Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Could someone please advise me whether these 2 for £20 etc deals are any good as I sometimes find it difficult to spot the pitfalls amongst the hype.

The only package I'm likely to be interested in would be the 2Mb broadband plus phone.

Thanks

Martyn

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Well the 2 for £20 broadband plus phone package gives you the two services that would cost £29 separately for £20. Other than the £9 saving there is no difference.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Thanks for the reply. I'm thinking about downgrading from 4Mb to 2Mb broadband which will cost £18 on its own, so that will mean paying £2, but I'll get the line rental included.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

You can actually get:
Phone Line rental
2 MB Broadband
Talk Unlimited 24
(+ a few other things)
all for £19.95
if you tell their retentions department that this is what you can get from talktalk.

I am not sure if this is available to new customers.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

NTL use to offer free basic tv with a phone, if they still do that offer u would could also request to have free basic tv as well making it 3 for 20 pounds.

Free tv with phone might have ended thou since virgin.

worth inquiring about.

mike
edit:

just checked vigin products under tv package sized M is free when u take a virgin phone.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

the tv size m is indeed free when taken with a phone line but then you would not be elgible for any offer bundles so you would pay full price and not get the 2 for 20

shaun

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

It depends - now things have got more complicated you really need to sit down and look a the figures yourself and decide what you think is good value.

If you just want phone line and 2 Meg then it's not bad - except if you actually use the phone line - then it gets expensive. The talk weekend package (which is the basic one you'll be on) is extortionate compared to using 18185 on a BT line.

If you actually want to use the phone line then I'd recommend a BT line with an account from 18185 and then get 8Meg BB from one of the cheaper suppliers (Plus.net do it for about £15.00)

Alternatively if you want any TV with it Sky suddleny come into it. If you take TV from sky at £15 you'll get 2Mbit BB* free.

You'd then need to take your phone line from BT (calls from 18185) (or Ntl if you don't mind paying over the odds) at £11.00 a month plus call charges.


To summarise-

-----------------------------------------------------

BT/18185 (cheapest calls around): £11 + call charges

Plusnet 8Mbit BB: £15.00

Total £26

-----------------------------------------------------

Ntl: 2Mbit BB + Telephone (calls expencive) £20 + call charges

Total £20

------------------------------------------------------

Sky: TV (2 mixes) and 2 Mbit BB** £15

BT/18185 (cheapest calls around): £11 + call charges

Total £26

------------------------------------------------------

Sky + BT look more expensive at first but when you compare the calling charges they'll probably still beat Ntl and you'll get TV in the package.

You could probably work it a different way with the use of Vonage and BB from Ntl - However you do it if you get a phone line from Ntl you'll be ripped off on phone calls. :)

Like I said it's a mine field - you really need to look at the figures yourself.

*assuming you're in their area

** 2GB limit a month - upgrade for£5 a month to 8Mbit with 40GB limit :)

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Shaun

That's what I call a comprehensive reply!

Many thanks to all who posted.

Martyn

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

I'm confused.... I presently have sky sports and family pack and 2mb bb, normal phone service. how much should this cost under the new Virgin packages? I don't like the new m l xl thing - why is xl tv only available as a package if you take the extortionate vip packages?! not everyone has got £85 a month to spare for entertainment purposes.. :(

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Can anyone suggest a package for me. Its confusing me as well, just tried to phone, and the systems are down

At present I have...........

4MB BB
phone
full TV package

thats around £71+ a month, plus phone calls, which don't amount to more than £5.

I also have a virgin mobile pay as you go, which is seperate from the above

thanks in advance

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

The VIP package is probably your best bet.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

You can get what's called Bundle 3

Talk Unlimited (24 hour calling)
Talk International (cheap international calls)
Talk Mobile (Cheap mobile calls)
line rental
Broadband Size: M (2Mb)
= £19.95 a month fixed with no need to keep calling back each month.I phoned Friday and got this

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Thanks Nikesh

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

What is the VIP package...?Hmm... must have missed something somewhere

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/bundles/vip.html

£85/month without mobile and £125 with. As we have mobile for much less with another provider, we chose the £85 one which is only £12 more than we are paying at the moment for TONS more services.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Phoned to get the £85 bundle - seems there is a problem with my account :Yikes: the guy I spoke to said he would call me back - no call so far:mad: I pay by DD so not sure what the problem is

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Seriously I'd take a look at all the providers before you plump for some newly named package from Ntl. Especially if you use your phone for anything other than local/national calls at weekends. :)

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Why? The new package includes free phone calls 24/7 up to 59 minutes. Then just hang up and redial if you want to keep talking for free.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

AFAIK it's the talk unlimited WEEKENDS package you get as standard - it has extortionate calls during daytimes and we'll not even look at mobiles.

If you plump for a package with the talk unlimited 24 package then you'll want to look at the cost of both 0870/0845 and mobiles compared to 18185 or similar :)

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

It took me 10 seconds to find this, surely you could of researched it before posting.

http://allyours.virginmedia.com/webs...ct.do?id=11029

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Which is the best pack to get on telewest i got the broadband size l and i got the talk unlimeted and i got tv size l and i got all the sky sports channel

but i want to get the v+box which is the best deal to get

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Your not with Telewest no more, your with Virgin Media.

