Virgin media

hrani

Just to let you know how virgin media rips off people on benefits as we have tried to get there essential broadband cos we are on ESA but they only take universal credit and we haven't been moved over yet .  Surely that is discrimination against people on low income as they are basically the same benefit all the other companies that offer cheap broadband accept ESA and we with the cost off living we can't afford to pay is there anything we can do?

Many thanks

kaMelo

Change broadband provider to one that will.

huckster

VM launched the essentials broadband for UC claimants as a first step, but they plan to offer it to ESA claimants and other income related benefit claimants in due course.  This is according to VM press release when they started the essentials offer.

tomtom256

BT offer something similar, bit not sure if that is just for UC as well.

Only Income Based ESA is equivalent to UC. If you are claiming ESA (C) or New Style ESA, this is contribution based and not income based, so would not qualify under the same criteria.

NedS

hrani said:

Just to let you know how virgin media rips off people on benefits as we have tried to get there essential broadband cos we are on ESA but they only take universal credit and we haven't been moved over yet .  Surely that is discrimination against people on low income as they are basically the same benefit all the other companies that offer cheap broadband accept ESA and we with the cost off living we can't afford to pay is there anything we can do?

You don't need to wait to be moved over - you are free to apply for UC at any time if you feel you would be better off (including all the knock-on benefits of claiming UC such as this). There are plenty of reputable benefit calculators that will help you determine if you would be better off on UC (although they cannot factor in things such as cheaper broadband offers or other government subsidies/help schemes)

mongoose2009

how are they ripping you off?

you dont meet their criteria so you cant get the service yet

poppy12345

tomtom256 said:

BT offer something similar, bit not sure if that is just for UC as well.

Yes, it includes Income Related ESA/JSA and Income Support. https://www.bt.com/broadband/home-essentials

peteuk

mongoose2009 said:

how are they ripping you off?

you dont meet their criteria so you cant get the service yet

Equally you can get just as good a deal without a benefit discount. Shop around, use discounts etc.

Muttleythefrog

hrani said:

Just to let you know how virgin media rips off people on benefits as we have tried to get there essential broadband cos we are on ESA but they only take universal credit and we haven't been moved over yet .  Surely that is discrimination against people on low income as they are basically the same benefit all the other companies that offer cheap broadband accept ESA and we with the cost off living we can't afford to pay is there anything we can do?

Many thanks

I'd move to BT... Poppy provides the link. They seem to offer the best social tariff options and while I agree with peteuk you can shop around and get discounts/cashback on ordinary deals that might compare with the social tariffs I'd say BT is hard to beat (£15 or £20..with £9.99 initial fee.. both include landline phone and free calls with moderate or good speed broadband)... plus there are no cancellation fees if you terminate... contract renews annually if still eligible. I have to say after years forced to be a VM customer it is some relief being somewhere they don't exist!

peteuk

Muttleythefrog said:

I'd move to BT... Poppy provides the link. They seem to offer the best social tariff options and while I agree with peteuk you can shop around and get discounts/cashback on ordinary deals that might compare with the social tariffs I'd say BT is hard to beat (£15 or £20..with £9.99 initial fee.. both include landline phone and free calls with moderate or good speed broadband)... plus there are no cancellation fees if you terminate... contract renews annually if still eligible. I have to say after years forced to be a VM customer it is some relief being somewhere they don't exist!

We moved in April and got rid of Sky broadband, haven’t had a landline for three years, mobile phones are cheap with an unlimited calls/text tariffs.  

Broadband deal with Vodafone £19 a month unlimited, yes it was discounted,  Sure its £4 more than BT social tariff (not that I qualify for that) but its still a reasonable deal, if you find you don’t qualify. 

The BT package looks good, but personally I’d never touch them again after the let us down and I ended up quoting to them their own terms and conditions.  I won in the end and they lost my custom and a three figure apology.  But that’s my experience and for every one bad experience there is two or more good experiences.
 

bluemoomoo1

hrani said:

Just to let you know how virgin media rips off people on benefits as we have tried to get there essential broadband cos we are on ESA but they only take universal credit and we haven't been moved over yet .  Surely that is discrimination against people on low income as they are basically the same benefit all the other companies that offer cheap broadband accept ESA and we with the cost off living we can't afford to pay is there anything we can do?

Many thanks

Complain to Virgin Media that it is discrimination under The Equality Act 2010, as you are on a low income on ESA and disabled. However, be prepared to have your complaint ignored, as Virgin Media like to do that, and then take the complaint to CISAS if no response or decent response from Virgin Media at the 8 week mark. CISAS are the Communications & Internet Services Adjudication Scheme, which is an Ofcom approved alternative dispute resolution provider. I am currently using them for my second Virgin Media complain in 24 months!

If you complain, keep a record of dates, times etc. and who you speak to. Personally I like to record my outgoing calls to Virgin Media, the amount of times I have been lied to by staff working for them!