Only joined Virgin Media for Sky? Blag some extra channels for the loss

mcguire6078

Hi I phoned NTL/Virgin in early March after losing Sky 1. I was a little reluctant to call them as we have been receiving a double discount in error for the past 12 months (happened after I ordered broadband online and they gave me a double discount in error…. didn’t have the heart to tell them). I called the normal sales line and they upgraded my TV to XL package for ½ price for 6 months. I tried to push for more but she said I was already receiving two discounts and couldn’t offer any further deals.

A few days later I noticed the Vodafone Broadband Deal (8mb BB + unlimited telephone calls and line rental £25 month) so I called NTL/Virgin and ask for the cancellation department. I asked if they could price match the Vodafone deal. The sales advisor said he could but only give 4mb BB as he had noticed the double discount on my account.....gave the following deal:

4Mb Broadband
XL – Phone Package
XL – TV Package
Price £23.50

My bill arrived last week and the advance service charges were £11.50 (+8.50 BB) total £19.50 month!

hexen

There seems to be a lot of confusion from people who phone up Virgin and are offered all sorts of "deals" but come away spending even more on their monthly bill! Then post on here asking whether they got a good deal.

Here's a few tips to think about before you phone:

1. It's been said enough times - Make sure you follow the menu to the Retentions Department also known as "Disconnections" or "Thinking of leaving". Anyone that phones the regular Customer Services and asks for a deal will be politely told to get lost. You only have yourself to blame if you can't even phone the right department!!

2. Have an idea of what you'd really like before phoning: e.g. cheaper monthly bills, faster broadband, V+ Box, more tv channels or cheaper phone calls. Before calling I was only interested in two things: cheaper monthly bills and faster broadband, and I managed to get both. I wasn't the least bit interested in a temporary upgrade of Movies or Sports, since we never watch these on cable - it will save you a lot of time of being offered deals that you're not interested in.

3. Don't get angry on the phone - I know it's easier said than done, especially if you've been on hold for a long time or they're not offering you the deal you'd like. But you've a much better chance of a good deal if you're polite. Ask if they can offer you a better deal and if they don't (or won't) then just say that you're going to call Sky to arrange an installation date and will phone back later to arrange disconnection (obviously you're not really going to) but this way you can phone up a bit later and talk to another person who might give you the deal you are after.

Hope this helps. :T

sheljack

I have had virgin media installed on 30/03 :j , my package is TV XL with V+ Box and Phone XL. Virgin Media had not informed BT so now i have two phone lines , spoke to a very nice lady from VM and she said it would take 8 days for the change and they would credit my account £11 for the extra BT mth i would have to pay.
Now when i try to use any of the interactive or On Demand channels i get a small box appear which says "just a moment" (10 mins later ) then my remote freezes, so i have to reset my box:rotfl:
I have been on that phone so long it has become part of me, being transferred from one department to another i have even emailed them hoping for a reponse all i want is the very unhelpful and (thought he was doing us a good turn)person who installed the xxxxx thing to come back and sort things out.
I had sky+ with skytalk, when i saw i could have V+ and HD with phone for a £15 per mth saving i could`nt resist. IT MAKES YOU WONDER BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW :rolleyes:

utilitybroker

sheljack wrote: »

I have had virgin media installed on 30/03 :j , my package is TV XL with V+ Box and Phone XL. Virgin Media had not informed BT so now i have two phone lines , spoke to a very nice lady from VM and she said it would take 8 days for the change and they would credit my account £11 for the extra BT mth i would have to pay.
Now when i try to use any of the interactive or On Demand channels i get a small box appear which says "just a moment" (10 mins later ) then my remote freezes, so i have to reset my box:rotfl:
I have been on that phone so long it has become part of me, being transferred from one department to another i have even emailed them hoping for a reponse all i want is the very unhelpful and (thought he was doing us a good turn)person who installed the xxxxx thing to come back and sort things out.
I had sky+ with skytalk, when i saw i could have V+ and HD with phone for a £15 per mth saving i could`nt resist. IT MAKES YOU WONDER BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW :rolleyes:

Your not the only one having problems.

See: http://www.crackunit.com/2007/03/31/more-virgin-media-moaning/

I lke the new slogan the guy has designed.Instead of " We are going to look after you".

maggiem

I have just phoned Virgin hoping to get a better deal. No luck really even though I was speaking to disconnections. We're on:
Telephone line rental 11.00
Talk Unlimited 14.00 (teenagers in house and I sometimesw work from home so make lots of call then during the day)
Talk mobile 1.50
Billing 1.00
TEW & BB & TV xl saving - 11.00
TV XL 20.50
Broadband M 18.00

making £55 a month. i got the reduction and higher broadband speed some time ago - following advice from mse. Now just wondering if we should stay with Virgin or try elsewhere. I was disappointed they didn't seem very interested in offering anything. Any advice?

Thanks

jembie

maggiem wrote: »

I have just phoned Virgin hoping to get a better deal. No luck really even though I was speaking to disconnections.

I would try ringing again. I am paying the same as you and got them to add sports and movies for the same price.

Sometimes it is just getting the right operator to speak to.

andybodoyd

Just spoke to Virgin.Was on analogue paying over £80 a month for tv (mid),sky sports,phone package and 2meg broadband and a couple of additional converters.Changing to digital XL tv package/sports/movies 2 extra converters same broadband and phone packages for £20 cheaper. Not bad to say I had no idea what I was doing?

roses

Are they still giving discounts now the cancellation period is over? my brother is very lazy and hasnt called yet for a discount.

MrMrMr

yeh I want to know if discounts are still coming, I havent phoned up for my Mam and Dad yet!

Fudge_2

Fudge wrote: »

Just been on to VM and spoke to a very friendly guy named Kishre. Managed to get our monthly bill from £73.25 to £53.75 on a permanent basis! That's £234pa.

I was disappointed the sky channels were removed but would never had called if it weren't for the prompt in MSE's emails!

Oh and I also got the script about VM taking Sky to court (I never paid much attention to the detail due to being impressed with the discount they offered me)!

:T

Looking at the all the replies to date I reckon that we haven't got the best deal possible from Virgin. Anyone reckon I could get them to add SkySports and/or Movies to our package? (Lge BB, XLge TV, Med Phone (we never use the phone) and a 2nd box)