Virgin holding me ransom due to Corona virus

bill888

fwiw, a relative has M100 broadband only.  Had been paying £25.50 per month retention deal.   Price was about to go up to £41.40 per month.  They phoned VM earlier this week and they offered M100 for £31.50 pm which they accepted.  I think that's about 25% off regular price?

Didn't try the cancellation route this time to try and get a better discount from possible call back from Outbounds team.  Openreach are not installing new lines until June at the earliest, so in weak bargaining position anyway.

fwiw, I read one could give 30 days notice to cancel all services if out of contract. Then sign up as a new VM customer using partner's name to start after old service is terminated.  This is known to work based on numerous comments posted on hotukdeals when various VM broadband offers appear.   VM will send a new hub, and old hub must be returned.   There may be a break in service between changeover.  Also phone number may be lost if you have a telephone line.

pphillips

unforeseen said:

In my view, yes. I don't think it's right for the retentions department to try to intimidate their customers 

It's not intimidation to baldy state the truth without dressing it up in warm fluffy words to pander to sensitive egos

Yes but the truth would have been stated at the time of cancellation 
The further call by retentions in order to pressurise a customer into staying is unacceptable.

allkindsoffun

Wow. Thank you all so much for everyone's replies. I understand it is hard times and may be for awhile. I'm not happy this crisis can be used as leverage but what can we do. 
Hope everyone is coping well.

Ps. I wasn't aware comments were added straight away. I thought I would receive an email notification. So sorry for the late response.
Thanks again

macman

Do you already have a BT line to the property that has been ceased? If you had any kind of service pre-VM, then you will have. OR are still working, but they won't enter a property.
It's OR that are preventing you switching, not VM. You must have known that, when you went to VM, you would need a BT line reprovisioning again if you ever left VM.
If you didn't, then VM have done you a favour by pointing this out to you and stopping you being without any service.

matteds100

@allkindsoffun Update - I have just come off the phone with them again today (new month, new targets etc) and have negotiated it down to £31 - which I am pretty happy with. I told them that I spoke to vodafone who could re-enable my line from the 18th May (which is what their online checkout told me with my address/p'code details). If you had a line previously, I expect it can just be re-enabled without entering your property. If you do cancel, make sure you get confirmation that a new provider can take over on time. Give them another ring - it can't hurt! 

allkindsoffun

macman said:

Do you already have a BT line to the property that has been ceased? If you had any kind of service pre-VM, then you will have. OR are still working, but they won't enter a property.
It's OR that are preventing you switching, not VM. You must have known that, when you went to VM, you would need a BT line reprovisioning again if you ever left VM.
If you didn't, then VM have done you a favour by pointing this out to you and stopping you being without any service.

Hi. I'm not sure. There is a BT phone line?. I had sky before virgin.
Thanks

allkindsoffun

matteds100 said:

@allkindsoffun Update - I have just come off the phone with them again today (new month, new targets etc) and have negotiated it down to £31 - which I am pretty happy with. I told them that I spoke to vodafone who could re-enable my line from the 18th May (which is what their online checkout told me with my address/p'code details). If you had a line previously, I expect it can just be re-enabled without entering your property. If you do cancel, make sure you get confirmation that a new provider can take over on time. Give them another ring - it can't hurt! 

Brilliant. Thanks for the update. I'm ringing round at the moment. Nightmare getting through which is to be expected.
I'll try them again.
Thanks