Cancelling Vigin Media and partner signing up - Fraud?

skot4th

I've recieved a letter from Virgin Media stating that my price is increasing for my phone and broadband. They've offered to fix it at the current rate moving forward, however new customers get a further £10 discount applied for 12 months.

I questioned why they wouldn't do this for me, a customer of 14 years to which I was told simply "they can't do that."

The agent told me at the time that if I was to try and get around this by having my partner sign up instead as a new customer this would be classed as FRAUD as they are not a new customer.

1) is this real fraud? I have an agreement in place with VM, my partner doesn't. My partner is under no contract with VM and therefor would be a new customer.

2) How would they tell that it's my partner signing up if using different bank and contact details? For all they know it could be a new home owner moving in.

I've told VM to process the disconnection which they have done in the hope I get a call from the higher leve customer retention team 7 days before my disconnection. If they don't call I'll re-asses at the time.

Any idea about my above questions though?

Thanks

Scott

donnac2558

Well it is going to the same address.:D

Try it and see, who knows.

teddysmum

donnac2558 wrote: »

Well it is going to the same address.:D

Try it and see, who knows.

But ,if caught you could end up with a full length contract at full price.

skot4th

teddysmum wrote: »

But ,if caught you could end up with a full length contract at full price.

How though? My partner has nothing to do with my current contract. If I cancel and she decided "I actually want virgin, I'll pay for it myself." then how can they treat her as an existing customer? Furthermore, how can they put her in a full price contract when that's not what she's signed up for? That's them breaking the contract.

Cornucopia

You would need to check the Ts & Cs of the contract to see if there is a clause there covering this eventuality. It seems a fairly obvious thing that people might try, so it would be surprising if the contract did not address it.

skot4th

Cornucopia wrote: »

You would need to check the Ts & Cs of the contract to see if there is a clause there covering this eventuality. It seems a fairly obvious thing that people might try, so it would be surprising if the contract did not address it.

The only Ts & Cs I can find are here virginmedia.com/shop/the-legal-stuff.html

There's nothing there saying you can't cancel and someone else at the address signs up.

On the "view your contract" section of the website the Ts & Cs link to that page.

Cornucopia

No, I can't find anything specific to promotional pricing, either. It may be that they don't want to make promotional prices a feature of the contract at all.

However, there are a number of general clauses that give them fairly wide-ranging options to cancel the contract, for example:-

10. We do not have to connect the equipment at your home or otherwise keep to this agreement if:

(2) you do not qualify under our current credit policy;

(3) you have previously misused our television service;


I think their claim that it would be criminal fraud is a bit of a stretch. There would need to be outright deception (not merely keeping quiet about a previous discount, if that discount is not mentioned in the sign-up process or in the various contracts and Ts & Cs).

martinjo

you can always ask another person on the phone, how is it fraud? and where it is mentioned in the contract

Buzby

It cannot be fraud (as defined) as you are not depriving them of anything. Are they claiming that a change between partners (former or otherwise) is wrong? It is they who insist on a new contract, rather than a name change so they've stuffed themselves.

teddysmum

You would not be breaking any rules by taking a new contract, but as the household is considered to be the customer (though one person takes responsibility) you are not a new customer so do not qualify for the price reduction.


Therefore, as I mentioned, you end up with a contract (you can't cancel without full price charges) with no discount applied.


People have posted on here saying it's happened to them or to someone they know.

Sparx

Complete twaddle! No reason why your missus can't sign up in her name for the new customer deals. I'm part of another forum and I know several members who have done this without issue.

Just make sure you sign up in her name, contact number and her own different bank details. So the only matching details to you should be the address. Don't forget to use Top Cashback for more free £££ too.