Virgin Media retention deals (post your haggling successes)

iwant2asave

artyboy said:

iwant2asave said:

artyboy said:

victor2 said:

artyboy said:

Kev27 said:

artyboy said:

Kev27 said:

Contract ending this Month was paying £21 for M250 BB only from last retentions deal.  

Retentions rang this morning after me cancelling a few days ago. 

Offered me the same for £22, told him I needed to cut bills as can’t afford the increases, April etc…  

£19 offer accepted. 18 Month Contract. 

Did you also have the basic phone line included? If so then my previous post is already out of date and I should be targeting £19!

No mate, just broadband only. Obvs I’m aware it will rise to around £22 in April so I’m not ecstatic, but it’s still at the lower end price wise which is good enough for me. Good luck with your haggling. 🤞

Thanks - not gone well so far, call from retentions after cancelling was still asking for £32/month - I said no and he said he'd just take me off their 'call list' as I clearly am intending to cancel.

Frankly this just smells of warm BS. I've also had a mail offering me a downgrade to M100 for £27 a month. No thanks.

Rather like my last Sky negotiation, I seem to be having a much harder time of it than many on here. I find it hard to believe that they have me marked down as some sort of mug, given we've been doing this dance for about 20 years now. But it's getting just a little bit annoying...

I know from doing the same "dance"  that they can see the notes from your previous renewals, as they were quoted back to me the last time I went through it. Maybe they've just figured they're not making a lot of profit out of you, so will call your bluff. I'm always prepared to leave - my old ntlworld email address is still used for stuff I don't really care about (like Virgin's bills!) but I have an alternative I use for more important stuff.

I do wonder what their break even point is for basic broadband and phone. I suspect with all the infrastructure already in place, it's more about the cost of maintaining the network - it's not like I'm a high maintenance customer (at least not until 'dance' time!).

Anyway, I've just had what seems to be the fairly standard offer to renew at £22 - albeit dropping from M250 to M125. But it's more bandwidth than I need and I recall that 250 was a free upgrade in the past so not really bothered.

I've got a week to mull it over (yeah, right...) but will probably go with that...

Not sure you saw my previous post.  If you click the change my package option you might also be able to have a similar deal to whatever you are currently on.

Yes I did, and it sends me to their chat service. Which kept me on hold for an hour and then disconnected me as all their agents were heading home. Not had the stamina to try again yet, still 3 weeks to go...

Ok Interesting, for me I was able to do this online in less than a minute without chatting to anyone.

Finally the full confirmation of the change came through a week or so later including a £35 activation fee that they say will be added to the bill - might need to challenge them on that if they do add it to the bill as this was not mentioned when signing up for the change nor on the precontract.

artyboy

iwant2asave said:

artyboy said:

iwant2asave said:

artyboy said:

victor2 said:

artyboy said:

Kev27 said:

artyboy said:

Kev27 said:

Contract ending this Month was paying £21 for M250 BB only from last retentions deal.  

Retentions rang this morning after me cancelling a few days ago. 

Offered me the same for £22, told him I needed to cut bills as can’t afford the increases, April etc…  

£19 offer accepted. 18 Month Contract. 

Did you also have the basic phone line included? If so then my previous post is already out of date and I should be targeting £19!

No mate, just broadband only. Obvs I’m aware it will rise to around £22 in April so I’m not ecstatic, but it’s still at the lower end price wise which is good enough for me. Good luck with your haggling. 🤞

Thanks - not gone well so far, call from retentions after cancelling was still asking for £32/month - I said no and he said he'd just take me off their 'call list' as I clearly am intending to cancel.

Frankly this just smells of warm BS. I've also had a mail offering me a downgrade to M100 for £27 a month. No thanks.

Rather like my last Sky negotiation, I seem to be having a much harder time of it than many on here. I find it hard to believe that they have me marked down as some sort of mug, given we've been doing this dance for about 20 years now. But it's getting just a little bit annoying...

I know from doing the same "dance"  that they can see the notes from your previous renewals, as they were quoted back to me the last time I went through it. Maybe they've just figured they're not making a lot of profit out of you, so will call your bluff. I'm always prepared to leave - my old ntlworld email address is still used for stuff I don't really care about (like Virgin's bills!) but I have an alternative I use for more important stuff.

I do wonder what their break even point is for basic broadband and phone. I suspect with all the infrastructure already in place, it's more about the cost of maintaining the network - it's not like I'm a high maintenance customer (at least not until 'dance' time!).

Anyway, I've just had what seems to be the fairly standard offer to renew at £22 - albeit dropping from M250 to M125. But it's more bandwidth than I need and I recall that 250 was a free upgrade in the past so not really bothered.

I've got a week to mull it over (yeah, right...) but will probably go with that...

Not sure you saw my previous post.  If you click the change my package option you might also be able to have a similar deal to whatever you are currently on.

Yes I did, and it sends me to their chat service. Which kept me on hold for an hour and then disconnected me as all their agents were heading home. Not had the stamina to try again yet, still 3 weeks to go...

Ok Interesting, for me I was able to do this online in less than a minute without chatting to anyone.

Finally the full confirmation of the change came through a week or so later including a £35 activation fee that they say will be added to the bill - might need to challenge them on that if they do add it to the bill as this was not mentioned when signing up for the change nor on the precontract.

Change of plan anyway, just found out that Lit Fibre now cover our area, so have signed up - averages to £25/month over 18 months including cashback, for 500mb - and no mid contract rises either. No landline but am fine to cut that cord now.

Unless Virgin come back with one hell of a counter offer, they can kiss my backside goodbye...

artyboy

artyboy said:

iwant2asave said:

artyboy said:

iwant2asave said:

artyboy said:

victor2 said:

artyboy said:

Kev27 said:

artyboy said:

Kev27 said:

Contract ending this Month was paying £21 for M250 BB only from last retentions deal.  

Retentions rang this morning after me cancelling a few days ago. 

Offered me the same for £22, told him I needed to cut bills as can’t afford the increases, April etc…  

£19 offer accepted. 18 Month Contract. 

Did you also have the basic phone line included? If so then my previous post is already out of date and I should be targeting £19!

No mate, just broadband only. Obvs I’m aware it will rise to around £22 in April so I’m not ecstatic, but it’s still at the lower end price wise which is good enough for me. Good luck with your haggling. 🤞

Thanks - not gone well so far, call from retentions after cancelling was still asking for £32/month - I said no and he said he'd just take me off their 'call list' as I clearly am intending to cancel.

Frankly this just smells of warm BS. I've also had a mail offering me a downgrade to M100 for £27 a month. No thanks.

Rather like my last Sky negotiation, I seem to be having a much harder time of it than many on here. I find it hard to believe that they have me marked down as some sort of mug, given we've been doing this dance for about 20 years now. But it's getting just a little bit annoying...

I know from doing the same "dance"  that they can see the notes from your previous renewals, as they were quoted back to me the last time I went through it. Maybe they've just figured they're not making a lot of profit out of you, so will call your bluff. I'm always prepared to leave - my old ntlworld email address is still used for stuff I don't really care about (like Virgin's bills!) but I have an alternative I use for more important stuff.

I do wonder what their break even point is for basic broadband and phone. I suspect with all the infrastructure already in place, it's more about the cost of maintaining the network - it's not like I'm a high maintenance customer (at least not until 'dance' time!).

Anyway, I've just had what seems to be the fairly standard offer to renew at £22 - albeit dropping from M250 to M125. But it's more bandwidth than I need and I recall that 250 was a free upgrade in the past so not really bothered.

I've got a week to mull it over (yeah, right...) but will probably go with that...

Not sure you saw my previous post.  If you click the change my package option you might also be able to have a similar deal to whatever you are currently on.

Yes I did, and it sends me to their chat service. Which kept me on hold for an hour and then disconnected me as all their agents were heading home. Not had the stamina to try again yet, still 3 weeks to go...

Ok Interesting, for me I was able to do this online in less than a minute without chatting to anyone.

Finally the full confirmation of the change came through a week or so later including a £35 activation fee that they say will be added to the bill - might need to challenge them on that if they do add it to the bill as this was not mentioned when signing up for the change nor on the precontract.

Change of plan anyway, just found out that Lit Fibre now cover our area, so have signed up - averages to £25/month over 18 months including cashback, for 500mb - and no mid contract rises either. No landline but am fine to cut that cord now.

Unless Virgin come back with one hell of a counter offer, they can kiss my backside goodbye...

We're now down to £19/month for M125 BB only. Not even remotely interested... if they kept my current M250 and phone line for that price I might be persuaded, but Lit are coming to do their install in a week, so tick tock...

ImranQ

artyboy said:

artyboy said:

iwant2asave said:

artyboy said:

iwant2asave said:

artyboy said:

victor2 said:

artyboy said:

Kev27 said:

artyboy said:

Kev27 said:

Contract ending this Month was paying £21 for M250 BB only from last retentions deal.  

Retentions rang this morning after me cancelling a few days ago. 

Offered me the same for £22, told him I needed to cut bills as can’t afford the increases, April etc…  

£19 offer accepted. 18 Month Contract. 

Did you also have the basic phone line included? If so then my previous post is already out of date and I should be targeting £19!

No mate, just broadband only. Obvs I’m aware it will rise to around £22 in April so I’m not ecstatic, but it’s still at the lower end price wise which is good enough for me. Good luck with your haggling. 🤞

Thanks - not gone well so far, call from retentions after cancelling was still asking for £32/month - I said no and he said he'd just take me off their 'call list' as I clearly am intending to cancel.

Frankly this just smells of warm BS. I've also had a mail offering me a downgrade to M100 for £27 a month. No thanks.

Rather like my last Sky negotiation, I seem to be having a much harder time of it than many on here. I find it hard to believe that they have me marked down as some sort of mug, given we've been doing this dance for about 20 years now. But it's getting just a little bit annoying...

