Virgin want me to start new 12 month contract when adding £2pm optional extra!

howsoonisnow

I have weekend calls plus broadband with Virgin Media. Having paid one years advance line rental (ending in December) I currently pay £13.47 per month. I would like to add the "talk international £2" option to enable cheaper calls to a regularly called international destination. However, they say that I have to start a fresh 12 month contract - not just for the £2pm extra but for everything. I would prefer to be able to have the option, in December, of leaving if there is a better deal elsewhere at that time. Is this contractually permitted? Has anyone else ha the same type of problem, and if so have you successfully negotiated not to start an entire new contract?

mije1983

Any changes made to a Virign package seem to trigger a new minimum term. You could attempt to negotiate, but as you are in a contract until December you don't have much in your favour, and Virgin will know this.

Yes they are able to do it, but on the other hand you are equally able to say no thanks.

Presumably they don't let you have their call package with a different provider, so even if they only tied you into a 12 month contract for the calls, you would have to keep their phone line for the duration anyway.

anniecave

have you considered using an override provider for your international calls? For example 18185? It's more hassle but you can put the 18185 calling access number on speed dial (will be an 0800 from a virgin number)

http://www.18185.co.uk/mobilerates.php

AndyPK

There are bound to be price rises in October, which mean you could leave with 30 days of them