Re: TV price rises
 

At the top of the letter it has 3 symbols one for broadband, phone & TV in boxes which indicate contract changes.

Re: TV price rises
 

Yeah I negotiated a new deal with them the other week when I called, basically from then I am going to be paying less than I am now currently paying, and come Feb 1st I will be paying about £1 less than I am now.
Still going to do the Line Rental Saver at the end of January so least getting 12 months a fair bit cheaper than their new £14.99 charge.

Re: TV price rises
 

Well i was told when i phoned up yesterday, that when i altered my package in June, i had started a new contract, even though when i altered it i asked them if it would mean i would be tied into a NEW contract {i was out of contract at the time} i was assured that i WOULD NOT be entering a new contract.

Am waiting for them to phone me back telling me i AM NOT in a new contract, otherwise i will be using the price rise to cancel EVERYTHING

I have even asked them to check the phone conversation i had in June.

Customers {imho} SHOULD be asked to SIGN a new contract, not just get palmed off with one.

Rant over.

Re: TV price rises
 

When I called them last week to re-negotiate our contract, to get further discount to cover the price increase, it was made clear on the call we would be re-contracting for a further 12 months from that day.. we had 5 months left of our last one.
We received a new contract in the post, but was only one copy and it just said to sign it and retain it.

Re: TV price rises
 

Thanks. Still none the wiser about my bundle's price increase. I tried CS and they seem to be clueless as well. They claim TV XL has gone up by £1.50 to £28 and insisted the £24.50 on the website was wrong and couldn't tell me if the old £3 TiVo fee has been increased.

Re: TV price rises
 

It has, by £1 per TiVo

Re: TV price rises
 

Now virgin has published prices i'm confused to. Upgraded to 60m from 10m, 1st of Nov
£4 more a month, so i have premier collection but with V+ and Talk 08 that was a tickle, so its free! My price rise is £4.74, but looking at website it should only be £4.09 ? What's the extra 65p for.

Re: TV price rises
 

Silly me. I hadn't looked at the back of the letter! This gives some more details of the 12 month contract.

According to the letter I have been put on the Classic Collection at £21.50 per month excluding line rental with a £4 loyalty discount bringing it down to £17.50. It doesn't say how long the discount will last.

I phoned customer services this morning to query this and was told it would last for 2 years. I also queried the £21.50 for the Classic Collection as it's priced at £18 on the website. The agent agreed it was wrong and has adjusted my package to £18 less discount - £14 per month!

I don't believe it but live in hope.

Re: TV price rises
 

I have.......................3 Tivos, XL TV, 30mb BB and phone line my increase is £2.59
My son has.................. a V+, XL TV, 30mb BB and phone line, his increase is £3.74
My sister has a Tivo and V box, XL TV 10mb BB and phone line, her increase is £4.74

Its all very confusing for everyone.

Re: TV price rises
 

Yes - that is probably what it shows on the agents screen as that is the 'system price' i.e. the one they don't actually charge to customers and the reason the bill format was changed

Re: TV price rises
 

Thanks again Ben. I'm still confused. Shouldn't I be benefitting from this TV XL price reduction of £2 on top of the other published price increases which affect me as I have phone and broadband too? Or is it just that they've reduced the discounts apllied to my particular bundle to come to the increase of £5.34 come February?

Re: TV price rises
 

The £2 reduction applies to the bundles taken out from 30th November, not to any existing bundle

Re: TV price rises
 

Not having ago at you Ben

BUT
Is it any wonder people get confused. when this is happening :erm:

Re: TV price rises
 

Can anyone from VM explain the above different price rises? At first glance they appear to have no rhyme or reason. When I get my price rise, how will i know how it was worked out?

Re: TV price rises
 

They can't explain it because even Einstein would have trouble working VM prices out.:confused:

Re: TV price rises
 

so true there Den

Re: TV price rises
 

Still waiting for a price rise letter or email mail here in sunny Bristol. I'm currently paying £50.15 not including the Sky Sports channels, anyone want to take a guess at what it might be going up to?

