MSE News: Virgin Media customers to be hit with 5.9% price rise from February

Ologhai

Just for info:

We have a basic 'M' phone package with up to 50Mb broadband (recently automatically increased from 20Mb) at a current monthly cost of £33.64, and a forthcoming increase of £3.84 from Feb.

I did a little spreadsheet charting VM price increases since Jun '09 and calculated that, from then till the previous increase in Feb this year, our VM monthly bill has increased by a total of 56.25%. Over the same period, CPI and RPI inflation have totalled 14.77% and 19.12% respectively. The Feb '15 increase represents an additional 11.41% rise against a backdrop of CPI and RPI inflation of around 1.26% and 2.30% respectively.

I rang VM and explained this. Initially, I was offered about £3 off per month. I told the representative I spoke to that, in light of what I'd be saying about the dramatic increases way over inflation, that this derisory offer was possibly more insulting than the over-the-top rises I'd been subjected to over the last five years, and if that's the best they could do, I'd have to look elsewhere.

I was then transferred to another department and spoke to someone who was able to drop my monthly charge to £21.49 initially, which will increase to £24.49 in Feb. This is to apply for 18 months, the first 12 months of which will be a contracted period (presumably for which there would be penalties if I were to want to cancel).

The number I originally rang was 0800 052 2190 (as per the price-rise correspondence I originally received from VM).

mackrilld

Out of intrest as I cant see this question asked or answered…

I am six months into an eighteen month bb and phone package but have not used the phone once so would be wise to loose it, I now have an excuse to leave early and ditch it with out the penalty. My question is though if I cancel today will the first six months I have had at half price stay that way or will I be asked to stump up to make it full price for the six months I have had?
Just thinking I could switch and have had six months of cheap bb. Thanks all.

bobbyh1982

mackrilld wrote: »

Out of intrest as I cant see this question asked or answered…

I am six months into an eighteen month bb and phone package but have not used the phone once so would be wise to loose it, I now have an excuse to leave early and ditch it with out the penalty. My question is though if I cancel today will the first six months I have had at half price stay that way or will I be asked to stump up to make it full price for the six months I have had?
Just thinking I could switch and have had six months of cheap bb. Thanks all.

Go for it. Same situation as me.

bairn7

I had the same letter. Currently on a broadband (M) and phone deal for £10.50 per month (12 month line rental already paid in advance). The increase would be a 25% monthly increas in my bill!!

Spoke to customer services through webchat hoping to get the increase waived. Instead I was offered £7.50 per month for 6 months and £15.50 thereafter. Confirmed that this was NOT a new contract. As my current contract expires in 5 months I promptly took them up on their offer!!

Will be negotiating again in 5 months time

Ferris

Finally managed to find a link the webchat, but there doesn't seem to be anybody on the other end! Virgin CS is absolutely dreadful these days.

EDIT: And then when I try closing the silent window to start a new one it won't let me! :rotfl: What a total shambles.

burnleymik

I am currently with Virgin BB and I have enjoyed their fibre optic service, but this latest price rise seems steep (almost 20% of my monthly bill) and as such I am probably going to move.

Can anyone recommend a decent comparable service for the price?

I looked at Plusnet but not sure I want to commit to 18 months.

Ferris

I finally got a retentions deal sorted out. £144 line rental saver plus £0.50/month until Feb 1st, then £3.50 until May, then £8.50/month for a further 12 months. A lot better than what I was offered first time round, although it is an 18 month contract (which I'll be able to break at the inevitable price rise this time next year, if necessary).

This is for basic phone, basic 50mb broadband, with free 08 numbers and free caller ID, plus a free replacement Superhub AC or whatever it's called.

Not the ideal deal, but I think I've done OK

austin

So I got the dreaded price hike letter yesterday and noticed this message right at the bottom of the letter (maybe they were hoping nobody will read that far down )


I am supposedly 'locked' in a contract until mid 2015, however I rang the cancellation department and quoted this letter, and without wasting a breath, she offered to waive the price increase. I hadn't even mentioned I wanted to cancel at that point!

I would have taken her up on the offer had I been happy with the service, but after countless internet outages and a laggy TV box, I used this 'loophole' if you like to cancel early. They agreed to cancel and I get cut off in a month. My niece works for Sky and she said there's been a huge spike in new sign-ups because of the VM price hike!

Also worth noting, if anyone is thinking of going with Virgin, I have a contact over on HUKD who got me my current deal which is/was the big kahuna, 150mb net, talk weekends, installation, for £34 p/m inc VAT on a 12 month contract. As I say, I was happy with the price, but VM just doesn't work for us - miss my sky too much! It's not affiliate or anything, just a VM employee I got talking to on there.

Those who are affected by this price hike should seriously consider calling VM cancellations and quoting the words in the above pic, regardless if you are in a contract or not!

[Deleted User]

austin wrote: »

Those who are affected by this price hike should seriously consider calling VM cancellations and quoting the words in the above pic, regardless if you are in a contract or not!

It's no secret that customers can cancel without penalty due to the increase, indeed it's been mentioned over and over and over already in this large thread.
Thanks for taking the trouble to post the photograph of your increase notification though!:T

Ferris

austin wrote: »

So I got the dreaded price hike letter yesterday and noticed this message right at the bottom of the letter (maybe they were hoping nobody will read that far down )


I am supposedly 'locked' in a contract until mid 2015, however I rang the cancellation department and quoted this letter, and without wasting a breath, she offered to waive the price increase. I hadn't even mentioned I wanted to cancel at that point!

I would have taken her up on the offer had I been happy with the service, but after countless internet outages and a laggy TV box, I used this 'loophole' if you like to cancel early. They agreed to cancel and I get cut off in a month. My niece works for Sky and she said there's been a huge spike in new sign-ups because of the VM price hike!

Also worth noting, if anyone is thinking of going with Virgin, I have a contact over on HUKD who got me my current deal which is/was the big kahuna, 150mb net, talk weekends, installation, for £34 p/m inc VAT on a 12 month contract. As I say, I was happy with the price, but VM just doesn't work for us - miss my sky too much! It's not affiliate or anything, just a VM employee I got talking to on there.

Those who are affected by this price hike should seriously consider calling VM cancellations and quoting the words in the above pic, regardless if you are in a contract or not!

How much was your price increase for? What package are you on? It's interesting they didn't offer the option to waive the price increase to me... I can only guess it's because I am out of contract (and have been for more than a year). That would have been a much more satisfactory solution though :mad: