Virgin Media - Advice Please

Bella_M_2

Hi,
I'm currently paying around £63 p/m for TV XL, L Telephone & 60Mb Broadband.
I am due to go on maternity leave in a few months & am trying to cut costs.
I called Virgin & explained this, noticed they are offering 6 months half price deals to new customers & asked if I could have similar deal. Virgin said no, the best they could do was £47 p/m for Basic TV (essentially what you would get with Freeview) and 30 Mb Broadband.
So only saving £15 p/m & have to have the lowest package.

I told Virgin not good enough & would be better of buying Freeview & taking out broadband & landline seperately; they said ok but if I did this I would be charged £180 disconnection fee as 9 months left on contract.
Been with Virgin since 2010 & didn't realise I was 'locked in' every August - doh!

The fact is I want to stay with them but I'd be financially better off paying £180 disconnection that another 9 months at £60 odd quid!

What do you think, should I give it another shot at phoning them? I don't want to go less than M+ package & probably wouldn't miss the landline.

B x

Kurtis_Blue

You are not locked in every August, you must have changed some part of your package in August and started a new minimum term.

Bella_M_2

I phoned them in June to change direct debit details & was told for an extra 60p p/m I could upgrade to the Super Hub 60 MB Broadband, that's the only thing I've changed in 18 months & I'm unsure if J was made aware it would be a new minimum term - I certainly didn't sign anything.

VisionMan

Hi Bella,

By doing the above yes, they put you onto a new contract.

Bella_M_2

I can see it from their point of view, basically what they are saying is they are only charging me £15 more than the basic package for pretty much the full package but I still can't help feeling ripped off.

I never ask for discounts as I'm so crap at it and I thought they could offer better than they did.

B x

won1888

Bella_M wrote: »

Hi,
I'm currently paying around £63 p/m for TV XL, L Telephone & 60Mb Broadband.
I am due to go on maternity leave in a few months & am trying to cut costs.
I called Virgin & explained this, noticed they are offering 6 months half price deals to new customers & asked if I could have similar deal. Virgin said no, the best they could do was £47 p/m for Basic TV (essentially what you would get with Freeview) and 30 Mb Broadband.
So only saving £15 p/m & have to have the lowest package.

I told Virgin not good enough & would be better of buying Freeview & taking out broadband & landline seperately; they said ok but if I did this I would be charged £180 disconnection fee as 9 months left on contract.
Been with Virgin since 2010 & didn't realise I was 'locked in' every August - doh!

The fact is I want to stay with them but I'd be financially better off paying £180 disconnection that another 9 months at £60 odd quid!

What do you think, should I give it another shot at phoning them? I don't want to go less than M+ package & probably wouldn't miss the landline.

B x

If you have had your increase letter then you are entitled to leave free of charge or cancel any services you wish.

Bella_M_2

Just wanted to update my post:

I called Virgin back tonight when I got home from work but this time went straight through to disconnections instead of using the package change option.

I spoke with a really nice girl & explained I had phoned last night but advisor could only bring bill to £47 and this would be with basic TV package. I asked for confirmation of the disconnection fee and if I could pay over the phone by card.

My package was reviewed, I am now saving £20 p/m and that's even with the price increase in Jan. I had to reduce TV to L from XL but I always knew I'd have to do this anyway.

I'm now more likely to stay with Virgin long after I'm back earning a full wage and my contract expires. Result.

Bella x

macman

And of course you are now in a further 12m minimum term-they did mention it this time, didn't they?