Virgin Media retention deals (post your haggling successes)

uF0n

ShelboBaggins said:

uF0n said:

ShelboBaggins said:

The conversation was a bit sketchy so I wasnt convinced she actually put the cancellation through and I didn't get an email so I contacted them via WhatApp yesterday afternoon. Did the same song and dance with trying to offer new deal (all worse than previous offers!) when all I asked was to confirm if cancellation was processed. 3hrs later turns out there was no cancellation so I asked them to do it now. Got text and email confirming within half hour so fingers crossed will get outbound calling me.

It took me three separate calls (first Whatsapp, then phone, then Whatsapp) before my cancellation was actually put through... the first 2 said they had, but obviously had not!

Cancellation went through last Friday... not heard back from retentions yet...

Got my call yesterday evening but didn't offer me much better than the normal retentions team and felt like they couldn't be bothered to negotiate. Am hoping for another callback and someone who's keen to negotiate otherwise I'm geared up to sign up in my partner's name. Can't believe I live in Birmingham and my nearest exchange is only one of few that doesn't offer yet offer superfast fibre so Virgin are pretty much my only choice.

You cancelled on Saturday and got a call yesterday, whereas I cancelled on Friday and still no call... I hope this isn't going to be a repeat of my last attempt at this game with Sky... they didn't call back at all.

Disappointing to hear outgoing retentions didn't offer an improved deal. Can anyone else comment whether outgoing retentions will contact you multiple times with improved offers, or will they only call once?

patricia1066

uF0n said:!

Disappointing to hear outgoing retentions didn't offer an improved deal. Can anyone else comment whether outgoing retentions will contact you multiple times with improved offers, or will they only call once?

The offer depends on what competition exists locally. If the call back so far has been higher than packages available to you, then you can expect another call. I usually say that other than price I am very happy with VM, so they know I want another offer. 

 Check out what package suits your needs from other resellers and if you get an unsatisfactory offer from retention, mention the price of the better package as your negotiation sticking point. 

uF0n

patricia1066 said:

uF0n said:!

Disappointing to hear outgoing retentions didn't offer an improved deal. Can anyone else comment whether outgoing retentions will contact you multiple times with improved offers, or will they only call once?

The offer depends on what competition exists locally. If the call back so far has been higher than packages available to you, then you can expect another call. I usually say that other than price I am very happy with VM, so they know I want another offer. 

 Check out what package suits your needs from other resellers and if you get an unsatisfactory offer from retention, mention the price of the better package as your negotiation sticking point. 

Thanks for input... Lots of other supplier options here, so fingers crossed.

Just realised Virgin have called me twice today but my phone thought it was a spam number and blocked it... I've removed the block, so hopefully hear from them soon.

I called the number back (that's how I realised it was Virgin) and there was a message with a different number for me to call them... Does it make a difference if I call back or should I wait for them to call me again?

patricia1066

uF0n said:

patricia1066 said:

uF0n said:!

Disappointing to hear outgoing retentions didn't offer an improved deal. Can anyone else comment whether outgoing retentions will contact you multiple times with improved offers, or will they only call once?

The offer depends on what competition exists locally. If the call back so far has been higher than packages available to you, then you can expect another call. I usually say that other than price I am very happy with VM, so they know I want another offer. 

 Check out what package suits your needs from other resellers and if you get an unsatisfactory offer from retention, mention the price of the better package as your negotiation sticking point. 

Thanks for input... Lots of other supplier options here, so fingers crossed.

Just realised Virgin have called me twice today but my phone thought it was a spam number and blocked it... I've removed the block, so hopefully hear from them soon.

I called the number back (that's how I realised it was Virgin) and there was a message with a different number for me to call them... Does it make a difference if I call back or should I wait for them to call me again?

No difference. After all if you don't want to negotiate you wouldn't phone them. I rang back and spoke to the agent who offered me the deal I accepted. 

uF0n

Outgoing retentions just called... incoming retentions offered me £56 for the same package that I'm currently on (currently paying £47)... outgoing retentions have just offered £66 for the same package and she was resolute that it was the best she could offer.

When I highlighted that she was offering a much higher price than previous person, she insisted that she had checked her notes and the previous offer did not include a mobile SIM, however, I still have a copy of the Whatsapp chat:

"The next offer is Our Bigger Volt Bundle which consists of M350 Fibre Broadband speed + Maxit tv + Weekends Chatter + 10Gb data O2 sim with Unlimited Texts & Unlimited Calls its standard price is £101.00 but I can offer you this just for £56.00 a month new 18 months contract."


I assume it's not normal for outgoing retentions to offer a worse offer than incoming retentions? Do they tend to call again or is that the end of road?

whattochoose

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between outgoing and incoming retentions?

victor2

whattochoose said:

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between outgoing and incoming retentions?

Outgoing is where they call you, and is the people you want for the best deals. Incoming is where you call them - you basically give them your notice to leave, which puts you in the outgoing team's call list. 

whattochoose

victor2 said:

whattochoose said:

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between outgoing and incoming retentions?

Outgoing is where they call you, and is the people you want for the best deals. Incoming is where you call them - you basically give them your notice to leave, which puts you in the outgoing team's call list. 

That's great, thank you. I've been a VM for years, and have never cancelled before, but am determined to do so in a month or so, safe in the knowledge that since they display no loyalty to longstanding customers, why should there be any reason to remain loyal to them in such a competitive market.

victor2

whattochoose said:

victor2 said:

whattochoose said:

Please excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between outgoing and incoming retentions?

Outgoing is where they call you, and is the people you want for the best deals. Incoming is where you call them - you basically give them your notice to leave, which puts you in the outgoing team's call list. 

That's great, thank you. I've been a VM for years, and have never cancelled before, but am determined to do so in a month or so, safe in the knowledge that since they display no loyalty to longstanding customers, why should there be any reason to remain loyal to them in such a competitive market.

I'm in a similar position. Last year was the first time I actually gave notice as for years before I'd always got a reasonable deal by calling them. Never the best deal people claim to get, but OK for me. Last year they wouldn't negotiate, so I gave my notice. The following day, retentions called me with a better deal. Just make sure that your contact details are up-to-date on your account, and you haven't said you don't want to be contacted.

whattochoose

I have been able to negotiate a new deal this morning with VM. This comprises....
M250 Broadband
Virgin TV, V6 box, 
Sky Sports Collection
Maxit TV
Telephone line rental, weekend calls.

The cost per month is £56.25. However, I only need to keep Sky Sports a month, and can then cancel, the overall cost coming down to £49.
Also I will not face an increase when charges are increased in April or May. It appears this is because I've agreed a new contract after November, 2022.
I'm satisfied and happy with this, although it probably doesn't compare with some of the deals I've seen negotiated on here.