Re: More price rises
 

Well I got my price rise letter today.....two weeks after my account was closed!

Re: More price rises
 

Sadly my old friend Watson had a word in my ear earlier old boy.;)

Re: More price rises
 

Spoke too soon yesterday, got the letter today. Not even a month's notice...

Re: More price rises
 

ISPs buy equipment in US Dollars while we pay them in Pounds. As they purchase new equipment at the higher rates their costs will rise. This impacts VM more than most as they buy more equipment than most.

TalkTalk lease equipment and depending who they are leasing from may be paying in USD, or their lease costs have gone up as the kit is priced in USD.

Add that to ongoing usage increases and the inability to hide costs in line rental and I'm sure we'll see more increases.

Re: More price rises
 

Still not got mine and then will do the call with my list of gripes.
To raise the price when so much has gone downhill is what I have an issue with.
If it was the same service as this time last year I would have taken it on the chin as inflation etc but not when it is so much worse in my case.

Re: More price rises
 

Loads more channels including the much-requested Universal HD, extra apps like Hayu which is proving popular, more on-demand content including the biggest UKTV library and exclusive shows from Starz, investment in a new fast 4K box...all improvements. Just phone up and cut a deal.

Re: More price rises
 

I'm not one to complain but Virgin are really starting to push me now. I called up a month ago to negotiate deals for me and another for a member of the family and was told on both occasions the new deal would include the price increase. Both of us had the letter today so I thought I'd call up just to be safe and they are now claiming there is no record of this and I will see an increase of £3.50....

Re: More price rises
 

They're very good at making promise they don't keep. The trouble is often the guys on the phone will say almost anything to get you to agree to something.

Re: More price rises
 

And the others don't do the same?.

Re: More price rises
 

This is true and while I do agree with Denphone in that they all do it, what was really pushing my buttons was how the guy on the phone today just kept repeating that every customer will have an increase of £3.50. Yes I understand that, but my squabble is with the fake promises right now, not the increase. I've used Virgin for years (since they were Cabletel) via my parents and not at my own home but this year certainly hasn't been one of their best in my opinion.

Re: More price rises
 

Yes that's true but does it make it right?

Re: More price rises
 

No it certainly does not make it right so its up to the customer to barter for the best deal for themselves and their family IMO.

Re: More price rises
 

Really annoying, I would change providers in such a situation. Did they give you any written confirmation that your price would not rise?

Re: More price rises
 

That's certainly true. I rang retentions yesterday and spoke to a nice lady. I told her that I was concerned about the amount I was paying, and I was thinking about going to Sky. She told me there were some good offers at the moment. For the Full House package which I'm on plus HD channels., she offered me a reduction from £128 to £95 for 9 months then returning to normal price for the remaining three months. I of course accepted this good offer, but it got me thinking - why do some people ring retentions and have no luck at all in getting any reductions at all. Is it attitude, or are they just unlucky.

Re: More price rises
 

Variety of reasons, may they are are on a good deal already or vastly overpaying (£128 seems a lot). Are they prepared to enter into a new contract ? Never harms to be nice and reasonable but firm. It can depend on who you get too. Ring back another day if you don't get what you want.

They keep changing prices/bundles/discounts so often its difficult to determine if you're on a good deal (deliberate i'm sure). e.g. i'm getting my extra box free as part of the deal when upgrading to Tivo. This was dependent on being on the XL tv pack. Don't want XL (full house) any longer but I'll lose the extra box discount if I downgraded.... Also I'm on 150MB BB speed - this doesn't appear as a package on their ordering page. All this must confuse VM aswell, they've made it so complicated.