The closest person to the actual amount, without going over, will go through to play in the Showcase Showdown.

Re: TV price rises
 

Absolutely disgusted with VM about this. How many times do they think they can get away with this? They will price themselves out of the market. I'm really sad that this could be the start of the end for Virgin. I'm not being dramatic here, I genuinely don't believe customers can keep taking these price rises and this could be the start of a downward spiral over the next year or two where sky takes over and becomes a monopoly. The problem there is that lack of competition is bad for consumers, and then sky can just dictate pricing as they please.

My prices will rise again £4.50. I already pay £70 a month. I am on a retentions deal in contract from August to August though, so why can they rise my price in February? Is it a mistake and they in fact cannot? Thinking they can do this as small print will say they can alter pricing at any time.
I spend enough time on the phone as it is making sure my bill is not over charged each month, and now with this it's just going to be murder having to phone again as it will muck up my discounts.

Just becoming ridiculous. The thing that annoys me most, is everytime they do this and then I phone to reduce something, I always get the same old **** from the VM reps saying something like "oh sir, you are on such a good deal, if you reduce anything it will actually end up costing you more so you are best to stay as you are and pay the extra price rise". *("&$!($!() off virgin.

I spend nearly a ton per month on VM services and have suffered price rises so many times now in the last couple of years. It's just become a joke. They rise prices now right when BT vision is taking off and sky are adding new stuff and owning in terms of sports and F1 and and and.... talk about asking it to go belly up.

Re: TV price rises
 

Looking at the prices that Jobbie8 posted, it appears that they have a dart board with different prices on, and they throw a dart for each customer, and where it lands, determines the price increase. I suppose it makes the office a more fun place to be. That could be why it's taking so long to get all the letters out?

Re: TV price rises
 

I have rang to confirm my increase of £2.59, I was told £1.09 for landline and £1.50 for XL TV.

Im puzzled for my son and sisters increases though?

Re: TV price rises
 

I've just had my email £4.09 increase for Premier collection + Tivo upgrade to inclusive 2nd box.

This seems straight forward Premier collection increase £3 ( as per website) and £1.09 line rental.

Re: TV price rises
 

I have also received an email confirming that I will have a £4.09 increase for the Premier Collection (inc Tivo & V HD box.)

Looks like VM are at least being consistent with us nicko.

Re: TV price rises
 

Yes the difference between your package and mine is 1 Tivo, so it kind of proves there's been no increase in the Tivo fee or I would have a bigger increase then you.

Wouldn't I ?

Re: TV price rises
 

When I first starting looking at getting VM I got three different prices from the three calls I placed for the same product with a week of each other. Also the first three bills were all different and all wrong. When I asked them to review the recording of the call they said it didn't exist but the one call that they had right they had the recording of, strange how that happens :)

Re: TV price rises
 

The Collections are having consistent price rises, which will be less than similar older bundles

The plan is that the Collections for new and existing customers stay the same price

Re: TV price rises
 

£5.34! Incredible.

Re: TV price rises
 

Ouch :shocked: A call to retentions is required.

Re: TV price rises
 

Thats very nasty indeed.:td:

Re: TV price rises
 

Just got off the phone to retentions. Am currently paying £70.20 going up to £75.54 in February. I am on 60mb broadband because of speed doubling, so the lady in retentions has reduced it to 30 again which is more than enough for my needs. New 12 month contract at £55.40 a month! That's £15 less than I'm currently paying, and once I've got Christmas out of the way I'll pay the line rental saver to reduce it further. I am more than a little chuffed with that price, it's less than I used to pay Sky just for TV, but I still think Virgin's pricing is too complicated and they risk angering some customers into leaving regardless of what retentions are able to offer them purely because of the huge headline price rises.

Re: TV price rises
 

Congrats, just shows you what they can do. It is a shame long standing customers have to do this. Yes their pricing is to complicated and these latest prices rises are going down like a lead balloon.

