Advice for moving from Virgin Media to ???

chipfork

We have been with Virgin Media for 20 years and did get into the habit of finding a retention deal each time our contract came to an end. We've not been as proactive as we should over the last few years and we have been paying over the odds for a fairly average package: M125 Fibre Broadband + Mix TV + Talk Weekends. 
I rang to say we were thinking of leaving and their offer wasn't very competitive. We are going to cancel and get our 30-day notice in, that may prompt a better deal although given the way Virgin are able to hike their prices, we would rather move on.

What we need:

• Reliable and reasonably fast broadband is key as at least one of us is regularly working from home.
• Home phone is not required but it was a cheaper bundle on Virgin with one included. We recently made a few calls to a mobile and the costs were astronomical. We only used the home phone because the O2 transmitter in our area was out of service for 6 weeks. 
• TV similar to the Mix TV option - Freeview would probably suffice.
• A PVR, similar to the old Tivo box that we have, as we record most things and watch when convenient.

We've tried the MSE deal checker and for fast broadband only Virgin shows in the list for our post code whereas Sky, Talk Talk and others state they have fast full fibre in our area. USwitch gives us more choice, as does Which's search.

We have been looking at alternatives and would welcome thoughts, there may well be other options we haven't considered.

We have whittled the list down to a Sky TV + Broadband bundle or broadband only with a TV solution. Sky, what a confusing web site, the 3 options the list don't fit our needs and no mention of a PVR. I will give them a call to see what bundles they actually offer.

Then it's broadband only deals which leads to the question of how we receive and record TV. We've looked at a Freeview PVR and then a new aerial or even Free Sat. Is there a better option? We have a newish Samsung TV which is Freeview compatible (I think). As far as broadband option, all offer 100+ Mbps fibre for our post code (probably FTTC like our Virgin setup). All are similarly priced.

• Zen - Fairs well in Which's reviews
• PlusNet - Reasonable reviews
• Talk Talk - Reliability and poor customer service seems to be a common theme on our local forums
• Vodafone - Reasonable reviews
• BT - Bizarrely, as I thought other providers used their network, only 11-17 Mbps for our post code and this is priced above a 100+ Mbps deal with someone else. Always ads on Facebook about superfast fibre in our area which then tells you this will be by 2027  

Neil_Jones

This is Sky's PVR:

https://www.sky.com/tv/sky-q

It will be cheaper for Sky Glass and Stream, but there is no recorder box for these, its all streaming.

chipfork

Thanks, Sky is the favoured option as it's one of the few with bundled broadband and TV. That's unless sorting out a TV/PVR option, e.g. Freeview or Freesat isn't as painful as we've made it out to be.

I like the idea of Stream and the pucks that can be used anywhere as we may want to use a second TV at some point.

We don't see a good case for Sky Glass given we have a decent TV that suits our needs and because a PVR is essential.

We looked at Sky-Q but can't see anywhere to tailor the bundle, we have a 100+ Mbps broadband and would like something similar. It claims 300+ channels but only lists a selection, there are a couple, Drama and Alibi, that my partner watches which would be useful and I think are on Freeview.

This bundle is £45 a month with a setup fee, cheaper than our Virgin deal but the broadband is 1/4 of the speed.

We don't need Netflix and I can't see we can transition this as ours is free offer through our mobile provider. We don't pay for it so we won't save anything.

https://www.sky.com/shop/choose/build/package?irct=dealstp--bns-deal-CTA5-SkyQ-UTV-Superfast-deals-Buy

chipfork

Cancelled with Virgin Media, bit confusing as they said they'd try to match our old package and then came up with £46. Couldn't explain if we'd still be hit with the price rise. Will see if they get in touch but playing around with Sky site, it seems you can tailor the broadband only deal and add Sky TV. Looks 

Ultrafast and Ultrafast Plus come up as the same bundle price even though it says £38 per month. Not sure if this is a deal or it's missing VAT or something. After 18 months the plus deal jumps a bit more.

• New monthly £28 - One-off £19.95

By adding Sky TV which is listed at £24 per month.

