Leaving Virgin Broadband Out of Contract

chickentown

Hello, yesterday I phoned Virgin Media to ask them to cease providing me with broadband internet as I am switching provider. They said OK, but I have to pay them for the next 30days! They said this is a legal requirement. I am no longer in a contract with them and I have paid until the 5th November. They want me to pay until 19th November. I am getting a new ISP on 23rd October. I don't think I should have to pay them for 30 days since I am out of contract - I have no obligation to them. They said they will charge me for another month on the 5th November (via my direct debit) and then reimburse me the excess I have paid (so I only pay up until 19th NOvember). I am considering cancelling my DD because I don't think I should have to pay them - surely I can cancel whenever I want and not be obliged to pay them beyond my using their service.

Does anyone have advice regarding this. If I cancel my DD will that affect my credit rating? Is it a legal requirement that I give them 30days notice OR is that just their preferred policy?

Any advice would be most appreciated!

Many thanks,

Anthony

onomatopoeia99

You are not "out of contract", this is a misleading term used by moneysaving sites and others. You do still have a contract with them, they will not supply service without a contract. What you are out of is the extended minimum term that applies from the start of a new connection (I've not used VM, but a year is typical with many suppliers). After that period is over, the contract you have with them for the supply of services remains in force but the notice period to cancel becomes shorter. It sounds like in VM's case this is 30 days.

So, you have to give them 30 days notice, if that's what your contract says.

Cancelling the DD won't remove this liability. It will probably trash your credit rating though as you will ultimately end up pursued through the courts for the debt.

jem16

chickentown wrote: »

If I cancel my DD will that affect my credit rating?

Very much so.

Is it a legal requirement that I give them 30days notice OR is that just their preferred policy?

It's part of the T&C that you signed up for.

http://store.virginmedia.com/the-legal-stuff/terms-and-conditions-for-fibre-optic-services.html#suspending

1.Either you or we may end this agreement at any time (including during or at the end of any minimum period) by giving the other 30 days' notice. You must pay any charges (including usage charges and line rental) up to the end of that 30-day notice period. You may also have to pay an early disconnection fee if your services end within the relevant minimum period as set out in paragraph J2.

As already said you still have a contract with them but one that is outwith its minimum period so no early termination fee due. However you are still liable for the 30 day notice.

Any advice would be most appreciated!

Pay what you owe. If you had wanted Virgin's services stopped earlier then you should have cancelled earlier although that depends on when you were out of your minimum term.

chickentown

Thanks for your replies. Seems a bit daft that you can't just cancel their services immediately - our minimum term contract ended one year ago, and for some reason we have stayed with VM since, regardless of their poor customer service and unceasing bill increases! I was wary of what the customer service adviser said as I have had bad experiences with call centre workers giving me misinformation in the past, including the lovely Virgin Media staff.

Anyway, thanks again for your advice. I have also contacted the communications ombudsman but I guess their advice will be the same as this.

All the best :-)

jem16

chickentown wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. Seems a bit daft that you can't just cancel their services immediately

You can cancel immediately but you ( and Virgin for that matter ) must abide by the 30 days notice. You will find that all providers have a notice period to protect you and the company.

macman

Almost all consumer contracts have a 30 day notice requirement. The ombudsman will not even look at your case (which is non-existent anyway) unless you have been through the supplier's own complaints procedure and reached deadlock.

Inner_Zone

OP, don't forget your new ISP will also require notice if you move ISP again once your minimum term has expired, probably twelve or eighteen months. And / or if you leave a BT line i.e. if you move home, there may also also be a cease charge, currently around £30.