Poor VM renewal offer - should I switch to Sky ??

plumcloth

My Virgin deal ends in about a week. I'm currently paying £64pm for M500M broadband, Mixit (free) TV, and Line Rental with Anytime Chatter. A friend has a better deal than mine, so I know it's possible. My renewal price will be over £100pm.

I think I can get similar from Sky for £53, including Netflix, or £59 for ad-free Netflix.

I called a week ago and was initially offered a renewal for £86pm. I declined and was put through to retentions who offered me £68pm. I said I'd think about it and get back.

I thought I could use the 30-day notice period to allow them to make a better offer, but the lady I spoke to said they don't do that any more. I just need to sign up for my new (Sky) deal, then call VM and they will arrange the switchover on the same day.

I'm planning to call back and accept the £68pm if it's still available. Any tactics for how I might get a better deal, or would you switch to Sky ?? Thanks.

plumcloth

Also meant to add that I've missed several calls from 020 3743 6972, which I thought could be VM, but others suggest it's a scam outfit masquerading as VM.

Billxx

If you have spoken to retentions and threatened to move to Sky, as long as you have opted for "marketing communications", then they will ring you back and make an improved offer.  This is a tactic used by many with VM, you have to be prepared to see it through though.

You are right to be wary of scams!

Ozzig

plumcloth said:

Also meant to add that I've missed several calls from 020 3743 6972, which I thought could be VM, but others suggest it's a scam outfit masquerading as VM.

I had the same number blocked as a scam on my phone. After Googling it, I found a VM tweet saying the number was them.
I still rang the 0345 number on my bill and went through to retentions. instead just in case.

saajan_12

plumcloth said:

I thought I could use the 30-day notice period to allow them to make a better offer, but the lady I spoke to said they don't do that any more. I just need to sign up for my new (Sky) deal, then call VM and they will arrange the switchover on the same day.

I'm planning to call back and accept the £68pm if it's still available. Any tactics for how I might get a better deal, or would you switch to Sky ?? Thanks.

That' may or may not be honest.. you just have to decide if you want to risk it by cancelling and see if they do call back, accepting that if they don't then you will be switching to Sky. 

When I was arranging my parents' broadband / tv package, they warned over and over that if we cancelled and wanted to come back, they couldn't guarantee the same offers and we'd be without internet for weeks, will probably lose the home number, etc. I called their bluff, cancelled, and low and behold they did call back with a better offer (about in line with new customer offers), which we switched to seamlessly. Basically it was all a threat to convince people to accept the offer now rather than hold out.