Virgin Mobile saving the planet - but we have to pay for it!!!

jcuk_2

Today in the post I got a letter from Virgin Mobile telling me how concerned they are for the environment and how they want to do something to help. Sounds good so far.

As part of this initiative they want to save paper by reducing the 20m sheets of paper that they send out to customers in the form of bills every year. I'm bought into that too. I like to think I can help save the environment

Now, here's where I start to lose it.....from 3rd July it's going to start to cost me £1 a month to continue to receive a paper bill, but fortunately they're "not trying to sneak in hidden charges" they're "simply trying to deter customers from choosing paper bills at a cost to the environment".

Unless I'm completely mistaken it seems that Virgin are concerned about the environment and they want me to pay for that concern. Either they save the cost of sending me a paper bill every month or I pay an extra £12 per year to maintain the status quo (albeit with a cost to the environment).

If they are "simply trying to deter customers from choosing paper bills at a cost to the environment" why don't they REDUCE customers bills by £1 per month to reflect the saving they are making!?

Or have I just misunderstood?

Del_Boy_Gupta

Got the same letter as the original poster although in my case it was the 6th July that they intrroduce the charge from.

The problem is that my contract was a cash back one and I need a bill so will have to pay a pound for the privelige.

However seeing as they have not given us 28 notice are they not breaking some sort of terms and conditions? - i don't want to terminate the contract yet as it is a one step cashback after 4 months but can they do this?

jcuk_2

Good point! I checked my terms & conditions & they have to give 14 days notice. I, like you, am stuck in the cashback trap.

Even so I think they're taking a liberty to charge us extra for something we already get on the basis that it's better for the environment, lets be honest if it was really about the environment they wouldn't be making a profit out of it!

Surely there must be something else we can do other than vote with our feet?!

Stompa

jcuk wrote: »

I, like you, am stuck in the cashback trap.

I seem to recall seeing that some companies (CPW?) will accept a printout of an online bill for cashback purposes - might be worth checking the T&C's.

As for getting rid of paper bills, I've always thought it crazy for Virgin to send me them for my PAYG number, since the cost of sending the bill often exceeds the amount it's actually for!

jcuk_2

Stompa wrote: »

some companies (CPW?) will accept a printout of an online bill for cashback purposes

Unfortunately mine will not accept online bills. :mad:

I understand & agree with your comment about PAYG but I think it's different for contracts.

virgo17

Stompa wrote: »

As for getting rid of paper bills, I've always thought it crazy for Virgin to send me them for my PAYG number, since the cost of sending the bill often exceeds the amount it's actually for!

I assume that you, like me, are on the post pay direct debit system?

Fortunately I am not on a cash back deal but sympathise with folk who are. Some times in the past I have received a bill for 10p. Have swapped over to email billing now which is exempt from the charge.

V.

Stompa

virgo17 wrote: »

I assume that you, like me, are on the post pay direct debit system?.

Yes, though I don't know why I stay with that tariff since the pre-pay top-up PAYG is cheaper - I guess it's to save me the bother of ever having to top-up.

virgo17 wrote: »

Fortunately I am not on a cash back deal but sympathise with folk who are. Some times in the past I have received a bill for 10p. Have swapped over to email billing now which is exempt from the charge.

I've not as yet received a letter from them about this new charge.

redux

Today I got the letter

Also today I got a separate letter with a bill, which is actually just a statement for the 10 pence I paid last month

I don't think their patronising lecture about saving the environment has been read within their own firm

Microstar_2

Which cashback schemes don't accept online bills? IIRC the ones I had with e2save did.

virgo17

Stompa wrote: »

I've not as yet received a letter from them about this new charge.

Nor have I, but if I log onto my account it tells me it will be applied from 16th June.

I only kept it because overseas use was cheaper than some other networks. Not sure if this is still the case.

V.

Stompa

virgo17 wrote: »

Nor have I, but if I log onto my account it tells me it will be applied from 16th June.

Thanks, I see what you mean. It looks as though they'd automatically switched me to online billing though.