How to get cheaper virgin deal or go elsewhere

WSB

Hi, 
Have been with virgin since they started in this area. A long time. 
Couple of years ago, I managed to get my tv/phone /broadband package down to £55 per month.
As my deal finishes with them soon they informed me it would go up to £75.
I haggled and got it down to £69 but still a fair increase.
Other than changing the type of package, what can I do to haggle the price down more or who else should I try. 

If I do go else where, is it a big hassle moving? 

My package is

• Television:
  • Mix TV
  • Virgin TV V6 Box, Powered By TiVo
  • Discount
• Broadband:
  • M250 Fibre Broadband
• Telephone:
  • Talk More Anytime
  • Line Rental

phillw

It can be hassle, a friend of mine has to stay with virgin because the closest open reach cabinet is miles away and it can't support reliable adsl or fttc. One of their neighbors is an open reach engineer and he is also forced to use virgin.

If you leave then you'll lose the TiVo box anyway, so you could use that in the negotiation. My friend originally had a TiVo box that never got used and eventually as part of one haggle they took it back.

Unless you have no phone signal, then I would ditch the phone package. My friend also never even plugged in a phone, so they went broadband only to save money.

I think they were paying £18 for a while, not sure what they are up to now but they phone and complain quite regularly. I switched away from virgin and it was fine (though I did go from 50mb/s to 3mb/s on adsl), I now switch all the time. I look for deals that are effectively £15 a month after taking into account any vouchers or cash back.

Though there is usually a charge for getting a line activated or installed if you are moving away from virgin and you need to factor this on.

pieme

My VM broadband + landline was due to go up from £28pm to £53 next month, so I put in 30 days notice to cancel, even though they offered to keep it at £28. Next day, retentions rang and offered £22 for 18 months, but removing landline ( which is never used ), so I accepted. I was planning to go with one of the unlimited mobile (data, text, calls) from either Smarty or IDmobile for £15/£16 pm, but willing to pay the extra to avoid hassle and keep fibre speeds. Then to have a backup, I ordered an RWG mobile 24 month SIM for £35 one off payment, not unlimited but fine as a backup that will hopefully never get used.

PZ19

You ring them up and put cancellation in saying it’s too expensive.  They should then call you back with a far better price.  If they don’t you can still cancel your cancellation during the 30 day notice period.  Make sure in My Virgin Media your marketing preferences are set so they can call you.  £69 is very expensive for your package. You may get it in the thirties if you cancel

WSB

Hi All, after a few phonecalls managed to bargain Virgin Media down.

Managed to pay the same £55 per month but reduced my TV package slightly (which doesn't bother us).

HOWEVER!!!! as part of the 18 month contract, it stipulates that they will put the monthly price up every April by 3.9% + RPI %.

Is this the same for all companies???

QrizB

WSB said:

HOWEVER!!!! as part of the 18 month contract, it stipulates that they will put the monthly price up every April by 3.9% + RPI %.

Is this the same for all companies???

Many companies yes, all no.

There are providers where you don't get automatic price increases, but they're often (not always) more expensive in the first place.

WSB

QrizB said:

WSB said:

HOWEVER!!!! as part of the 18 month contract, it stipulates that they will put the monthly price up every April by 3.9% + RPI %.

Is this the same for all companies???

Many companies yes, all no.

There are providers where you don't get automatic price increases, but they're often (not always) more expensive in the first place.

Previously, i signed up for 18 months and was guaranteed to pay the same each month.  I guess mid contract price increases at April is a new thing with Virgin Media?

smpNWI

And according to the new pricing terms released on 13 September, there is now no right to cancel:  


"As this annual price increase is provided for in your terms, there’s no right to cancel because of it from April 2024."

 Until now, they gave you the right to cancel your contract if you didn't like the increase. I absolutely hate it but feel like htere's no option but to stay with them, because of their speeds.

WSB

smpNWI said:

And according to the new pricing terms released on 13 September, there is now no right to cancel:  


"As this annual price increase is provided for in your terms, there’s no right to cancel because of it from April 2024."

 Until now, they gave you the right to cancel your contract if you didn't like the increase. I absolutely hate it but feel like htere's no option but to stay with them, because of their speeds.

Yeah, not liking this either 

grimsalve

Interesting reading as I'm going through the same process at the moment. Currently paying £20 per month for 200mbps VM broadband. My contract expires in November and the price would go up to £60 per month so I called them today to cancel. They offered me another discount that would bring it down to £40 per month but I refused.

WSB

grimsalve said:

Interesting reading as I'm going through the same process at the moment. Currently paying £20 per month for 200mbps VM broadband. My contract expires in November and the price would go up to £60 per month so I called them today to cancel. They offered me another discount that would bring it down to £40 per month but I refused.

I called them a few times a few days apart and the price gradually drifted down magically.  Give it a few days and phone again.