Forum Topic

Virgin Media - Price Hike (again)

What is happening with these greedy companies? First they decided to cancel their online security which was included in our package with them, they are replacing it with F-Secure free for 1 year but it will cost around £7.40 each quarter thereafter I believe!Today we had a letter from Virgin Media saying their prices are increasing from 1st February 2014 by a whopping £5.00 per MONTH!Talk about taking advantage of customers who signed up to receive broadband, telephone and TV services, they really have us right where they want us!Pensions can never keep up with demands from greedy organisations!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4493d14 Comments

BT line Saver paid annually in advance =< £12.00 per month.BT Infinity Option 1 (negotiated prion renewal, they have better deals for new customers) including evening and weekend calls £16.00 per month/ Connection speed 35mbits/sec and free BT Sport.Can't be bothered with loads of TV channels so £28/month suits me.

Nigel Brooks ● 4482d

For TV and broadband only from Virgin - Jan 2013 £35.50 now £38.65 from Feb 2014 - £41.40 that's over 16% rise,but other providers have compulsory line rentals of £16 + per month. So would it be cheaper to switch?

Fred Hunt ● 4482d

It's the same with energy. They keep telling you to shop around but then you hear the horror stories of people who ended up paying twice over for months (do they ever check their bank statements, though?) or switched to NPower and had them break the door down while they were out to get at the meter.Hence: Devil You Know!

Susan Kelly ● 4482d

Thanks Nigel but we are on a Simply 8p tariff ane my husband and I can ring one another for free, also we can ring the mobile from the house phone and mobile to home free. With Orange we were paying 30p per minute.We don't really make lots of calls on the mobile, just occasional texts.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4482d

Far better deals than Virgin for PAYG mobiles.giffgaff for example, if you would like a free SIM with £5 credit on it just ask.

Nigel Brooks ● 4482d

Declan, we only have cable in our house, no BT wires at all, not that we would ever wish to go back to BT!Everything including phone, TV, Broadband and even a deal on the PAYG mobile phones is with Virgin Media.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4482d

"better the devil you know" Thats what these companies rely on, people to scared to move, just accepting the price rise, Moving your broadband service is worth the effort and gets you the best deal for at least a year, its worth the hassle.

Declan Devine ● 4482d

We feel the same, better the devil you know and all that!

Jean F Fernandez ● 4482d

I know that feeling only too well. After moving house last year I had to wait for BT to get me connected. Was quite the hassle. I hadn't appreciated just how much I need internet acccess until then.

Steven Diver ● 4483d

No, I don't think you're a pessimist, Steven, though it's not apathy exactly, more sticking with the devil you know. I've been with Virgin for years and feel like a milch cow, but don't want the hassle of switching and facing the almost certainty that something will go horribly wrong and I'll end up with no phone, TV or broadband for ages.

Susan Kelly ● 4483d

It seems to me that most of the Virgin group's business plan is to get their grubby little paws on direct debits and rely on apathy therafter. Maybe I'm just a pessimist

Steven Diver ● 4483d

I do have my own anti-virus software, though there's no way Virgin could know that. At least, I hope there isn't as it would imply that they are snooping on my computer. Maybe the security thing depends what package you have and I'm still getting it? Or maybe I never got it in the first place! Either was, they certainly haven't written to me about it. All I ever get is letters with 'news about your account' on the envelope, which always means a price hike.

Susan Kelly ● 4493d

Susan if you have the Virgin Media Security on your computer this has not really been updated since last September, although Virgin Media did not bother to tell the customers!We wondered why the main computer was running very slowly. Then in November they wrote saying that we would have to upgrade to their F-Secure replacement by the end of December. The first year is free but will be charged quarterly after that.Originally we had internet security as part of the package but they decided that it will no longer be free.The fact that they let us watch some BT Sports channels doesn't really cover the football matches my husband likes to watch. He listens to the football matches on the radio which are not shown under the package we have, so we are paying over the odds for stuff which is of no interest.They used to have 2 racing channels previously if I remember and I think one of them was removed. So they seem to do what they like and expect customers to go along with it!Perhaps you are covered by Norton or some other anti-virus protection if they did not write to you.

Jean F Fernandez ● 4493d

I was annoyed too, Jean. I have no interest in the BT Sports channels which are being given as an excuse for this big (10%+?) hike. Have heard nothing about the internet security, though.

Susan Kelly ● 4493d

You're right Jean. I'm with Sky and seriously thinking of cancelling and getting Freeview. I don't use the landline so that can go. Just need a good broadband deal with no phone line.

David P Archer ● 4493d