book there broadband package.

If you dial 150 from your Telewest phone it is a free call

zolablue25

Jdubb wrote:

The trouble is altho it's now called Virgin I bet u find your still dealing with the hapless and hopeless old Telewest staff - big mistake on Virgin's part!

Bit harsh that! I always found them perfectly reasonable and pleasant people to deal with.

The really GOOD thing about Telewest or whatever they call themselves, if you have a problem with broadband or TV it is their equipment and service. With a BT line and a different ISP when there is a problem you can go round in circles with one side blaming the other. And after 12 months your skybox is yours so if it packs up, guess who pays?

Omertron

ajaxgeezer wrote:

Yeah, subject to availability... it *is* available to Virgin,

No it is not. Sky have withdrawn the channel, Virgin are not LEGALLY allowed to broadcast it to you.

ajaxgeezer wrote:

but they have chosen not to make it available to me even though I have pre-paid for it.

You've paid for a year's service up front?

ajaxgeezer wrote:

I had a contract with Telewest to supply it to me - a seperate (lack of) contract between Virgin and Sky shouldn't affect me IMO.

Did you explicitly say at the time you signed the contract that you were signing up specifically for SkyOne? If not, I doubt you have much recourse.

ajaxgeezer wrote:

If he chooses not to take Sky channels, then that's totally his prerogative... but he should, out of decency, let people out of their contract on the basis that

Why? If you had read your contract, you would see the clause that says that channel line-ups are subject to change.

ajaxgeezer wrote:

a) TV has fundamentally changed. We're not talking the God Channel or Discovery Nuts, Bolts and Parsnips here, it's Sky One... a massive pull for the contracts

Out of the 3.5 million subscribers that Virgin have, only 200,000 watch sky one... that's 5%. Hardly a massive pull now is it?

Omertron

Jdubb wrote:

I think these days you'll find in your original contract there were "open" clauses allowing the greedy !!!!!!s to more or less do as they please with the business! (I had the same problem with AOL, luckily they are a decent provider!) Hope someone more in-the-know comes bak to u!

I'm not sure that I agree with the sentiment about open clauses, but do you think Sky is any different? When you sign up for Sky, make sure you read their contract end to end and then post back with the differences?