"Get an amazing deal on Sky TV. Enjoy endless entertainment through Sky Q"

• New monthly £44 - One-off £29.95

£44 per month seems a very competitive deal, albeit a new customer deal for 18 months. After that we're back to trying to secure a decent retention deal or seeing what others offer by then.

PZ19

I am sure Virgin will come back with a decent price (either today or tomorrow) after you’ve cancelled.  See what they offer and quote that Sky deal to them, if Sky is cheaper than what they offer.  Build a package on skys website to get price from them as they were offering broadband at £17 the other day when I looked after adding tv package as new customer 

chipfork

Given the lead time on Openreach installs we've signed up to Sky for 18 months and have the installs booked. We have the cooling off period so can cancel should Virgin come back with an amazing offer.

As a new Sky customer the deal looks good, although it will increase a fair bit after 18 months. We've gone for the Sky TV Signature, Ultrafast broadband and the basic pay as you talk phone deal. That's £45 a month, much better than the Virgin retention offer.

We're resigned to making the switch. We've been with Virgin Media for over 20 years and whilst the service has been ok, it's not been without its flaws and when there is a problem, the support is dreadful. The near 14% rise doesn't inspire confidence that they won't continue to increase prices over and above what other providers are.
We have an old Tivo box which is sluggish, Virgin don't want it back, they've emailed and said to send it to recycling. We have FTTC with Virgin and although the cabinet is opposite our house, the ground and walls have shifted and affected the cable on more than one occasion.

With Sky we get a Sky Q 1TB box which should be an improvement, the interface looks better, and there are more channels. We'll have an Openreach FTTP install and we should be able to get the cabling to where we want it rather than the bodge that Virgin Media did. The RPI price rise should be less than Virgin's new approach.

We've put 17 months time in the diary to review things and it may then be the ideal time to jump to a broadband only deal (the Openreach FTTP install will be ready for whoever we choose) and a Freeview/Freesat option.

Gadz

chipfork said:

Cancelled with Virgin Media, bit confusing as they said they'd try to match our old package and then came up with £46. Couldn't explain if we'd still be hit with the price rise. Will see if they get in touch but playing around with Sky site, it seems you can tailor the broadband only deal and add Sky TV. Looks 

Ultrafast and Ultrafast Plus come up as the same bundle price even though it says £38 per month. Not sure if this is a deal or it's missing VAT or something. After 18 months the plus deal jumps a bit more.

• New monthly £28 - One-off £19.95

By adding Sky TV which is listed at £24 per month.

"Get an amazing deal on Sky TV. Enjoy endless entertainment through Sky Q"

• New monthly £44 - One-off £29.95

£44 per month seems a very competitive deal, albeit a new customer deal for 18 months. After that we're back to trying to secure a decent retention deal or seeing what others offer by then.

My Virgin package has gone up every month this year. I am now on £112 plus per month and rising. I desperately need to get out but I don't know how to get on to Freeview from cable as I understand you need an arial or dish. Does my internet need to be on cable or are their other ways to do it?

wongataa

Gadz said:

My Virgin package has gone up every month this year. I am now on £112 plus per month and rising. I desperately need to get out but I don't know how to get on to Freeview from cable as I understand you need an arial or dish.

You cannot get Freeview via cable.  Freeview only comes via an aerial. Freesat only comes via a satellite dish.

Gadz said:

Does my internet need to be on cable or are their other ways to do it?

You don't need the internet for Freeview or Freesat to work.  Your internet connection method is completely up to you.

FreeBear

wongataa said:

Gadz said:

My Virgin package has gone up every month this year. I am now on £112 plus per month and rising. I desperately need to get out but I don't know how to get on to Freeview from cable as I understand you need an arial or dish.

You cannot get Freeview via cable.  Freeview only comes via an aerial. Freesat only comes via a satellite dish.

Gadz said:

Does my internet need to be on cable or are their other ways to do it?

You don't need the internet for Freeview or Freesat to work.  Your internet connection method is completely up to you.

You  can watch freeview online - https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/watch-freeview-online

There are a number of other free streaming services that you can also access via the internet if you can stomach the adverts and low quality programming...