Re: TV price rises
 

I'm really shocked, only joined Virgin Media in August and now my package is going up by £4.09 a month! That's a pretty substantial rise, I'm wondering if they've finally given in to Sky and decided to pay an extortionate amount for Sky Atlantic and are passing on the cost to us?

Re: TV price rises
 

Ooh Lucky Me (not). Got my email on the 3rd. Mine was supposed to be a £5.59 increase but after doing the Line Rental Saver I get a £4.59 increase instead (but a much lower monthly bill after shelling out £120 up front).

But if I'm really honest I love my TiVo's, I'm happy with my services. Might be nice to have a few more channels that we don't have yet, but really how much TV can people watch LOL. I have HOURS stored on my TiVo's (3-5 seasons for some programmes - I had to stop recording in HD on one of the TiVo's) that I don't have time to watch, so how much more content do I need?

Happy Holidays :)

:rudo:

Re: TV price rises
 

Well just got my letter from Virgin to say prices are going up by £4.24, what annoys me the most is the statement lower down which says "the good stuff comes as standard" And clearly states Up to 24HD Channels with a tick next to it As Standard when this is clearly not the case, 24HD channels only comes with the XL Package. Surely this is false advertising and deceiving the customer as usual. :mad:

Re: TV price rises
 

I agree it can be misleading but that's why they use the term 'up to' before the 24 channels. Same as BB speeds 'up to' in BT speak.

Re: TV price rises
 

This is the statement from the website under value for money, We think you should be able to watch all your favourite programmes in glorious HD. That’s why we’ve sorted it so that you can enjoy up to 24 HD channels with your Virgin TV package at no extra monthly cost. All you need is an HD ready TV and a V HD, V+ HD or TiVo box – you’ll find the HD channels in amongst the regular channel line-up. How I read that is i should be having 24HD channels in my M+ package at no extra cost.

---------- Post added at 17:27 ---------- Previous post was at 17:21 ----------

Its very misleading when it says up to 24 HD channels as Standard, 6 HD channels is Standard, 24HD is extra or is this a new package.

Re: TV price rises
 

Reading what you've quoted they're saying that those channels are included in each package without an extra cost (number of channels included varies by package). It's their dig at Sky who charge you for the package THEN charge you for HD in addition to the package the way I understand it.

Re: TV price rises
 

Do you not get any hd channels on Sky, even the free to air ones, unless you have the hd pack? If not I think it's a fair boast from Virgin to say that they provide up to 24 as standard.

Re: TV price rises
 

You get BBC One HD , BBC HD , ITV1 HD , Channel 4 HD , Channel 5 HD and NHK World HD free.

Re: TV price rises
 

Thats the problem they are not providing 24HD as Standard, 6HD is standard which is in the M+ and L package, 24 is in the XL package which you pay a lot more for. They are advertising it as if 24HD channels is what every customer receives as normal and its not, you pay extra just like sky.

Re: TV price rises
 

Got my letter today -£4.74 increase for XL TV, XL Phone, L BB. Time to think about going back to Sky for TV. How does Sky SD picture quality compare to Virgin SD (not too fussed about HD) and how noisy is the Sky V+ box? (when I had the old style box a few years ago it made quite a racket). Any help much appreciated.

Re: TV price rises
 

I know they were noisy, I had the old Pace Skyplus and I modified the box to reduce the fan noise, they were horrendous.

Re: TV price rises
 

£8 per month - a lot more???

Re: TV price rises
 

A -£4.74 and you are thinking of going back to sky when everyone else is gettng a price rise:D

Re: TV price rises
 

It's £8 more than free which is what VM claim. I made this point a few weeks back about HD on VM not technically being free and got shot down in flames for it!