I know from doing the same "dance"  that they can see the notes from your previous renewals, as they were quoted back to me the last time I went through it. Maybe they've just figured they're not making a lot of profit out of you, so will call your bluff. I'm always prepared to leave - my old ntlworld email address is still used for stuff I don't really care about (like Virgin's bills!) but I have an alternative I use for more important stuff.

I do wonder what their break even point is for basic broadband and phone. I suspect with all the infrastructure already in place, it's more about the cost of maintaining the network - it's not like I'm a high maintenance customer (at least not until 'dance' time!).

Anyway, I've just had what seems to be the fairly standard offer to renew at £22 - albeit dropping from M250 to M125. But it's more bandwidth than I need and I recall that 250 was a free upgrade in the past so not really bothered.

I've got a week to mull it over (yeah, right...) but will probably go with that...

Not sure you saw my previous post.  If you click the change my package option you might also be able to have a similar deal to whatever you are currently on.

Yes I did, and it sends me to their chat service. Which kept me on hold for an hour and then disconnected me as all their agents were heading home. Not had the stamina to try again yet, still 3 weeks to go...

Ok Interesting, for me I was able to do this online in less than a minute without chatting to anyone.

Finally the full confirmation of the change came through a week or so later including a £35 activation fee that they say will be added to the bill - might need to challenge them on that if they do add it to the bill as this was not mentioned when signing up for the change nor on the precontract.

Change of plan anyway, just found out that Lit Fibre now cover our area, so have signed up - averages to £25/month over 18 months including cashback, for 500mb - and no mid contract rises either. No landline but am fine to cut that cord now.

Unless Virgin come back with one hell of a counter offer, they can kiss my backside goodbye...

We're now down to £19/month for M125 BB only. Not even remotely interested... if they kept my current M250 and phone line for that price I might be persuaded, but Lit are coming to do their install in a week, so tick tock...

Virgin charge extra for a phone line in this day and age when the phone just plugs into the modem/router. 

Don't know about other providers but my new provider Vodafone included a phone line free (even a new free number/line if I didn't have one) - again just plugs into the modem/router.

artyboy

Ah well, too late Virgin, Lit Fibre installed today, and a nice steady 500mbs now with no drop outs tonight (well, I've not had the soundbar nagging me about being disconnected).

I won't miss the landline. And I won't miss Virgin. Adios.

victor2

artyboy said:

Ah well, too late Virgin, Lit Fibre installed today, and a nice steady 500mbs now with no drop outs tonight (well, I've not had the soundbar nagging me about being disconnected).

I won't miss the landline. And I won't miss Virgin. Adios.

Good for you! Maybe Virgin will start taking notice and stop this ridiculous cancellation game if more people leave. As the mid-contract price increases hit in April too, that should encourage more to take their business elsewhere.

artyboy

victor2 said:

artyboy said:

Ah well, too late Virgin, Lit Fibre installed today, and a nice steady 500mbs now with no drop outs tonight (well, I've not had the soundbar nagging me about being disconnected).

I won't miss the landline. And I won't miss Virgin. Adios.

Good for you! Maybe Virgin will start taking notice and stop this ridiculous cancellation game if more people leave. As the mid-contract price increases hit in April too, that should encourage more to take their business elsewhere.

They've exploited a near-monopoly of ultra fast BB for too long. I'm all for giving alt-net providers like Lit a chance - their offering is basic but if you're only after basic (as I am) then it's perfect. The more competitors in the gigabit space, the better - force Virgin to up their game.

Nick_C

Virgin and its predecessors broke the monopoly of BT/Open Reach, and invested heavily in providing super fast broadband.

Its good that there is now competition for super fast, but very few domestic users currently need the speeds that fibre offers. 

JSmithy45AD

Nick_C said:

Virgin and its predecessors broke the monopoly of BT/Open Reach, and invested heavily in providing super fast broadband.

Its good that there is now competition for super fast, but very few domestic users currently need the speeds that fibre offers. 

I'm not sure that's true anymore given most TV's you can buy are UHD capable and content is ever on the rise. Add on consoles that use massive downloads for the latest games and a lot of people (me for starters) still working from home plus the constant move to streaming TV.

FreeBear

JSmithy45AD said:

Nick_C said:

Virgin and its predecessors broke the monopoly of BT/Open Reach, and invested heavily in providing super fast broadband.

Its good that there is now competition for super fast, but very few domestic users currently need the speeds that fibre offers. 

I'm not sure that's true anymore given most TV's you can buy are UHD capable and content is ever on the rise. Add on consoles that use massive downloads for the latest games and a lot of people (me for starters) still working from home plus the constant move to streaming TV.

Whilst you might have a UHD capable TV, not all streaming services can deliver. Even if they could, 15-30Mbps per device is sufficient. If you are working from home and using video calls, ~5Mbps is good enough. Unless you are transferring large volumes of data, you don't need ultra high speeds. I doubt any domestic customer is managing to max out a gigabit line for any length of time.