Virgin won't budge -- a little unfair

maggiesoup

Signed up for another year with Virgin Media in Sept, as we've been happy with them so far. Our Landlord has unexpectedly decided to move back into her (our) flat so rather than rent again we pulled our savings and with help with mums & dads bought our own flat, which we move into at the end of this week.  We called Virgin to say we are happy to stay with them and gave them the details of our new home but they said they don't service the development we've bought a flat in.   Then advised that as we will be leaving early we are effectively cancelling the contract and wil have to pay them a leaving fee of £230.  I pointed out that it wasn't our fault that they didn't have cabling (or whatever it's called) in the new area and could they not be reasonable and waive the fee but NO. I asked to speak to a supervisor but he was actually quite rude and repeated the message.

Anything I can do guys?  It's seems so unfair.

Farway

Not an answer you'll like, but it was your choice to move not one thrust upon you by Virgin, so yes, you have cancelled the contract & will have to cough up

Fairness does not come into it TBH

matelodave

There are hundreds of posts on this very subject - if you take out a contract for a specified period of time with any of the suppliers, not just Virgin but most of the others as well, they will usually invoke the early termination fee. However some will waive the fee if (and only if) you take up another contract at your new address. You'll get the same response from SKY, BT or anyone else

They have no control over where you live so unfortunately if they don't offer a service in that location I'm afraid that you'll just have to pay up. You may not feel that it's fair but it's you who have terminated the contract, not them.

Neil_Jones

maggiesoup said:

Signed up for another year with Virgin Media in Sept, as we've been happy with them so far. Our Landlord has unexpectedly decided to move back into her (our) flat so rather than rent again we pulled our savings and with help with mums & dads bought our own flat, which we move into at the end of this week.  We called Virgin to say we are happy to stay with them and gave them the details of our new home but they said they don't service the development we've bought a flat in.   Then advised that as we will be leaving early we are effectively cancelling the contract and wil have to pay them a leaving fee of £230.  I pointed out that it wasn't our fault that they didn't have cabling (or whatever it's called) in the new area and could they not be reasonable and waive the fee but NO. I asked to speak to a supervisor but he was actually quite rude and repeated the message.

Anything I can do guys?  It's seems so unfair.

Yes - grin and bear it.  Not Virgin's fault you moved.

Very common "complaint" on the forum.

maggiesoup

Thanks guys.  Not what I wanted to hear, but totally appreciate that a contract's a contract. Thought there just might be a bit of wriggle room because very odd that Virgin aren't in a big development near the City Centre.

Mister_G

You will find that Virgin do not tend to cable up new developments unless the developer makes a significant contribution to it.  The developer may well put in standard telephony cabling, but not the coaxial cabling that Virgin use.

Neil_Jones

maggiesoup said:

Thanks guys.  Not what I wanted to hear, but totally appreciate that a contract's a contract. Thought there just might be a bit of wriggle room because very odd that Virgin aren't in a big development near the City Centre.

Its not "odd", the only provider that has to provide near universal cover is BT.  If Virgin decide they only want to cover a tiny little cul-de-sac in the middle of nowhere, that's their choice.  They are expanding all the while but there is no requirement to match BT's coverage and if it takes the next 50 years, that's up to them.