Switch from Sky To Virgin Media ??

kerrjp

Hi Guys,

I have always had sky wherever I have lived and at my current home we have had a sky package for the past 3 years:-

Sky TV + Phone (including line rental) + Broadband (unlimited)
Tv includes everything including the movie packages but no sport at all.

I have negotiated with sky every six months for the last 2 years to have some sort of discount applied to my account which has kept the monthly cost to around £50.

However I have been looking at switching to another provider as not only would I like to get the monthly cost closer to £40 but also I want fibre broadband (Sky's standard broadband where I am is slow and forever dropping out, and yes it is the service and not my router, I replaced sky's router with a brand new Netgear correctly configured, I am a software engineer by trade).

Virgin Media are currently offering their essential collection consisting of 30mb fibre broad band 90 Tv channels and talk weekends for £26 a month + £14.99 line rental (plus they are doing the first 6 months at £13 a month). I realise that this TV package doesn't have the sky movies channels but it still looks like a good deal.

Can people give me their thoughts please, am I missing something? My one issue with going to VM is that I will have to lift the edging blocks of my driveway to allow the cable to be hidden but I'm guessing if I lift the blocks and replace the installers should have no issues with putting it under the ground?

I would negotiate again with Sky but the broadband is so poor in comparison to fibre optic that I just cant put up with it.

I have also been told there is a good topcashback reward for new contracts with Virgin Media?

[Deleted User]

Do be aware that Virgin's TV service has significant absences in their channel line-up in comparison to Sky's. Sky Atlantic, for example, doesn't appear at all and they have much less HD content (although they don't charge for it).
Cable broadband is, in my opinion, second to none but their landline telephone is very expensive.
At the end of the day, it's your choice whether to swap; but do make sure you are aware of the sacrifices you may have to make in order to gain that reduction in monthly subscription.

brainz

It might be worth you double checking regarding your speeds you your broadband should not be 'dropping out' thats a clear sign something is wrong.
I would give Sky a call and ask them to take a look at your speed and line stability please do remember to plug your sky router back in first though for at about 10 days as if they see that you are using a non sky router they cant troubleshoot.

bartman100

Don't do it! I left Sky after being with them for 10 years and went to Virgin Media their TV is rubbish so much more on Sky, Virgin broadband brilliant, I went back to Sky and they offered me their Sky fibre Broadband for £20 a month for 12 months and its brilliant no one in the house is moaning on line gaming fine and when i checked the speed i'm getting 25 meg ask Sky if you are in the Fibre area can not see why not because its run by BT.

If you ever leave Virgin you have all Virgin boxes screwed to your walls and you have to wait in for someone to collect their equipment!

If you like sports Virgin only have Sky sports 1 & 2 in HD hardly any of the documentary channels in HD

Hope this helps but talk to Sky otherwise you will regret it trust me!

BruceVC

Not sure really which to go for. It puts me off buy Virgin Media packages due to Sky pulling their channels from Virgin a while a go now but it still makes me think twice.

[Deleted User]

BruceVC wrote: »

It puts me off buy Virgin Media packages due to Sky pulling their channels from Virgin a while a go now but it still makes me think twice.

Sky One etc are long back on Virgin, but Sky Atlantic (for example) has never been available on Cable at all.

preable

The only reason i have sky is because of sky atlantic xD

sparrer

Just my opinion -

I have Virgin 24/7 landline, XL TV package (no HD or tivo box though), and superfast BB.

I get max 31Mbps upload rather than the advertised 'up to 60', and no more than 2Mbps download speed.

I gave them notice last October and they negotiated a new deal, bringing my bill down by approx £10 a month. Now with their creative accounting system it's crept back up to almost the original £53/month. They always have an excuse for the increases.

Sky seems to have so much more to offer for less, when the current contract is up I'll have no hesitation in looking into changing from Virgin.

AllSpent

After being a Sky customer for a long while, I was less than impressed with the Tivo service from VM; clunky menu, freezing, difficult to navigate.

Their broadband has been good however. Same with the phone.

charlies_mum

I changed from Sky to Virgin, and am very happy with their service.

Major problem with Sky is the premium rate number you have to dial to speak to them. Last time I phoned it was an 0870 number and the message said I would be on hold for no longer than 42 minutes !!

peachyprice

charlies_mum wrote: »

I
Major problem with Sky is the premium rate number you have to dial to speak to them. Last time I phoned it was an 0870 number and the message said I would be on hold for no longer than 42 minutes !!

Calls are free if you have Sky talk

Calls to Sky Call Centres
Calls to Sky Call Centres remain inclusive at no extra charge at any time for Sky Talk Weekends, Freetime and Anytime customers, no matter how long the call.