virrgin momopely

aloise

I have been in this retirment flat for 5 years and virgin still have a monopely here. At present i am paying £58 amonth for broadband and phone. I am sick of paying this as other broadnd providers are so much cheaper.

I have nothig else from them, no extras,i dont even use the tv much as i am sight impaired so cant see it very well. The computer is my lifelin and i just mainley use it for shopping.

I f  i phone Canada the bill shoots up, £9 this month for a call that lasted less tham5 mimutes.

Is there anythimg i can do?

littleboo

You could reduce the cost of calls by using a voip provider, Sipgate charge 1.9 pence per minute to Canada with no monthly fees, you add credit to you account in advance. However, you either need to call using your PC and a free VOIP client such as Zoiper (and ideally get a USB headset/mic) or if you have a Smartphone, install client software on that. To use a traditional phone, either an ATA which allows a traditional phone to be used with VOIP or purchase  new phone designed for VOIP. 
Otherwise, have you tried ordering a broadband/phone service from one of the usual suppliers - BT/Sky/TT? 

cymruchris

If you use a smart phone - you can download apps such as ‘viber’ that allow you to add a few dollars of credit - and then call mobiles or landlines internationally. The credit on viber doesn’t appear to expire - and the call connections are good. Look at something like that for your international calling. 

Is there some kind of contract between virgin and your housing provider ? What makes it a monopoly ? 

DCFC79

Use Whatsapp to call the person, it will require yourself the person to both install WhatsApp and you just call said person.
You use your WiFi which needs to be switched on the phone.

JJ_Egan

As above i use whatsapp for free messaging . some phone calls and video calls all free over my wifi .

OP should check what they are actually paying for and do they need it all .Out of contract / not renegotiated a price .

Not a Monopoly if only VM have put infrastructure in for the flats and Other providers don't want to or builders choose who puts cabling in .

iniltous

It could well be a local monopoly if VM did a deal with the building owner, the OP states it’s a retirement flat, so it’s possible that the building owner only allows VM to provide service, it’s not uncommon  for them to have conditions , and if they state that is part of the conditions of living there, you either accept that, or live elsewhere.
 OR have a universal service obligation but it doesn’t override what a private property owner will allow on their property.....it’s unclear what avenues the OP has explored as far as alternative suppliers.

aloise

cymruchris said:

If you use a smart phone - you can download apps such as ‘viber’ that allow you to add a few dollars of credit - and then call mobiles or landlines internationally. The credit on viber doesn’t appear to expire - and the call connections are good. Look at something like that for your international calling. 

Is there some kind of contract between virgin and your housing provider ? What makes it a monopoly ? 

it is a  council shared property i own 75%.  Nothing was said about only allowing Virgin broadband.

I did get a folder but it was so thick that i would have spent months reading it, and as i am visually impaired iwas very hard. So i do know that it is partly mt own fault but i did think monopilies were illegal. 

I do feel that the council and virgin are taking advantage of us in these flats.

JJ_Egan

We need more information to help .

What package are you on from VM  and have you renegotiated the price .Threatened to leave as its to expensive .

Have you checked that only VM supply your property  .

Put your postcode in this to be sure

https://www.broadband.co.uk/checker/

onomatopoeia99

JJ_Egan said:

We need more information to help .

What package are you on from VM  and have you renegotiated the price .Threatened to leave as its to expensive .

Have you checked that only VM supply your property  .

Put your postcode in this to be sure

https://www.broadband.co.uk/checker/

Given it has been stated as a "retirement" flat, it's possible the freeholder won't allow an OR line to be installed as part of the conditions the OP agreed to when they bought the lease, and a postcode checker won't know that.

aloise

JJ_Egan said:

We need more information to help .

What package are you on from VM  and have you renegotiated the price .Threatened to leave as its to expensive .

Have you checked that only VM supply your property  .

Put your postcode in this to be sure

https://www.broadband.co.uk/checker/

i amI hav  on a broadband and  all uk phone calls. No tv frills (i cant see tv much anyway  I think high speed which i didnt really want. I only use the computer to urser online. Mostly grocies

No point in threatening as there is no where else to go and i need it for ordering.)

Im 83 and have to relie on the internet.

did get in touce a while ago and Vm promise to get in touch They never did.They dont need to do the

Thank you for your rreplie.

JJ_Egan

My suggestion would be , check your contract first  .

Are you in a contract now or paying higher standard price .

Two negotiate with VM threats may be a bluff . Many are now telling them i am going to use mobile network for the Internet .