I missed my cut off to cancel Broadband and TV...

Thoraherdscows

Good afternoon all. I have just called Virgin media to cancel my TV and broadband package, and as I missed the cut off and was out of contract they have charged me a bill which is a massive 58% increase on the previous contract. I have been informed that another bill of a similar amount will be taken in August, with a refund of around £37 being sent in September to settle the final amount.

Granted, I have made a mistake and perhaps should have been organised sooner. However, does anyone know my rights around this and whether I am able to challenge this. ?
Thank you.

MorningcoffeeIV

Your rights are to continue out of contract, take a new contract or cancel.

You'll have known when your contract ended and the price thereafter, so there's nothing to challenge.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

I assume you mean the contract rolled over at a higher price and you are paying for the cancellation period at the higher rate. 

I don't think there are any rights unfortunately.

Are you planning on taking out a new contract with them? If so you could attempt to negotiate a bit of goodwill but if you are leaving them they don't have much of an incentive to offer goodwill.   

Keithy13

I also am out of contract with Virgin later this month. So the April increase and the new out of contract price gives an increase since April of 63% for me. Needless to say I will be calling to either negotiate a discount or failing that leave. Already researching alternatives, it seems I can get Sky package for around half what Virgin are charging. I also note that Virgin are offering new customers around this price although this does not include their TV. However most of the TV on my current package is available on Freeview.
Further, Ofcom were implementing one click transfer from Virgin in April 2023 but this has been postponed with AFAIK no new date for implementation.

born_again

I did online chat with them & got the same for only £4 more a month (£84 previously £80). Instead of £157.70 for out of contract.

Sadly you have no consumer right over getting the extra they charge back.

Thoraherdscows

So essentially, as I didn't react to cancel or re-negotiate sooner, they can now take the increased payments and there is b**** all I can do about it ?

that'll teach me

km1500

or alternatively, they continued supplying you without interruption the service you told them you wanted at the new price they had previously advised you about?

Thoraherdscows

I negotiated a price, but didn't nail it down as it were, as I was still shopping around. I'm feeling that this is going to have to go down as a schoolboy error . That said, I'll offset my annoyance by knowing that my new broadband is free for three months and the TV package is way better for less money

Thoraherdscows

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

I assume you mean the contract rolled over at a higher price and you are paying for the cancellation period at the higher rate. 

I don't think there are any rights unfortunately.

Are you planning on taking out a new contract with them? If so you could attempt to negotiate a bit of goodwill but if you are leaving them they don't have much of an incentive to offer goodwill.   

Indeed - yes. And yep, I'm leaving them. Historically, goodwill doesn't seem to b in their vocabulary in my experience. I shall cut my losses and stick a metaphorical 2 fingers up to them

tightauldgit

Thoraherdscows said:

Good afternoon all. I have just called Virgin media to cancel my TV and broadband package, and as I missed the cut off and was out of contract they have charged me a bill which is a massive 58% increase on the previous contract. I have been informed that another bill of a similar amount will be taken in August, with a refund of around £37 being sent in September to settle the final amount.

Granted, I have made a mistake and perhaps should have been organised sooner. However, does anyone know my rights around this and whether I am able to challenge this. ?
Thank you.

On what grounds would you challenge it and what outcome would you think is fair? 

Should they simply let you continue on for the rate you were paying under contract indefinitely despite the contract having ended?
Should they waive the cancellation period because you forgot to cancel in time? 

I think most people know and expect that if you let your broadband contract lapse then you end up on the prevailing non-contract rate which is higher and then still have to give notice to switch over to a new supplier. Companies also do send multiple reminders to prompt you to sign up for a new contract although I have found that some of them are reluctant to tell you what the non-contract rate is at times. 

born_again

Virgin send you a email when you bill is generated. 

TBH, they could simply cut the service if you do not renew.