Advice requested if possible please

Salmoseeker

Hi whilst I have followed MSE for years I am new here, basically joined to ask for help/advice - not for me, for my parents. Dad is 94, Mum 93 and they still live together in their own home. Dad is virtually blind with macular degeneration and deaf also.  Long story short they have had a contract with Virgin media for TV and landline - I believe this came about when my sister persuaded them to get mobile phones around 10 years ago (they never used them). They can’t use the Virgin TV (Dad can’t see it) and Mum doesn’t know how to operate the remote - essentially they have four channels they know how to use BBC1, 2, ITV and bizarrely a drama channel which shows old British stuff like all creatures great and small.  They pay £35/month for this with calls charged over and above at an extortionate rate. Whilst this is a situation they have obviously gone into voluntarily I think they have been conned because of their age.  I have tried this week to contact Virgin but they seem to have a policy of not answering the phone.

Whole situation came to light last weekend when I bought them a bigger free view TV to see if it would help Dad and I simply connected it to their old rooftop Ariel. They now at least have access to plenty channels with a very easy to use remote and I have taken away (but not chucked) the box and associated wiring.  If anyone has any comments I would really appreciate them. I want them to ditch Virgin but I will then need to find an alternative land line supply for the. Many thanks, John

JJ_Egan

Where have they been conned do VM know they are vulnerable . Have they been registered as vulnerable with VM and others .Has nobody in the family bothered with this for 10 years .

VM can be cancelled , but you pay the balance of the contract off .

Phone landline look at BT Basic

Salmoseeker

BT basic is only applicable for people on benefits. I have been aware of the problem with TV for some time but didn’t want to ask what they are paying - I only found this out a few days ago (silly/negligent me). Good point about VM awareness of their situation and I will follow that up. Thank you for your comments.

JJ_Egan

Do a check on other stuff while you are at it .

Its not only the elderly that let stuff roll on to expensive standard prices .

EssexExile

Make sure they want you to do what you are doing would be my general advice. I helped my Dad with all the technical stuff in his last few years but he was quite happy to stay with familiar suppliers and didn't want me to change too much. Seeing his bank accounts after he passed I can see why he wasn't bothered.

littlemisscheap

Not a regular here these days, I just wanted to add that VM have an app certainly for iphone if not android too on which you might be able to see some aspects such as bills so for example mine shows my discount of £21 a month until 5th Apr 22 for example which is when my term ends and yes it may well be worth negotiating a discounted rate although that can need constant renegotiating.

number on virgin line is 150 (free)

or 0345 454 1111 from elsewhere depending on which network you call from 8am to 10pm 7 days a week so perhaps give them a buzz or 2 at different times and discuss when you can get through that is...

J_B

Don't Virgin use a different 'system' for landlines, or is that just t'internet?

Would moving perhaps give them a new number which would be a hassle telling everyone about???

onomatopoeia99

J_B said:

Don't Virgin use a different 'system' for landlines, or is that just t'internet?

Would moving perhaps give them a new number which would be a hassle telling everyone about???

VM have their own phone network, it is not part of the Openreach network so the local loop is different meaning a new line would be required, though of course their are network level interconnects. 

No-one switching landline supplier should expect to keep their number.  They might get to keep it, but they also might not.