Virgin Media rip off, not bothered about cancellation

Rtype

My partner has just had a letter from VM saying that her contract has ended and the monthly bill is going up to £68.77 for a basic package.

I just looked online and they offer new customers the same package but with double the internet speed for £31.99.

She has just called them and they said £62 a month was the best they could do, she said no thanks and asked why a new customer could get a far better deal for less than half the price and they said it wasn't available to her. She then said ok well I'll cancel if that's all you can offer me then and they weren't even bothered so she's given her 30 day notice and is cancelling.

How utterly ridiculous is their business model as it will cost them money to collect the old boxes. I could then start a contract under my name, and would no doubt get a kickback on the £32 bundle from going through cashback sites, which would then cost them even more money to post out and install.

Absolutely disgraceful service

Bigphil1474

It won't cost them much to get their equipment back, they'll send you a bag and you have to take it somewhere to return it. 

In reality, your partner will get a call sometime soon offering a better deal. My experience is that they are becoming a bit more reluctant to offer the best deal when you first say you are going to cancel, but they really need you more than you need them. Last time i had to renegotiate with them, they told me they could only knock about £10 off the new out of contract price of about £135, but we ended up with a new package with lots of extras for under £80, less than I was paying before. It's a tiring game that we unfortunately have to play.

PZ19

They’ll call her back with an offer now she’s cancelled

ididgetwhereiamtoday

Yes. Unfortunately to get the best deal you need to play the game. 

JSmithy45AD

It's quite possible that they won't let you take out a deal at the same address under a different name for 12 months to stop people doing that.

It's not of course "a rip off" or "absolutely disgraceful" as you can plainly see what you'll be paying. If you don't like it then cancel and see if they'll offer something better. TV isn't an essential or a right.

Why do people have to resort to hyperbole online? Is it just the anonymity that makes them so aggressive?

ladruid

JSmithy45AD said:

It's quite possible that they won't let you take out a deal at the same address under a different name for 12 months to stop people doing that.

It would never work. Imagine people in newly rented, moving house, deaths or breakups (where the contract holder is involved), the new customer goes to get Virgin services installed, and Virgin turn round and say no, you have to wait 12 months.

The contract is with a person, not an address. I've seen many people who post they cancel and then get it in their partners name and bank account details as a new customer if VM don't play fair.