Virgin Media retention deals (post your haggling successes)

PZ19

IM said:

IM said:

IM said:

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.

So.... Had another hour or so on the phone to India just now...

I said that I'd been offered £94.75 as a like-for-like earlier in the week, and wanted to know if that was the best they could do...

It was not. She could offer me £112.

When I said that the opening gambit I'd been given on Monday was £104 which had come down to £94.75 she said that each agent is given different offers, and suggested calling back again and I might "strike it lucky". 

Have put my cancellation request in now, so will cross my fingers that I get a call from someone with a vague idea of what they are doing,

For reference, below is my current package...



And this is probably the closest I've found to a match for what I actually want (and there is £110 cashback on Quidco at the moment).
I'd lose the movies, but would be happy to PPV the ones I want. Theoretical broadband speed is lower - but did a speed test whilst I was waiting for Virgin, and by actual was <15 meg.

Not that I'm doubting the efficiency of VM, but...

How long should it take for the email confirmation of my request to cancel take to come through?

If the woman I spoke to on Friday pressed the button at the end of our conversation, I'd have thought I'd have had something through by now.

Well done, how long did you wait for retentions to call you? Normally 1-4 days after

only_mee

martinjohn said:

only_mee said:

In contract till later in the year, this rise means I can give 30 days notice..yes, without penalty?

it said on my email "If you want to, you can change or cancel your package at any time before 15/02/2022, without paying any cancellation fees. Visit virginmedia.com/pricechange1 to find out more."
im guessing your email / letter says the same....

Thanks just wanted to be 100% sure / 2nd opinion

dom2599

I called VM about the price increase and told them I wasn't happy and to cancel

Was put through to retentions and spoke to a lovely lady who upgraded me from 350mb to 500md for £36, a quid cheaper than 350mb I was on.

I had also the week previously activated Volt via my O2 account, so was presently surprised when I had an email saying I had been upgraded to 1gb for £36 on VM volt..result all round

IM

PZ19 said:

IM said:

IM said:

IM said:

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.

So.... Had another hour or so on the phone to India just now...

I said that I'd been offered £94.75 as a like-for-like earlier in the week, and wanted to know if that was the best they could do...

It was not. She could offer me £112.

When I said that the opening gambit I'd been given on Monday was £104 which had come down to £94.75 she said that each agent is given different offers, and suggested calling back again and I might "strike it lucky". 

Have put my cancellation request in now, so will cross my fingers that I get a call from someone with a vague idea of what they are doing,

For reference, below is my current package...



And this is probably the closest I've found to a match for what I actually want (and there is £110 cashback on Quidco at the moment).
I'd lose the movies, but would be happy to PPV the ones I want. Theoretical broadband speed is lower - but did a speed test whilst I was waiting for Virgin, and by actual was <15 meg.

Not that I'm doubting the efficiency of VM, but...

How long should it take for the email confirmation of my request to cancel take to come through?

If the woman I spoke to on Friday pressed the button at the end of our conversation, I'd have thought I'd have had something through by now.

Well done, how long did you wait for retentions to call you? Normally 1-4 days after

Cancelled Friday - got the call Monday lunchtime.

To be fair, I had been out of contract for so long, the guy I spoke to couldn't tell on his system - so they've had a tidy few quid off me over the years, thanks to my inertia. 

[Deleted User]

Got 200Mb broadband only for £21. Anyone managed better?

babymable

I was paying £65.50 for M200 broadband, Maxit TV & Movies and Talk International. This was due to increase to £74 next month with the price increase then a further increase to £100 in May when my previous promotional deal expires. I called to cancel and was offered M350 broadband, Maxi TV ( no movies ) and talk international plus a £30 credit for £66. I'm wondering if that's as good as I can get ?

VoucherMan

I was offered £17.50 for m50 broadband. (I know, could have got better. But it's more than enough for me, and cheaper than the alternative (£19 at Vodafone))

The new contract came through today - £15 for 18 months. I don't know if it's just coincidence, but the £2.50 difference is the discount I was offered on the recorded message section.

martinjohn

received confirmation of "automatic discount",
all good
but i wonder if price still goes up on 1 march with this discount or if it just cancels out the price increase?

Mark2019

babymable said:

I was paying £65.50 for M200 broadband, Maxit TV & Movies and Talk International. This was due to increase to £74 next month with the price increase then a further increase to £100 in May when my previous promotional deal expires. I called to cancel and was offered M350 broadband, Maxi TV ( no movies ) and talk international plus a £30 credit for £66. I'm wondering if that's as good as I can get ?

How did you approach the call? I’m out of contract in June or July and not sure how best to approach the cancellation with a few months left in order to get a good deal. 

victor2

martinjohn said:

received confirmation of "automatic discount",
all good
but i wonder if price still goes up on 1 march with this discount or if it just cancels out the price increase?

The price will go up. The "automatic discount" will show as a credit for 6 months to effectively postpone the increase.