Do Virgin do an essentials package like BT Essentials with the higher speed? 23 September 2021 at 6:04PM in Phones & TV 13 replies 164 views

FindMyWayBack

I have only seen Virgin advertising one that is very slow broadband. Does anyone know please?

Neil_Jones

BT Essentials is a social tariff, BT are required to provide it, (and BT Basic) and you can only get it if you're on certain benefits.

Virgin are not obliged to provide any such service but if they want to, they can.  But they probably won't.

[Deleted User]

Wouldn't touch virgin with my largest bargepole but its your funeral you have whatever you want

mjm3346

The Virgin Essentials tariff (Broadband only, no phone) for those in receipt of Universal Credit offers 15 Mbps

FindMyWayBack

Neil_Jones said:

BT Essentials is a social tariff, BT are required to provide it, (and BT Basic) and you can only get it if you're on certain benefits.

Virgin are not obliged to provide any such service but if they want to, they can.  But they probably won't.

Your first sentence is waffle and not what I asked. 
Your second sentence also does not answer the question.
However you have got across your snobby tone.

FindMyWayBack

billydeardan said:

Wouldn't touch virgin with my largest bargepole but its your funeral you have whatever you want

Again this does not address the question I asked.

FindMyWayBack

mjm3346 said:

The Virgin Essentials tariff (Broadband only, no phone) for those in receipt of Universal Credit offers 15 Mbps

You got closest, but I did ask if there was a faster one.

FindMyWayBack

So, can anyone answer the question please?

Grumpy_chap

FindMyWayBack said:

So, can anyone answer the question please?

I think the clue is in the name "Essentials" is providing the essential bare minimum service and a social tariff for those most financially constrained.  If you need more than that "Essential" services, then it is going to be charged at a higher rate.

There is information on the tariff (15 Mbps) and eligibility criteria (seems to be that you need to be on UC) in the following link:
https://www.virgin.com/about-virgin/latest/virgin-media-launches-essential-broadband-customers-facing-financial-difficulty

FindMyWayBack

Grumpy_chap said:

FindMyWayBack said:

So, can anyone answer the question please?

I think the clue is in the name "Essentials" is providing the essential bare minimum service and a social tariff for those most financially constrained.  If you need more than that "Essential" services, then it is going to be charged at a higher rate.

There is information on the tariff (15 Mbps) and eligibility criteria (seems to be that you need to be on UC) in the following link:
https://www.virgin.com/about-virgin/latest/virgin-media-launches-essential-broadband-customers-facing-financial-difficulty

Thank you for you reply, but no, that doesn't seem to be the case, look at this....I am asking if Virgin have also upgraded their 'essentials' as BT have...   https://www.bt.com/exp/broadband/home-essentials

tallmansix

Your best bet is actually checking the products available on the Virgin website or contact Virgin directly if you aren't getting the answers here but from my understanding the answer to your original question is no, there is only 1 essentials package.

You can get only get 15Mbps for £15, the next tier is the M50 which never seems to be priced competitively, seems to be £30+ at the moment but you can get the M100 for about £20 - £30 depending on where you pick up the deal.

BT do have the £15 essentials for up to 36Mbps but does depend on your line speed so just have to weigh up whether your actual property can get the 36. The Virgin speeds are pretty much guaranteed in comparison.

BT also have a £20 essentials package with the same qualification criteria as the £15 but will get 50-73 Mbps.