Virgin demand payment despite the fact we had no contract

Sowhite

We were with virgin for quite a while and there was no formal contract since that had run out. We got so fed up with unreliable service that we  decided to end our relationship by phone and also sent a follow up letter confirming we were cancelling. Now they are demanding £85. Verbally, they had said they owed us £12.50 but then we had no letter confirming this.  We always paid in advance.  Now they have sent a debt collectors letter threatening to destroy our credit. What can we do about it. 

Neil_Jones

Sowhite said:

We were with virgin for quite a while and there was no formal contract since that had run out. We got so fed up with unreliable service that we  decided to end our relationship by phone and also sent a follow up letter confirming we were cancelling. Now they are demanding £85. Verbally, they had said they owed us £12.50 but then we had no letter confirming this.  We always paid in advance.  Now they have sent a debt collectors letter threatening to destroy our credit. What can we do about it. 

You've always paid in advance for these services, that's nothing unusual.  Also your "contract" does not run out, it just morphs into a rolling one usually at full whack.  When you commit to a new contract its usually at a cheaper rate if you stay with them for x months.

Need to find out what the £85 is for.  Remember you would have had to give 30 days notice so if that is a month, then that's what you would owe them.

It sounds like you cancelled the direct debit.  If so... oh dear.  I get the impression from your post you could just phone up and say I'm off, tarrah.  Well yes you can but the service doesn't stop working straight away.   Also if you had the V6 or a 360 box you had to send that back otherwise you'd get charged.

Be_Happy

Did you return the virgin equipment.   We had the same problem 5 years ago.   

Cancelled - they sent packaging instructions for the return of TV box - we packed and handed in to parcel collection shop - received receipt.   Got demand letters for £80 and threatening letters of debt collectors.   Spent weeks of letters going backwards and forwards and sending scan of parcel collection receipt (weren't going to post off the original) before we received account letter showing account satisfactorily closed.   

Never received any apology.