Changing from TalkTalk to VM

tanyo78

I want to take up the latest Virgin Media offer of fibre broadband and landline through MSE (£25/month + £75 credit). I’m old and easily confused - and it gets worse when I look up info online!
I’m confused about how to go about the change.
Here’s my circumstances:
I am a long-time TalkTalk (& Tiscali) customer with basic ADSL and landline - and paying over £40/month (includes phone extras which are needed less and less).
I want to change to the VM M100 offer of fibre broadband/landline and keep my old landline number.
I understand that the VM landline will be supplied via the fibre link.
I don’t think there should be any installation charges (?) - the previous owners had VM cable connections in our house (they left in 2007).
What is the correct procedure for me to follow to ensure that the process does not leave me without broadband or landline access at any stage - and ensures I keep my current number?
Finally, we’re going away for a break shortly and I don’t want the change to occur until mid/late August.
I’ve been confused by the frequently interchanged terms of VM “cable” and “fibre”, plus whether I need to speak to TalkTalk as well as VM. If I process this change online, is there an option to say I want to keep my old phone number?
I’ve looked through several pages for advice - now I feel a bit flummoxed!
Any straightforward advice will be appreciated. Thanks!

TalkTalk

Hi tanyo78,

I'm sorry to hear you're thinking of leaving TalkTalk. If you are a twitter user can you please drop us a tweet to @TalkTalk so we can make sure you get the correct advice.

Thanks
Emma - TalkTalk Social Team

tanyo78

Sorry Emma - Twitter is beyond my ken (I really am old)! Just looking for making this change without hiccups.

TalkTalk

Not to worry. I'm afraid we're limited in the advice we can offer here but if you pop over to our help pages there's a useful article on cancellation which has information specific to changing over to Virgin. It's also worth speaking to our loyalty team to see what they can offer you and to check your current contract status.

Thanks
Emma - TalkTalk Social Team

AndyPK

If you are old and confused I would avoid virgin

The price will increase massively after 12 months and this is where problems start.
They are a pain.

Phone talktalk and see if they will match virgins price.

Or better move to NowTV though you will loose your phone number.

tanyo78

Thanks, Andypk. I am aware of the VM price hike after 1 year - double! Out of interest, what problems are reported at that stage? My intention was to simply look for another cheap alternative about 4-6 weeks prior to end of contract.

50Twuncle

£40 per month for ADSL + Phone line (any calls included in that price ?) is excessive
If that is your only reason for leaving TT (Are you happy with the service ?) - why not negotiate a discount ?
You should be able half this rate fixed for 18 months if you ask TT for a better price - and this would be on a much much faster Fibre connection - don't accept TT's first offer and don't accept any set up/delivery charges.

Smodlet

TalkTalk wrote: »

Hi tanyo78,

I'm sorry to hear you're thinking of leaving TalkTalk. If you are a twitter user can you please drop us a tweet to @TalkTalk so we can make sure you get the correct advice.

Thanks
Emma - TalkTalk Social Team

How utterly useless is the above to someone who has made their postion on modern technology perfectly clear? It happens to be one I share; I too refuse to subject myself to social media merely for the convenience of my utilities providers.

Tanyo78, I think you will receive far more help if you contact Talk Talk's loyalty team; it seems to be the only time you get to speak to someone in the UK!

I have also found this link which actually outlines the process in plain English even I can understand. I hope it is of help to you. The most relevant paragraph is near the end and says this,

"If you’re switching between cable networks – most likely switching to or from Virgin Media – you need to follow what’s called the cease and re-provide system, which requires you to call both your new provider to switch and your old provider to cancel your contract. Under this process, your current provider will switch off your broadband at some stage, so to minimise your offline time, coordinate the end and start dates."