Re: TV price rises
 

Re: TV price rises
 

£16.50 if your on M+, no point going to large with the same 6 HD channels

Re: TV price rises
 

A point well worth repeating - No EXTRA charge on Virgin , just as I recall checking last week Sky without HD but same or more channels ( Atlantic springs to mind) is cheaper than the closest virgin package but offering HD

ergo we pay for HD but not as an extra:erm:

Re: TV price rises
 

Sky Entertainment Extra is £26.50

TV XL without TiVo is currently £24.50 when taken with a phoneline or is £29.50 with TiVo

Re: TV price rises
 

nice moving of the goalposts there....;)

Re: TV price rises
 

No it's not. Sky 1 for example is not in HD in the L package but is in the XL so if you want an HD version of a channel you already have you have to pay more. How is that not paying for HD?

Re: TV price rises
 

Works out a fair bit cheaper if you are a new customer, when you average out the cheaper months across the year.

http://s11.postimage.org/cqvfl7nkx/tvbroadband.png

Re: TV price rises
 

I think the business model for TV subscription services is poor generally. They say it's all about the choice. Well no it's not. I want to be able to watch say one channel that happens to fall in the XL TV pack and they make you pay for the entire pack. What justification for price rises do they have other than "just because"? Yes the economoy is still bad. None of us are getting pay rises to keep up.

In the case of TV/Net/Phone, it's hard to actually go elsewhere though. I mean really it's Sky vs Virgin in terms of 3 play all in one package, and they both keep rising prices together. We have to keep taking and taking the shafting from them, or don't have TV, Broadband, Phone basically.

Re: TV price rises
 

Virgin is definitely falsely advertising HD, HD comes as standard with all our tv packages, Better picture, Better Sound, No extra Cost, that says to me that we all receive 24 HD channels on all packages which we know is totally untrue.

Re: TV price rises
 

The letter is in.... and it's going up by £5.04.

Distinct lack of breakdown of charge on the letter... maybe they don't know it?

---------- Post added at 14:50 ---------- Previous post was at 14:16 ----------

Just contacted VM and was told that they can't reduce my price as I am on the best package alledgedly but the lady said I could reduce my services and save money.

So I told them I would like to lose the landline as I never use it. She then said that that would mean my bill would go up!

You just couldn't make it up could you?!

Re: TV price rises
 

My increase came this morning: £5.65.

Phoned retentions and they offered to knock £3.50 off the increase in return for a new 1 month contract. I said I wasn't sure it was worth it, considering that I am currently out of contract and would think about it and get back to him. He then offered to knock the £3.50 off without extending my contract, which I accepted.

Re: TV price rises
 

That is normal and no surprise as you only get full discount for taking all 3 services, nothing unusual in that.

Re: TV price rises
 

Just rang and asked if I can have sky one in HD for free as I already have sky one and the HD channels are surposedly free and was told no. I would have to upgrade from the M to the XL package. Not sure how they can claim that HD is free can you?

Re: TV price rises
 

HD is free when its in the XL pack. You dont pay a fee for any HD channel when the HD channel is in your package

Re: TV price rises
 

I was initially informed that my increase was £4.70 but have now been told that not all packages are increasing and there will in fact be no increase even on the phone line.

Re: TV price rises
 

So why do I have to pay extra to get a channel in HD if VM don't charge for HD. If it was free then whatever channels I pay for on the medium package that are available in HD I should get.

Re: TV price rises
 

most hd channels are in the XL pack, When on xl pack you dont get charged a monthly fee for hd so therefore hd is free

Re: TV price rises
 

Hi virgin sent ma a letter to come back to virgin leave sky phoned them yesterday to get current prices tv L + TiVo no phone £26.50
Tv xl +TiVo no phone £37.00 big increase in prices £14.99 line rental getting great deal with sky I think I will stay put

Re: TV price rises
 

So if I want sky one in HD I have to pay extra. Yes? No matter which way it's dressed up its a charge for HD in my book.

Re: TV price rises
 

but sky 1 hd isnt in m+ back so therefore you cant get it in hd, its inlcuded free in the xl pack, your not paying for hd as its not in your package so there for its free if you are in the xl pack

Re: TV price rises
 

I can sense a Sky advertising campaign coming on here.

