Virgin Broadband - Digging Up Outside + Contract

wapow

Hey peeps!

I need fibre in the home and had enough so decided to go for Virgin (I dont have any openreach fibre around her its the normal slow stuff)

Virgin directed me to fill out a form.

Some engineer of some sort came to mine over a month ago and told me that there will be some digging to do, extend the fibre to my house and then after, if i want to place an order i need to ring him to put the order for me.

Has anyone else come across this?

He said that once the digging is done, (the diggers are outside today) then i can ONLY place the order through him and not through anything else like the web or otherwise he will list my house as not in service or something and i will have to fill out a form again and it will inevitably fall into him again.

If its legit im happy but if hes scaremongering id be cheesed off

AndyPK

I guess he just wants the commission for the sale.


On one hand its good you haven't had to pay for the road to be dug.


But be very aware of what the deals are on the website and uswitch.
and remember a salesman will say anything to get a sale, so don't believe um.


It can be very difficult to get VM HQ to honour deals written down by the saleman. Even though its in writing!
So if its too good to be true, then don't assume you will get it.


If things aren't going well, just say you need more time to think about it, and then sign up of the web!

wapow

Thanks Andy

He said that the digging comes out of his budget and that he can only offer me the price that is on the leaflet. So its the leaflet price. He said i cant use the web or he will mark the house down as inactive and then what will happen is when i try online, it will refer me to fill out the form again, he will come out again, i will sign through him and then he can send an engineer out?!!

Sounds strange but the digging up out of his budget seems like its correct-ish....im not sure how they work and i know he wanted to commission for the sale of the package but i mean, if i get a good deal online then why through him only? Seems strange

AndyPK

Its a mixture of threats and truth there I imagine.


But yes, I don't think you can order online until they come out a second time and install stuff inside your house.


And they won't install stuff in your house until you have placed and order.


so catch22 I expect

Sparx

I would file a complaint with Virgin Media due to his conduct and tactics for a sale. That's very much a threat and bullying if you ask me... Denying you a service because he wants the commission. Sure I understand his motive and incentive, but that is an awful way to go about it!

Really, he should be saying "Mr Wapow, the gents are here to sort the digging and cable out. Once done let me know and I will be back in touch to get the order placed and sort you a deal out..." - the fact he's put so much emphasis on "don't go on the website" and "I'll get your house deactivated on our website" etc tells me nothing stopping you then placing an order on the website for a potentially better deal. So it sounds like he wants to fleece you.

Personally I would check the price plans on the website first. By all means invite him round and see if what he offers you is at least the new customer offers on the website (or better) - if it is, fine sign up! It just means his sales tactics are quite underhand. But hey-ho, you could always complain after!

wapow

Thanks all.
Think i'll complain after and try get something knocked off

Regards

Buzby

They don’t install fibre and never have. You’ll get a black copper cable with a coax for broadband, bonded with 2 twisted pairs for telephone. At any build out, the team do offer deals to connect that are not available online - a sort of ‘sorry for the inconvenience’ but if you don’t accept it you have to run the risk of getting an inferior offer down the line.

Mister_G

Buzby wrote: »

They don’t install fibre and never have.

I think that they do now, especially if it's new build

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Speed/Asking-About-Fibre-To-The-Premises-Home/td-p/3312434

Or this

http://www.virginmedia.com/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/virgin-media-announces-largest-uk-fibre-broadband-rollout.html

AndyPK

I really wouldn't upset him at the moment, because he really is the only man that can make it happen!

Also VM's computer system at HQ really isn't setup to cope with new installs and digging up the road.

I recall getting an email the day before they were due to dig the road, it said I'm sorry we aren't able to do this tomorrow <insert random excuse>. Spoke to the local chap who told me to ignore it, and sure enough the diggers turned up when the local bloke said.

Sparx

^^ Exactly this @AndyPK that's why he should sign up for the service and complain after it's all gone live.

jb66

Mister_G wrote: »

I think that they do now, especially if it's new build

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Speed/Asking-About-Fibre-To-The-Premises-Home/td-p/3312434

Or this

http://www.virginmedia.com/corporate/media-centre/press-releases/virgin-media-announces-largest-uk-fibre-broadband-rollout.html

Yes they do, they have been for years, Ive installed in myself