Virgin Media retention deals (post your haggling successes)

PZ19

Mark2019 said:

I’m currently on a new customer deal of £53/month for M350 Maxit TV + Movies and Talk Weekend. My contract is coming to an end and I’m wondering if VM are likely to offer me anything remotely
similar to that through retentions. Anyone had any experience with a similar new customer package? The price hike is normally huge so not sure whether it’s worth the hassle.

You won’t know till you ask. Ask first then when they say no put in cancellation and wait for a call back.  Make sure your marketing preferences in your account are set to yes they can contact you.  If they don’t contact you, you still have 30 days to change your mind should you wish to do so

cod3

I called this morning as our contract is up for renewal next month.  There was an automated message while I as holding to be connected that said I could press 1 to receive a £4.25 discount for 6 months, but I ignored it to get through to a human.

Currently on M100 broadband + mixed TV, no phone - £46
The automatic renewal would go up to £60

The offer today was same package plus a free TiVo upgrade from 6 to 360 - £45 for 18 months

I thought "less than we are paying now" was a great offer so took it! 

cod3

^^^I realise this is still expensive, but we have no BT wiring in the house so our options are limited.  With 3 homeworkers kicking the backside out of our broadband here daily, we've found it a stable service

beelox999

beelox999 said:

Just called them on the retentions number published yesterday in MSE mail - my current fee of £64 going up by 4.25 per month from 1st of march and then a credit drops off for another £14 22 march- asked if they could do anything to keep the price around where it is now or cheaper - not interested - offered me a immediate £1 increase to £65 then from 1st march £69 pound - explained i cant afford that so will need to leave - just said ok will start the 30 days notice now then - and followed this up with an email confirming disconnection on 20th February...i have been with them and their predecessors for 25 years - didn't seem to make a difference - all previous times they have at least tried to keep me....lets see if any calls happen

i got the call from Retention this afternoon and got offer of £50 per month for next 18 months - this for Bigger Bundle TV, Basic landline, and 350mb broadband - the only thing i have had to lose is the 2nd tivo box in the bedroom which i didn't use anyway with iplayer etc have no need for a Tivo - never recorded anything on this box...is good result - potential if i hadn't challenged would have been an £82 per month bill

victor2

beelox999 said:

beelox999 said:

Just called them on the retentions number published yesterday in MSE mail - my current fee of £64 going up by 4.25 per month from 1st of march and then a credit drops off for another £14 22 march- asked if they could do anything to keep the price around where it is now or cheaper - not interested - offered me a immediate £1 increase to £65 then from 1st march £69 pound - explained i cant afford that so will need to leave - just said ok will start the 30 days notice now then - and followed this up with an email confirming disconnection on 20th February...i have been with them and their predecessors for 25 years - didn't seem to make a difference - all previous times they have at least tried to keep me....lets see if any calls happen

i got the call from Retention this afternoon and got offer of £50 per month for next 18 months - this for Bigger Bundle TV, Basic landline, and 350mb broadband - the only thing i have had to lose is the 2nd tivo box in the bedroom which i didn't use anyway with iplayer etc have no need for a Tivo - never recorded anything on this box...is good result - potential if i hadn't challenged would have been an £82 per month bill

It does seem to be the only way to get a decent deal nowadays, rather than just verbally threatening to leave.

From my conversations with them over the years it does seem that they can see the notes from previous years when you speak to them. Wonder when they call your bluff and actually let someone who has given notice to leave actually do so?

anderson8

M100 broadband

Mixit TV

Weekend calls

New 360 box

£29 through retentions 

leew

Ok I rang them up and whilst on hold I got offered the price increase discount for 6mths (when my contracts up) but was hesitant to accept as someone (BigBlueSky below) mentioned that takes off any discounts you have already applied, is that true? anybody know?? 

 

BigBlueSky said:

Has anyone had any issues with accepting the automated discount on the phone queue removing their other discounts ? - A family member had that issue about a year ago, but not sure whether that issue still exists.

IM

Just spent a painful hour on the phone to VM retentions, with someone who didn't speak English as a first language and who didn't really seem to have any knowledge of Virgin products and bundles...

I'm long out of contract, but have finally been kicked out of my stupor by the latest price rises.

Have been paying £133.84 (due to go up to £142.34) for 200 meg broadband and 'Full house' TV (that includes movies plus Sky and BT Sport channels in HD).

The initial offer was a reduction to £104/month - which eventually came down to £94.75, but I'm not sure that the latter was a like-for-like.

I gave up in the end, saying I needed to discuss with my wife.

Coincidentally (or not), when I've looked at the Sky website and created a TV-only package with Sky and BT sport in HD (but no movies) it was coming in at £76 - which when added to VM's price for broadband-only at 200 meg of £28, comes out at £104...

What I am learning is that it is impossible to properly compare deals - and that the headline offers aren't what they seem... It's 15+ years since HD TV launched, and pretty much every set sold since then will be compatible, yet everyone hides the add-on you have to pay for HD channels.  

Anyway...

Part of me is thinking I ought to strip back to just the broadband and go down the IPTV route, but I'd rather not.

So, based on the experience of my fellow forumistas, what is the target I ought to be setting myself for broadband of 100+ meg plus a TV package including HD sport?

I'm not entirely bothered by retaining the movie channels (I'd be happy to pay for individual films, on-demand if I have to) and just wish I could ditch the channels (kids, music, shopping etc.) that I never use but which come bundled by default.

JamesN

sarahj1990 said:

JamesN said:

Has anyone had any joy at renewing but with a shorter than 18 month contract? I’m going to be moving house within the next year and I don’t want to get hit with cancellation fees in case virgin isn’t available in my next home. Was hoping to get it on a rolling contract but they said it’d be full price for that. Currently on m100. Got offered £20 for 18 months or £26 for m200 but can’t commit to 18 months. 

Is that £20.00 a month with No Price Rise in March?

They didn’t say about a price rise but I’ve read that only applies to customers with tv as well

Kev27

BigBlueSky said:

Has anyone had any issues with accepting the automated discount on the phone queue removing their other discounts ? - A family member had that issue about a year ago, but not sure whether that issue still exists.

I've just done this and the automated operator does say that this will not affect my current Contract, and the £2.50 discount will last for 6 Months. I wen't ahead with it anyway, and will be hopefully still be paying £19 for 50meg... I will of course be ringing them if anything changes and telling them that there was no mention of losing any other discounts.