"Upset with yet another Virgin Media price increase? Sky. More for less".

Re: TV price rises
 

I know that Pete! And lucky for the agent really. The point was the way the conversation went!

Also, is it just me or is the lady on the telephone menu a little bit more annoying now. "For anything to do with your bills or payments, please press ooooonnnnnnnnneeeeeeeee"

Re: TV price rises
 

In other words, it's free as long as you pay for it!

Re: TV price rises
 

You really are missing the point. If its free then why don't you get it in the m package as you already get the sd version.

Re: TV price rises
 

And???

Re: TV price rises
 

There is a difference between "free" & "no extra charge" . I have not really looked at the advertisements for Virgin, but my recall of a billboard is along the lines of "no extra charge " for HD.

Re: TV price rises
 

Yes that old slogan of free has never been free in my mind and they can say that its free as much as they want but we all know differently.

Re: TV price rises
 

They don't say free - they say 'no extra cost'

www.virginmedia.com/changes

Up to 24 HD channels – we think you should be able to watch all your favourite programmes in glorious HD. That’s why we’ve sorted it so that you can enjoy up to 24 HD channels at no extra cost.

Re: TV price rises
 

So we agree then its all about spin.

My bill has gone up by £4.74 . Not happy but too low to move. At moment:erm:

Re: TV price rises
 

It is basically carefully worded to deceive potential customers into thinking they will be getting more.

As usual, just just bordering on the line to stop a limp slap on the wrist from the ASA/Advertising standards for about the 40th time.

Re: TV price rises
 

I have Virgin cable phone, TV M+, TiVo 500 Gig, Broadband L (20Mbit)
I pay by DD, paperless billing, line rental advance.
I have just received a letter from Virgin Media saying that my services will increase by £4.24 from February which wipes out the savings I made by paying line rental in advance.

What has gone up, the TV, BB, Line rental?

Re: TV price rises
 

From what has been said i think its the line rental. Im sure someone will correct me if im wrong thou.

Thats one of reasons why i went to Sky as the discount i am getting at moment is cheaper that i was paying with VM and that was before the April pay increase let alone this new one as well

Re: TV price rises
 

Everything has gone up as far as i'm aware. Line rental has increased by £1.09, £1 extra on the TiVo fee then as for the rest it's anybody's guess

Re: TV price rises
 

See my post 1573 have as you, and a v+ and tv XL do not pay Line rental in advance & my bill has risen by 50p per month more than yours.So your increase is £6( or £6.50 if bill is in fact 4 weekly) less than mine. For a lower TV package & no V+ :shocked:. I hope you pay less than £45 at the moment :dozey: Mine will be £49.95 from Feb 13

Re: TV price rises
 

Thats for the correction, i knew there was something else as well but couldnt remember

Re: TV price rises
 

If you've paid your line rental in advance then that isn't going up, still £120 a year. If you pay monthly then it's going up from £13.90 to £14.99 and so accounts for £1.09 of your increase.

Re: TV price rises
 

So at no extra cost why can I not have 24 HD channels in the M+ package, Because it is an extra cost, Doesn't matter how you dress it up, HD is advertised as standard and it quite blatantly isn't.

Re: TV price rises
 

Finally got my price increase, £4.09. Noticed the letter isn't actually dated, it just states December 2012. When does my 30 cancellation period start and end? I'll call Virgin later to find out.

Would any of our SKY members be prepared to get involved with the introduce a friend scheme? I'd set up a separate thread for Virgin customers here who plan to go to SKY due to the price increase. Seems to be plenty of vouchers on offer for everyone involved:

http://www.sky.com/shop/bundles-offe...roduceafriend/

Are there any other offers SKY have to introduce friends to their service?

Re: TV price rises
 

Go through quidco Chad, you'll make over £100 in cash back - approximately your yearly box nation sub.

