Virgin Media Automatic £3.50 discount by calling 150

Speculator

Thanks to Ferraz on Hotukdeals for this.
If you've received an email about a price rise for Broadband, call 150 and choose "thinking about leaving", you might get an automatic £3.50 discount for 6 months without affecting your package.
Just did it and it worked for me.

MKB

I just got that automated offer, but I think that means I would be accepting the £3.50 increase for the remaining 12-months of my 18-month contract, so I declined.  Seems very duplicitous to me  Especially since their agent Rameez assured me last July that I would be subject only to inflationary prices rises.  This rise is exactly 15% for me.

MKB

UPDATE:  Managed to get through to a Virgin rep (18-minute wait).  Apparently emails from Virgin are not accurate.  Increase will not apply to any new contracts taken out since 01/07/20, but will apply to the monthly price that it will revert to at the end of your minimum contract period.
It's now not clear what happens if you accept the automated £3.50 discount offer when you're not actually getting an increase.

Speculator

Assuming 18 month contract £24pm, 1st payment January 2021, Extra £3.50 discount from March
Worst case scenario, extra £3.50 discount for 6 months plus £3.50 price increase for 10 months I pay £35 extra (10 x £3.50),
Best case scenario, no price rise plus extra £3.50 for 6 months , I save £21 

Speculator

Spoke to them as well and he confirmed price increase does not apply until my contract ends in 2022. He said everyone is sent the email, even the ones not affected by the price increase.
I guess I will get an extra £3.50 off for 6 months.

alexpresland

I didn't take that £3.50 offer.  I spoke to someone who could only offer me a new 18-month contract.  I called back to take the £3.50 discount but it wasn't offered again. :-(

MidlandsGlory

Just worked for me, excellent tip thank you!!, as I just got the £3.50 rise letter today. Gives me 6 months working space.
I have been plotting to switch for a while but need to reclaim an unused BT line on my house from my employer first, as tied to Virgin cable without it.
I do like the Virgin system but the endless price hiking is just taking the mickey, according to neighbours I should be able to get 50mb on a BT line around here which is plenty. 

JasperAlex

I also accepted this option as my contract runs out soon anyway. Took a while to get through as their line was constantly engaged. Has anyone actually received an e-mail confirmation of this after accepting? I've pressed this option before on the automated phone service in recent years and it hasn't worked and customer service has then denied all knowledge of offering me the discount in the first place.

Speculator

JasperAlex said:

I also accepted this option as my contract runs out soon anyway. Took a while to get through as their line was constantly engaged. Has anyone actually received an e-mail confirmation of this after accepting? I've pressed this option before on the automated phone service in recent years and it hasn't worked and customer service has then denied all knowledge of offering me the discount in the first place.

It's on my contract online.

gwiddecommbe

MKB said:

UPDATE:  Managed to get through to a Virgin rep (18-minute wait).  Apparently emails from Virgin are not accurate.  Increase will not apply to any new contracts taken out since 01/07/20, but will apply to the monthly price that it will revert to at the end of your minimum contract period.
It's now not clear what happens if you accept the automated £3.50 discount offer when you're not actually getting an increase.

Yep same here. It appears to be known issue that ppl are being sent letters even if they aren't getting a price increase (I only renewed my contract in November). 

jsinc

gwiddecommbe said:

Yep same here. It appears to be known issue that ppl are being sent letters even if they aren't getting a price increase (I only renewed my contract in November). 

I'm not sure that's correct. I just called them about it (renewed contract in October) and was told it will increase in March. Have taken the £3.50 discount for six months mentioned above while I think about it and check comparisons.