Virgin Media- small victory, but can I take it further?

depthsofdespair

I took out Virgin TV etc in July 2012. We then moved house in June 2013, but although only being 2 mins away, Virgin did not supply new house. So we gave notice to cancel, aware that we had 1 month outstanding on our contract (to end 31st July 2013).

We moved, took equipment with us, then a couple of weeks later got the final bill. They wanted to charge us £122 for disconnection! I was disgusted given we were only finishing a month early (and technically we'd disconnected the equipment ourselves!)
I emailed to ask them to explain their charges as I felt they were totally unreasonable. They just broke the charges down for TV, broadband and phone, but still no explanation as to why they were so high for disconnection. I had checked their T&C before cancelling and all it said was 'may be liable for charges'- but no mention what they would be.

So, i again asked them how they could charge so much, when, if i had been told it was so much, i would have simply paid the last months subscription and then cancelled at the end of contract. They refused to reply.
I then gave them 7 days notice that if they didn't send the box to return their equipment, I would be charging them £15 a day storage.
They didn't respond to that either (or send the box!)
They then passed the 'debt' onto a debt collections agency who began to harass us.
I then went onto virgin facebook page to try to get some communication with them

They emailed back saying I had an 18month contract,hence the charges. I didn't have 18month contract but either way, i had an email from them saying 12month to end July 13.

I also pointed out the matter of storage charges with were at £930! They said Virgin don't accept bills!:rotfl: and also that I was bound by T&C of contract that I accepted to look after equipment- my argument was that I had looked after it for almost a month before levying any charges and they had 2 months of pestering to send me the box but hadn't, and also, how can they apply T&C when a contract has ended?? They were saying I am bound by the T&C indefinitely, despite the contract already at an end.

Anyway, this morning, I got an email from them- they said I WAS on 18 month contract so amount was correct. However as someone had told me it was 12months contract, they won't go back on their word and will cancel the bill immediately.:T

My question is, could i pursue the storage bill through small claims court (do i legally have the right to charge them storage) and what would be chances of it going in my favour, or should I just count my chickens that I've got out of paying anything at all! If i lost, I realise i would have to pay their costs-is there a limit of costs they can claim or could i be lumped paying for their £1000 p/h solicitor?!

Thanks, in advance

Cycrow

so you were giving more than you was entitled to, but you still want more ?

[Deleted User]

depthsofdespair wrote: »

My question is, could i pursue the storage bill through small claims court

You've broken the terms of your contract with them by knowingly leaving one month prior to the end of your minimum term (12months). They've written off the Early Termination Charge (ETC) because you claim they didn't tell you it was an eighteen month contract.
Now you want to claim "storage charges" through the small claims court?
Get real.

If you don't want the equipment then throw it away, Virgin will only collect it if it's worth their while to do so and most old equipment is NOT worth collecting. You should,of course, give them notice in writing that you propose to dispose of it.

depthsofdespair

No, sorry i think you're a bit confused.

I had a 12 month contract. I had to terminate 1 month early. I always said to them that I was more than happy to pay a reasonable fee for early termination (normally paid £40 a month for services) but they wanted to triple that. It was only after many emails on my part, that they 'justified' their charges by saying i had an 18month contract with them- this was incorrect, i only signed for 12 months, but more to the point I had already asked them to tell me the end date in a previous email and, as i had thought, it was 31st July 13.
They've cancelled the bill because they've realised their bad customer service and their mistake- they tried to alledge that I took out a longer contract, when (and in writing from them to back it up) i hadn't.

My point about the storage charge is I'm sick and tired on large companies just thinking they can do what they like- i told them for 2 months to collect their property from me (or send me a box to send it back) and they refused. What if their box got damaged before sending it back to them in the 3 months this has been going on- who would be liable for the costs then (they charge £120 for replacement boxes)? If they want it back they should make swift arrangements to do so, not leave it 3 months (and me having to waste my time pestering them to do so) Therefore, I levied a storage charge to make sure it was safe and would not get damaged. They (and other large companies) feel they can charge customers whatever they want, due to consumers being duped into signing contracts that are heavily biased to the company, so I've turned the tables on them.

Its not so much about getting the storage charges paid- more the fact to prove a point that they shouldn't be allowed to get away with such poor customer service and bullying unwitting consumers all the time.

depthsofdespair

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

If you don't want the equipment then throw it away, Virgin will only collect it if it's worth their while to do so and most old equipment is NOT worth collecting. You should,of course, give them notice in writing that you propose to dispose of it.

I told them I would dispose of it after 14 days, but they replied saying they would charge me £120 for a replacement box so my hands were tied. They wouldn't collect it, or send appropriate postage and packaging and if I did dispose of it, i'd be charged £120!:mad: Initially, the storage charge idea was just a way to get their attention and to communicate with me.

Cycrow

and im sure there are many people who are also sick and tired of consumers thinking they can get what ever they want

[Deleted User]

depthsofdespair wrote: »

They've cancelled the bill because they've realised their bad customer service and their mistake- they tried to alledge that I took out a longer contract, when (and in writing from them to back it up) i hadn't.

So that's an end to it. Your complaint is now resolved and you haven't had to pay any ETC at all. That's a win for you.

I think you should think very carefully about any launching any litigation against this firm, but especially when it is so obviously doomed to failure.

Didn't you owe £30K a few months back? This won't help solve your debt problems.

Look at more productive and proactive pursuits...just throw their decoder in a cupboard and forget about it.

depthsofdespair

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Didn't you owe £30K a few months back? This won't help solve your debt problems.

Yes, thanks, I still do- this could be a means to an end to sorting it all out

mixedwrestling

depthsofdespair wrote: »

Yes, thanks, I still do- this could be a means to an end to sorting it all out

Er what...

You think they'd pay you enough to sort out a 30k debt?


:rotfl:

[Deleted User]

mixedwrestling wrote: »

You think they'd pay you enough to sort out a 30k debt?

Not even close.
If the OP is considering paying out for a Small Claims appearance over something so trivial, then it's not hard to see why their current debts are so massive in the first place.

This is a money saving site, so I strongly urge user "depthsofdespair" to put the Cable equipment away and stop looking for what will be viewed by any court as "vexatious litigation". User "depthsofdespair" will lose any such case and will be ordered to pay costs.