Re: TV price rises
 

Chad ill do the introduce a friend thing if you want. Ill be happy with that. No deals on the site at mo as far as i know but ill check for you know

Re: TV price rises
 

Current quidco cash back rates for Sky:

£100 for Sky+ Subscriptions

£120 for Sky+HD Subscription with HD Channel pack

£20 for Sky Sports Pack as part of a Sky+ or Sky+HD TV bundle (bonused after 6 months)

£20 for Sky Movies Pack as part of a Sky+ or Sky+HD TV bundle (bonused after 6 months)

£45 for Standalone Broadband Unlimited/Fibre Unlimited without TV + Talk Weekend

£170 for Sky+ with **Sky Sports Pack + Sky Movies Pack + Broadband Unlimited/Fibre Unlimited + Talk Anytime

£190 for Sky+HD, Broadband Unlimited/Fibre Unlimited, Talk Anytime with **Sky Sports Pack + Sky Movies Pack

£5 for Broadband Lite as part of a TV bundle

£15 for Broadband Unlimited/Fibre Unlimited as part of a TV bundle

£15 for Talk Anytime

£5 for Talk Weekends

Re: TV price rises
 

Ive PM'ed you chad

Re: TV price rises
 

Quidco offer good cash back Chad

http://www.quidco.com/sky-digital-tv-and-broadband/

Hadn't noticed Andy beat me to it

It's also worth ringing sometimes , state you are with VM you may get extras like a free 2TB box etc.

Re: TV price rises
 

Never thought of that for him. I always forget about them. Chad take a look as some good offers with Quidco as Andy and MM have said

Re: TV price rises
 

Cheers guys, it's all good information to know. For me and my package it's definitely now cheaper to look elsewhere, especially if I'm going to get cash back or vouchers.

Re: TV price rises
 

Good luck. Let us know what package you get and how you get on. If you join Sky that is ;)

The Lighter sider will welcome you :D:D

Re: TV price rises
 

They have an offer for £190 cashback! That is the equivalent of almost 2 months subscription charges.

Re: TV price rises
 

Sounds a good deal to me that does. Drinks will be on you then :D:D:D

Re: TV price rises
 

"Such notice must be given within 30 days of the increase in charges or changes to the services or this agreement being notified to you"

If you were notified today, it starts today, ends 7th Jan.

Re: TV price rises
 

Thanks for the info. I'm currently on the phone just now to discuss leaving. Do not choose option 3 as your hold music "The Winter Mix" it sucks :D

Re: TV price rises
 

Yes you will find the master a very unbiased sort for sure.;)

Re: TV price rises
 

:D:D

Re: TV price rises
 

Well that was an interesting conversation. I spoke with a girl with a Geordie accept who knew her stuff not only about Virgin but SKY and BT. I didn't agree with some of her claims about competition services but she certainly knew information about prices, my distance from the BT exchange, BT and SKY internet usage policy etc...

She looked at how many minutes I use on my home phone line day and night to other landlines, mobile phones and premium numbers. She also looked at my internet usage. I was shocked to learn I downloaded 76Gb in September, 91Gb in October and 77Gb in November.

Basically after a bit of chat she offered me a price which will save me about £1.50 per month once the price increase is put in place.

Oh just remembered. I mentioned about the lack of new channels and HD content. Unlike others on this forum there was no mention of any up coming channel launches. I was simply told BT can't match Virgin for channels at this time and HD is more at SKY.
I advised I'm going to shop around. I have until the 07th January to cancel my services. Must admit I was very impressed. I didn't feel hassled at all. If anything I was made to feel like my custom was really important.

Re: TV price rises
 

Thats alot of downloading. In all fairness thou and IMO she didnt really say much that people dont already know apart from your usage stats mind you. If you download that much your a downloadalaoic like me :D good job Sky also has unlimited usage

Re: TV price rises
 

You can find your estimated BB speed below using your postcode

http://www.samknows.com/broadband/broadband_checker

What policy on Sky's BB :confused: its totally unlimited with no traffic management.

Re: TV price rises
 

I think the VM woman was trying to keep him with VM so lied to him maybe?