Virgin media taking away channels

Bigtrees24

Virgin media has taken away TNT sports from my package and if I want it back they are saying I have to pay £18/month extra. It was one of the main reasons I went with the TV package, how can they do this? At the time it was included as standard and I have the official channel list with what comes standard with the Maxit TV package. What can I do? 

Murphybear

Are you tied into Virgin media or can you cancel it?  If you cancel it you may find they are keen to get your business back and offer you incentives eg let you have TNT at a lower price. 

These organisations are notorious for that.

Alternatively is there another way of getting TNT?  

oldernonethewiser

There seem to have been lots of comments on the Virgin forum about it, might be worth looking there.

Was a decision made pre June this year.

TELLIT01

My brother-in-law has just cancelled his Virgin contract. The wanted to almost double the cost.

born_again

Bigtrees24 said:

Virgin media has taken away TNT sports from my package and if I want it back they are saying I have to pay £18/month extra. It was one of the main reasons I went with the TV package, how can they do this? At the time it was included as standard and I have the official channel list with what comes standard with the Maxit TV package. What can I do? 

While not quite on your point, they also added 40 not so long ago.

visidigi

I take it they have been removed at the contract renewal date? Not mid contract right? (as I am mid contract, still have them and expect to lose them when it comes up for renewal when my retention deal expires).

Bigtrees24

visidigi said:

I take it they have been removed at the contract renewal date? Not mid contract right? (as I am mid contract, still have them and expect to lose them when it comes up for renewal when my retention deal expires).

Mid contract, I renewed my contract to upgrade my broadband about a month before I was due to end my original contract to take advantage of a deal, they agreed to keep everything the same and upgrade my broadband but it triggered a new 18month contract. I was fine with this as I was happy with my package. I continued to enjoy TNT sports for a month or two into my new contract. I went to watch something I had set up to record and it wasn't there, checked the live channel and it said I didn't have it. Contacted them and they've said I have to pay to get it back. 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

This is covered by the CRA with regards to terms which may be unfair, specifically

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15/schedule/2

(13) A term which has the object or effect of enabling the trader to alter unilaterally without a valid reason any characteristics of the goods, digital content or services to be provided.

The CMA guidence is here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/450440/Unfair_Terms_Main_Guidance.pdf

5.22 on page 104 onwards, in brief the terms should state exactly what change may be permitted as well as how it would occur and be coupled with a right to cancel.

If there were a legal issue (say the channel could no longer be aired in the UK) that would give the trader greater freedom to vary what is supplied but as they are offering to sell the aspect they are removing for an extra cost it seems to solely be in their interest.

I doubt CS are going to understand any of this, you could check the CEO email website and contact Virgin via the email there pointing out the CRA along with CMA guidence and ask them to explain how they have the right to vary what is supplied. 

People tend to ignore difficult questions so it's best not to allow the conversation to become side tracked and stick to your single point until they (hopefully) answer it.

born_again

Just realised that it is no longer included in my package. Certainly not been informed unless it was in one of the emails they send out about the usual Whats on this week.