Virgin Media want their box back - i dont have it

hello007007

hi
we cancel our virgin media account after 18 months as we did not have good broadband speeds.

we never really used the tv box and I throw it away many months ago.

Once we cancel we got a letter asking us to return the tv box and everything that went with it. we agnored it however, they kept sending such letter and even a pre paid return packaging.

its writen in the letter we will get a bill for £150 if the box is not returned.

What can we do?

JJ_Egan

How long was the initial contract for .
Usual is box belongs to VM during the length of the contract .

Retrogamer

Normally when you cancel the service they arrange an appointment for someone to come and disconnect the equipment and to take it back.

donnac2558

Sorry but you will either have to pay the £150(Virgin you never own the box. That is why they do repairs etc free), or find the box.

You say they requested the box when you cancelled, so you threw a perfectly good Virgin box away? Oh and Virgin do follow through usually with debt collectors who will call at your door.

AndyPK

buy one off ebay for less than £150

jem16

JJ_Egan wrote: »

How long was the initial contract for .
Usual is box belongs to VM during the length of the contract .

It's not usual with Virgin. The box is never yours to keep as it is always rented. If anything goes wrong with it, they repair it or replace it for free.

Virgin always asks for it back when you cancel.

rainygreyhound

When my nan passed away about 4 years ago they didn't seem bothered about having the old box back despite numerous calls. However when I myself cancelled recently, it was made very clear they'd charge me if they didn't receive the equipment back including the remote. Maybe they're stricter now.

Sooler

but then again ...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/Buying-Virgin-Media-equipment-on-Ebay-/10000000089873245/g.html

Buying Virgin Media equipment on Ebay

Be aware that Virgin media set top boxes and modems remain the property of Virgin media and are only rented to the subscriber, if you purchase their equipment on Ebay it could be seen as recieving stolen goods. Check out this link to a Virgin media topic on the subject
http://community.virginmedia.com/t5/TV/Why-must-I-return-the-equipment-when-I-leave/td-p/695057/page/1

zolablue25

jem16 wrote: »

It's not usual with Virgin. The box is never yours to keep as it is always rented. If anything goes wrong with it, they repair it or replace it for free.

Virgin always asks for it back when you cancel.

They never asked for my V+ box back when I cancelled 2 years ago. They sent me a message saying they might ask for it back, but they never have. Its still in my loft - just in case.

BTW - OP, I don't think you have a leg to stand on. It was never your box to dispose of. If you didn't want it you should have sent it back to Virgin.

hello007007

If anyone else is in this position - we bought one of ebay (£20ish) and sent it in.

we have not heard anything in two weeks so I am hoping its all sorted!

Never again shall we take out a virgin media contact!

gjchester

hello007007 wrote: »

Never again shall we take out a virgin media contact!

Why? Its clearly stated in your contract that the box belongs to VM, and that it is never your property. Its also the case that "property of Virgin Media" is either moulded into the unit, or on a sticker.

It was your mistake to throw it away, not VM's fault.

Hopefully it will be resolved, however VM will know your box's serial number and if they check against the box you sent and it does not match then it may come back to you (as well as whoever sold it may have the same issue later on too)