Virgin Media

[Smowball]

Anybody have the whole package - TV, broadband and landline? Would you mind sharing with me what you pay per month as ours seems extortionate and even though I've been on the phone to them I cannot seem to be able to reduce it.

[EcclesCake]

Me, but I haven't a clue what we pay.

I'll try to remember to ask later.

[Smowball]

I've just been on their live chat on their website but it was like talking to a brick!

[nailit]

I don't have a tv or landline so don't need a package. I currently pay £18 per month for broadband with them.
However a friend of mine has a package deal with them and the price suddenly went through the roof. He rang them and was told that his contract (for that particular price) had ended. He got a better package with another provider, rang Virgin and told them to terminate his package as he had got a better deal elsewhere. They eventually offered him an even better deal to stay with them.
Sometimes you got to barter with these companies.

[Smowball]

I've tried that nailit and they just keep saying sorry can't help. The bill just keeps going up and up. They say I have a weekends free call package apparently and I use the phone during the week so their suggestion is I don't use the phone Monday - Friday!! I said well change the package and they say I can't!

[EcclesCake]

Nailit, you maybe able to haggle with them but bartering with a bunch of rhubarb from your garden and a jar of chutney is unlikely to sway them! ;-)

[nailit]

//I've tried that nailit and they just keep saying sorry can't help.//
Been my experience (and recently that of my friends) that they 'cant' help until you tell them that you have a better deal elsewhere and wish to leave. Suddenly they find a package just for you at the right price as well.

[SlackAlice]

Get an alternative deal lined up and as nailit says 'phone them up, to cancel and enquire about the cancellation period. After you've given cancellation notice leave it for a few days.
Do not use live chat.
You've got to be stubborn ☺☺☺

[Bazile]

Smowball
When does your current contract period finish ?

I believe virgin contracts run for 18 m periods - so if you have not had a variation since the start of the last period , you can leave without any penalties , when the period finishes .

You then phone them up and ask to be put through to their retentions dept .
Tell them your'e considering moving to another provider if they can't offer you a better deal .
More often than not they will make you a better offer to retain your custom

[gingejbee]

We don't have TV as part of a package (Freeview is more than enough for us)...but landline with ALL calls 24/7 to landlines and mobiles and unlimited broadband is about £1 a day with John Lewis Phone and Broadband. Each year (at renewal) we phone them and they give us their latest "new customer" discount! Very pleased with everything.

[douglas9401]

Is it only Virgin prices you want or are you looking for similar packages from other providers?

[Smowball]

I was with Sky for 16 years but whenever it rained heavily the signal would completely go. So we swapped to Virgin. But I can't see how to lower the price

[hc4361]

I'm with Virgin. I have 200 mbps broadband, weekend only calls - I use my mobile phone during the week - and xl or full house TV or whatever they call it these days.
I have two V6 boxes which are fab but no premium sports or film channels.

I pay £56 per month and I do change my service and haggle every time they try to increase the bill. I've been with them years and have no choice as broadband via the phone line is 1mbps max.

I'm happy with the amount I pay and the service

[EcclesCake]

Apparently we pay somewhere in the order of £75.

To the best of my knowledge we don't have any extra packages as far as TV goes.

[Berniecuddles2]

We cancelled sky 18 months ago refused to pay any more about £75 a month we were paying hardly watched it .
Plenty of legal sites on Internet to watch what we like and download till we want to watch it and it's free!

[bednobs]

we have all 3 and pay £60 pm

[dannyk13]

I have all three plus caller id & free anytime calls with the fun package for £41 per month.

[x-ray]

We have tv broadband and phone with free evening and weekend calls and our bill ranges from £60 to £80 per month paid by direct debit.
Have tried to reduce this but unsuccessfully.
Think it's a rip off, but what is the alternative

[gingejbee]

^^^an alternative is to do-away with paid-for-by -subscription TV. We've never had it and have never felt the need.

[MargoTester]

We have all of the above plus Sky Sports, TiVo box and the same in my son's room upstairs £125 a month, which is a lot of money. Landline includes 'free' calls.

[dannyk13]

09.35 Fri, Forgot to add tivo box