Virgin Media Free offers which lock you into a new contract?

vald997

Twice this has happened to me ! I should have learned!

To explain I have bee a Virgin subscriber for 15 years, and on the whole been satisfied with their broadband offering/speeds.

I prefer to be out of contract, I'll always let the agreed contract run to the end - and then if I am happy with my monthly payment let it roll on month on month.

This was the position I found my self approaching this January coming 2021 (when I will be out of contract) - but then 3 weeks ago I received an email 'you have been selected to receive free WiFi pods' so I accepted them, but I now find my contract which was about to end in January 2021 has been renewed! - until January 2022 (because I accepted the WiFi pods) - my customer loyalty discount ends midway through the term (July 2021) and my bill will increase by 50% - which I am not happy about.

Had I been 'out of contract' I'd let Virgin know I wanted to end the service in June 2021 (I know I the increased price is not competitive) and I'd leave them (or do the dance).

But because of this trickery/deception (free wiFi pods - resulting in my being locked into a new 12 month contract) -  l will find myself with a 50% increase mid contract (when my customer loyalty discount ends) - so I won't be able to leave without incurring charges.

Virgin did this last year - 'free trial of sport services over christmas - which resulted in a 'new' contract - locking me in for 12 months.
After that debacle - I also asked to have my preferences updated not to receive any unsolicited emails - so the fact they sent me an email regarding the 'WiFi pod' trial is a mute point!!

Cleary they have a customer retention team who don't like having customers out of contract, but what I object to and find downright deceitful, are their methods to trick customers into new contracts!

Neil_Jones

No such thing as a free lunch.  Did you read the T&Cs before accepting?  If not, then with all due respect, more fool you.

The "free trial" thing - well most free trials of this sort of thing do roll over unless you cancel them at the end of said trial, that how it works for Netflix and Prime so...

Like everything else in this life, if in doubt, say no.

roddydogs

Whats a wi fi pod?

TimSynths

Sadly no such thing as "free".

matelodave

You should always ask how it it would be without the "free" offer. You'll be surprised at how much discount you can get. As said above nothing is actually free, you end up having to pay soemhow.
Caveat Emptor - buyer beware

FaceHead

The first time this happened - that you didn't realise the free sport trial would sign you up for a new contract - I can see how you might have managed to get them to let you out of the contract out of goodwill. Perhaps that's what you mean by the 'debacle' associated with that.

However, the second time round you really can't say you still don't understand how virgin offers work. Fool me once, shame on you...

vald997

'Shame on you'   really? 
Yes read the T&C's - it was a 'Trial' to quote test how reliable our new WiFi is, we need your help.
There is no mention that taking part in the trial would result in a new contract.
TBH surprised the consensus seems to be their methods are acceptable.

JJ_Egan

(There is no mention that taking part in the trial would result in a new contract.)

Complain in writing pen and paper .

Though i doubt very much if they have set this trial up just to re contract the users out of contract .

Chino

roddydogs said:

Whats a wi fi pod?

Intelligent WiFi Pods FAQs & Troubleshooting