Virgin Bundle with O2 Sim - beatable?

Dhrucku

Hi,

Been a customer of Virgin for 6 years and have been banging on with them about getting Sky Sports added to my package.  

2 months left on package and I get a phone call saying they have a promotional for the next 18 months - see below with bracketed for my current package

- TNT Sports (already had)
- M500 (Was M350)
- Sky Sports Collection (Didn't have) 
- Package to include a SIM for O2 which is an extra £5 but has a cooling off period so the £5 can be taken off after 3 days of taking the contract.  I'm on O2 Customer already so this is largely a pointless perk but I guess it's just included as part of the package

Currently pay £50.04 with the new price to be monthly £54 (package) + £5 (SIM) = £59 which will be £54 / month when I call them back after three days to take away the pointless SIM deal.

Should I take this deal as it is a whole lot better than the triple figures I've been quoted when in contract...ideally want to stay with Virgin.

Thanks for thoughts.

jbrassy

I would say that's a pretty good deal and I'd take it - so long as you can ditch the O2 SIM.

Dhrucku

jbrassy said:

I would say that's a pretty good deal and I'd take it - so long as you can ditch the O2 SIM.

That's what I'm thinking.  If I can ditch that extra £5 and make it £54/month it's a pretty hot deal from what I've seen in terms of sports packages and getting a free BB update...I mean even if they can't and it's £59/month for a SIM I'll never use it'll still be worth it IMO

Billxx

I'd take the deal.  Negotiating with VM can be very hit and miss.  I've been with them for years and had negotiations where it goes the wrong way!

Make sure you get TNT Sports - they have unbundled this and it is now an "add on".  So make sure it is on you pre-contract documents or the confirmation.

Good luck.

Bill

Dhrucku

Billxx said:

I'd take the deal.  Negotiating with VM can be very hit and miss.  I've been with them for years and had negotiations where it goes the wrong way!

Make sure you get TNT Sports - they have unbundled this and it is now an "add on".  So make sure it is on you pre-contract documents or the confirmation.

Good luck.

Bill

I can see from my pre-contract documentation they just sent out that I've now got Volt M500 Broadband (had 350 before), Sky Sports Collection & TNT Sports as addons.

All in all £54 (+£5 Sim Deal) / month which will become £54 only when I tell them to stick the promotional SIM Deal as I am already with O2.  She confirmed on call that I can cancel this any time but give them three days to do so.

Overall this is a pretty legendary deal for someone who is into Sports (Premier League & Champions League football mainly) as it's pretty competitive even with a new customer Sky deal.

A happy Virgin Media customer.

PS - for anyone due to get a contract renewal, this was an overseas call centre and not the typical on shore customer retentions team.  

Alpha_5

Dhrucku said:

Billxx said:

I'd take the deal.  Negotiating with VM can be very hit and miss.  I've been with them for years and had negotiations where it goes the wrong way!

Make sure you get TNT Sports - they have unbundled this and it is now an "add on".  So make sure it is on you pre-contract documents or the confirmation.

Good luck.

Bill

I can see from my pre-contract documentation they just sent out that I've now got Volt M500 Broadband (had 350 before), Sky Sports Collection & TNT Sports as addons.

All in all £54 (+£5 Sim Deal) / month which will become £54 only when I tell them to stick the promotional SIM Deal as I am already with O2.  She confirmed on call that I can cancel this any time but give them three days to do so.

Overall this is a pretty legendary deal for someone who is into Sports (Premier League & Champions League football mainly) as it's pretty competitive even with a new customer Sky deal.

A happy Virgin Media customer.

PS - for anyone due to get a contract renewal, this was an overseas call centre and not the typical on shore customer retentions team.  

I'm about to do the haggle with them so thanks for sharing your experience.

Will your Volt 500 revert back down to 350mb when you cancel the O2 sim, or will you continue to get the Volt speed increase for the remainder of the contract regardless of cancelling the sim?

Dhrucku

Alpha_5 said:

Dhrucku said:

Billxx said:

I'd take the deal.  Negotiating with VM can be very hit and miss.  I've been with them for years and had negotiations where it goes the wrong way!

Make sure you get TNT Sports - they have unbundled this and it is now an "add on".  So make sure it is on you pre-contract documents or the confirmation.

Good luck.