I hope this is of help to you.

adindas

tanyo78 wrote: »

I want to take up the latest Virgin Media offer of fibre broadband and landline through MSE (£25/month + £75 credit). I’m old and easily confused - and it gets worse when I look up info online!
I’m confused about how to go about the change.
Here’s my circumstances:
I am a long-time TalkTalk (& Tiscali) customer with basic ADSL and landline - and paying over £40/month (includes phone extras which are needed less and less).
I want to change to the VM M100 offer of fibre broadband/landline and keep my old landline number.
I understand that the VM landline will be supplied via the fibre link.
I don’t think there should be any installation charges (?) - the previous owners had VM cable connections in our house (they left in 2007).
What is the correct procedure for me to follow to ensure that the process does not leave me without broadband or landline access at any stage - and ensures I keep my current number?
Finally, we’re going away for a break shortly and I don’t want the change to occur until mid/late August.
I’ve been confused by the frequently interchanged terms of VM “cable” and “fibre”, plus whether I need to speak to TalkTalk as well as VM. If I process this change online, is there an option to say I want to keep my old phone number?
I’ve looked through several pages for advice - now I feel a bit flummoxed!
Any straightforward advice will be appreciated. Thanks!

[FONT=&quot]I got this VM deal about two months ago. Like you I was also a Talk Talk Customer for many years. I was with Talk Talk Faster Fibre with Boost 76MB but my speed nowhere near this advertised speed, ( e.g. only got around 38MB), so I got fed up and switch to Virgin. But I will not blame Talk Talk for this one as they are depending on BT line (Open reach). The Virgin Media is the only ISP in the UK who is not using BT line. I think the speed is one of the main areas the ISP need to consider in the future if they do not want to lose out their customers. The emerging of "Hyperoptic" who is expanding their reach to cover more areas is the wakeup call for all ISPs.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]In your case, generally speaking you will lose your landline number as they are using a different network. For many people it will not be an issue as people hardly use their landline nowadays. But it seems for you is an issue, so your first starting point is to do online chatting with VM. Make sure you get in the chat transcript and 100% guaranteed that you will retain your landline number before doing the switching.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT][FONT=&quot]After you get 100% guaranteed from VM that you retain your landline, then you could start contacting TT for switching. You could also do this with online chatting with TT.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Also watch out the early termination fee with TT. If you terminate three weeks before your current contract end you will still need to pay the early termination fee with TT which is about three weeks value of contract.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]About going for a short break with you, it will not be an issue as you could book an installation appointment up to one month in advance.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]About VM installation fee it will depend on the offer, so double check the offer. In one offer they do not charge on another offer they do charge the installation fee. If you are unsure, the best thing is to ask them in the online chat.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]As another people said, watch out after one year, the price of VM will double. But if you read this forum some people could still get away with this (get a reasonable price) with huggle.
[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]If you are not preparing to huggle with VM and internet speed is not your main concern than do not switch, better to talk chat/huggle with TT to get a better price.
[/FONT]

The_Fat_Controller

As the two companies use entirely different networks you have to order from Virgin and also cancel your TT service, giving 30 days notice.

If you are still in contract with TT you will be liable for early termination fees.

Simply ordering Virgin will not automatically cancel your TT service !

Porting your number from TT to Virgin may be possible.

@adindas, you CANNOT contact TT regarding the transfer, all you can do is cancel.

Virgin will request the number porting if it is possible as part of the order with them.

adindas

The_Fat_Controller wrote: »

As the two companies use entirely different networks you have to order from Virgin and also cancel your TT service, giving 30 days notice.

If you are still in contract with TT you will be liable for early termination fees.

Simply ordering Virgin will not automatically cancel your TT service !

Porting your number from TT to Virgin may be possible.

@adindas, you CANNOT contact TT regarding the transfer, all you can do is cancel.

Virgin will request the number porting if it is possible as part of the order with them.

[FONT=&quot]Well, I said to contact Virgin, not TT. In my case, I can not get the same Landline number. But Landline is not importat as I hardly ever use it.
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[FONT=&quot]"After you get 100% guaranteed from VM that you retain your landline, then you could start contacting TT for switching. You could also do this with online chatting with TT."[/FONT]
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