Virgin deal was broadband for 12 months & phone line for 18 months???

tanyo78

My Virgin Media broadband deal (£25/mo) is coming to an end (after 12 months).  But my phone line (£5/mo) - which was taken as part of the same deal - is for 18 months.  When I saw this originally (after I had agreed to the contract) it did confuse me.  I didn't really understand why the two parts were for different lengths of time (be gentle - I'm in my seventies and maybe not the sharpest knife in the block) and I guess it was just easier to ignore it at the time.  In fact my recollection is that the phone line charge was hardly mentioned. In fact I only understood that the phone line was an additional charge when I saw my first bill was £30, not £25.  Looking through the old emails, the phone line cost was not exactly emphasised.  Anyway, I'd accepted the contract, so there didn't seem any real value in complaining at that stage.
Does anyone know where I stand now that the broadband deal is coming to an end?  Will I still be committed to paying for the phone for another 6 months?  I'm looking at moving to Plusnet as I don't really need the high speed available from Virgin.  The "fast" broadband (av. 30Mb) will be plenty for us (and £7.50 cheaper that my current deal, let alone whatever VM changes me now).  I realise I can ask Virgin Media - but I'm keen to know first what the advice is on this forum.  Thank you for any help.

JJ_Egan

Not unusual to have different contract lengths . I have 12   18 and 24 in my BT contract .

Be aware that moving from VM requires you to cancel with VM .

Do you intend to keep your current phone number.

tanyo78

Thanks JJ_Egan.  Yes, I want to keep my current landline number.
So, when I cancel my (expired) broadband contract, is it automatic that my phone contract will be cancelled at the same time? And does than mean there will be a charge for cancelling the phone line contract 6 months early? 

bill888

fwiw, pretty certain you will probably have to pay termination fees if you try to leave the phone line contract 6 months early.
Worse case scenario could be as much as £15.48 x 6 months = £92.88  ?
https://www.virginmedia.com/shop/the-legal-stuff/terms-and-conditions-for-fibre-optic-services/early-disconnection-fees

I would study your bill very carefully to determine how the £5 you believe you are paying for the phone line is calculated.  
Without seeing your bill, it is possible you could be paying standing charge of say £19 for line rental each month, and a separate charge for broadband, but there are one or more 'discounts' shown on the bill which bring total down to the £30 you currently pay.  The discount(s) usually show an expiry date.

If you do choose to leave Virgin, you should check what fibre speeds may be available to your address.  Enter your house number and postcode into this checker to get an 'estimate' for maximum available VDSL2 speeds.
https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL/AddressHome
Also you will need to pay a new line connection charge.  I think Plusnet charge a hefty £49.99 but don't quote me.  I believe BT and Vodafone are free, and Sky/NOW have a low fee than Plusnet.

JJ_Egan

As above VM is a stand-alone service using their own network .

Others use the BT OpenReach network .

Check how to port your number with VM .

You can sign up with another provider but you have to cancel VM .

The fast broadband you mention is missing a key word  UPTO speed depends upon the quality of your BT phone line and distance from the local cabinet .

ahfat41

I would ring virgin and explain the different length of contract.  Negotiate to stay with them for another 6 months.  You got a bit confused due to your age at the begining and did not take notice of the different lengths in contract.  You want to stay with them etc. and if they do not budge you are leaving.  I am elderly and it has always worked for me renegotiating but it has taken me ages for them to get it right. I have just renegotiated my essential fibre with BT for 24 months, bt free sports for 18 months all for £19.99 but I do not get unlimited weekend calls with this deal.  Thats the cheapest deal I have got from BT.