Bill

I can see from my pre-contract documentation they just sent out that I've now got Volt M500 Broadband (had 350 before), Sky Sports Collection & TNT Sports as addons.

All in all £54 (+£5 Sim Deal) / month which will become £54 only when I tell them to stick the promotional SIM Deal as I am already with O2.  She confirmed on call that I can cancel this any time but give them three days to do so.

Overall this is a pretty legendary deal for someone who is into Sports (Premier League & Champions League football mainly) as it's pretty competitive even with a new customer Sky deal.

A happy Virgin Media customer.

PS - for anyone due to get a contract renewal, this was an overseas call centre and not the typical on shore customer retentions team.  

I'm about to do the haggle with them so thanks for sharing your experience.

Will your Volt 500 revert back down to 350mb when you cancel the O2 sim, or will you continue to get the Volt speed increase for the remainder of the contract regardless of cancelling the sim?

So there is always some catch.

In this case, maybe my mistake but the Sky Sports Collection DOES NOT include HD versions of the same channel so this is an additional charge.  

Rung them up today and she explained this to me and quoted me the £110 non discounted price just to add on the HD option.  I asked to be transferred which I was.  The onshore representative managed to get me the same deal with the HD option for an additional £3.50 (50% off the usual £70) so all in total the package is £57.50/month without the SIM.

If you remove the SIM YOU WILL LOSE the upgraded broadband speed in answer to your question.

On a continuous improvement note, Virgin needs to explain clearly that the Sky Sports Collection does not include the HD options.  It seems counterintuitive to call it a collection to me...

Alpha_5

Dhrucku said:

Alpha_5 said:

Dhrucku said:

Billxx said:

I'd take the deal.  Negotiating with VM can be very hit and miss.  I've been with them for years and had negotiations where it goes the wrong way!

Make sure you get TNT Sports - they have unbundled this and it is now an "add on".  So make sure it is on you pre-contract documents or the confirmation.

Good luck.

Bill

I can see from my pre-contract documentation they just sent out that I've now got Volt M500 Broadband (had 350 before), Sky Sports Collection & TNT Sports as addons.

All in all £54 (+£5 Sim Deal) / month which will become £54 only when I tell them to stick the promotional SIM Deal as I am already with O2.  She confirmed on call that I can cancel this any time but give them three days to do so.

Overall this is a pretty legendary deal for someone who is into Sports (Premier League & Champions League football mainly) as it's pretty competitive even with a new customer Sky deal.

A happy Virgin Media customer.

PS - for anyone due to get a contract renewal, this was an overseas call centre and not the typical on shore customer retentions team.  

I'm about to do the haggle with them so thanks for sharing your experience.

Will your Volt 500 revert back down to 350mb when you cancel the O2 sim, or will you continue to get the Volt speed increase for the remainder of the contract regardless of cancelling the sim?

So there is always some catch.

In this case, maybe my mistake but the Sky Sports Collection DOES NOT include HD versions of the same channel so this is an additional charge.  

Rung them up today and she explained this to me and quoted me the £110 non discounted price just to add on the HD option.  I asked to be transferred which I was.  The onshore representative managed to get me the same deal with the HD option for an additional £3.50 (50% off the usual £70) so all in total the package is £57.50/month without the SIM.

If you remove the SIM YOU WILL LOSE the upgraded broadband speed in answer to your question.

On a continuous improvement note, Virgin needs to explain clearly that the Sky Sports Collection does not include the HD options.  It seems counterintuitive to call it a collection to me...

Sports is one of those genres which really benefits from HD, so it is indeed frustrating that VM didn't make that clear (and hasn't dropped SD-only sports subscriptions, like Sky already has). 

You've still got a cracking deal though. If I'm offered a renewal for an extra £7.50 per month and adds Sky Sports, I'll snatch their hands off.

Thanks for additional info about the Volt benefits - I'm due to call retentions on Friday to kick-start my 30 days notice so it's useful to understand.

flaneurs_lobster

Alpha_5 said:

Sports is one of those genres which really benefits from HD, so it is indeed frustrating that VM didn't make that clear (and hasn't dropped SD-only sports subscriptions, like Sky already has). 

BT (or is it now EE) do similar, quote their deals including TNT Sports but neglect to mention that it's another £6/mth for HD.

ididgetwhereiamtoday

I pay £56 a month just for 1 gig BB and nothing else so you have a good deal. Does that include V6 box and all the other channels?