Surely thats up to you and what you want, look at the website?

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

i thinking of geting the vip one for 85.00
but i don't want

Talk International
Talk Mobile
Phone Size: XL
Broadband Size: XL

so would they give me some money of for not having them

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Yes, if you threaten to cancel they might but thats not the right way to do it. Why should you get money off, thats what the package includes. The best bet would be to phone them.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

I know but i don't want any off the orther stuff all i want is a v+ box and at the moment i am pay more then 85.00 is there any orther deals they do for the v+ box

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Jesus. how hard can it get. If your paying over £85 now why dont you just get the VIP standard package and just have the stuff you dont want. Why wouldnt you want faster broadband for cheaper? Why wouldnt you want a better phone package for cheaper? Your insane if you dont take the VIP package but hey its up to you, ring them or look on the website.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

couse i don't want to give money away on things i not going 2 use

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

You wouldnt be giving money away, you would be saving money if you pay over £85 now. But like i said look on the website or phone them up on Monday.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Hold on a minute, if you say you're paying more than £85 a month for Virgin Media services and now you want a V+ box, then why not go for the VIP package...? :confused:

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

It is a bit like the 3 for £2 deals they do in supermarkets where each item costs £1.15.

You might only want 2 of the item, which would cost you £2.30, but you might as well buy three for £2 and throw the third away!

The supermarket is not going to give you a discount if you only want to buy two.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

You're right I was under the understanding that it would be TU weekends however my assertions are still true :

After 60 min you're charged at a whopping 3ppm - you can't always redial if you're in the middle of a call.

0870, 0845 are excluded and charged at an expensive rate compared to 18185 et al.

International calls and mobiles are charged at a reduced rate compared to the normal tariff however alternative suppliers give you free calls to many destination or very low rate. I.E. if you make lots of calls, Vonage will supply you a line to hook up to your BB that will give you free local/national calls and calls to several countries for free too. Personally I get free calls to The States, Canada, and much of Europe for £7.99 a month. Much better than the Ntl line even with the discounts added.

It really is swings and round about - you need to look at YOUR calling patterns and find out who will be the cheapest and in most cases I'd bet it's not Ntl. :)

---------- Post added at 11:42 ---------- Previous post was at 11:40 ----------


Are you on commission (or are you a financial planning manager for Abbey?)

Come off it the guy is trying to get his head around the best deal for him - you saying "Your insane if you don't take the VIP package" really isn't going to help, it is?

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

:confused:

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

The packages are there, black and white on the website, if he is paying over £85 then the VIP Standard package would be the best for him ( saving money and getting more ). There is no package available to get rid of some services and save a bit a money. The VIP package is the VIP package nothing less, nothing more. Ive told him what is best for him and if he does not want to take the VIP package to look on the website or phone them up on Monday. There is to much confusion over this Virgin Media rebrand when its so simple.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Agree. :)

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

If you're on the phone to a company call centre then you can't just say "oh hang on I'll call you back" as you'd never get the same agent again.

---------- Post added at 14:09 ---------- Previous post was at 14:08 ----------


I'm talking about comparing all providers, not just Ntl. :rolleyes:

Do you see this now?

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Same difference, the packages are there in black and white on the other companys website or phone them up to. At the end of the day he asked if they would offer the VIP package without some of the services at a reduced price, i said yes if you threaten to leave they might but thats not the right way of doing it. The VIP package is the VIP package, nothing more nothing less. All the information he needs is on the website or phoneline which i advised him to do if he didnt want all the services the VIP package offered, i dont see why you need to roll your eyes at me when i have given correct advice and the 2 bits of advice you had given one was incorrect.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

To give you an idea - If you took a similar package from Sky, BT and 18185 you'd get :

Landline (BT): 11.00
BB (upto 16Mbit) : 10.00
TV (all mixes and sports + movies): 43.50
Sky talk (including free calls to 10 international destinations): 5.00

Total:£69.50

If you wanted Sky+ there is a £99.00 charge which is an extra £8.25 a month for the first 12 months.

So it'd be £79.75 for the first year then 69.50 after that.

If you took the same but with 18185 it'd be £5 a month less but you'd get landline calls of an unlimited length for 4p each. This may benefit those who make few landline calls or no internationals.

There is again the other option of taking BB from Ntl, getting a Vonage line for your calls (saving £8 a month over Sky talk and BT) and then TV from whoever has the best deal.

It's not as clear cut as some would like us to believe.

---------- Post added at 14:27 ---------- Previous post was at 14:21 ----------

And my comment was sugesting the OP and the other posters do this to determine if the VIP package is the best package for them - this is the point ot the thread isn't it?

He did and you answered that point - I was trying to answer other questions too.

Because from your posts your just telling him to take the package and be done with it - I think this is bad advice - people should compare all that is available to them not just one supplier.

I was wrong about the package but correct in the assertion that there are cheaper packages available even if the package is different:

"You're right I was under the understanding that it would be TU weekends however my assertions are still true :"

Post #31

At the end of the day I'm sure we agree the customer should always go for the package (from what ever provider) that provides them with the best features and benefits they can get/use.:)

After all the thread title is "Virgin packages - are they a good deal?" How on earth can you tell without comparing them to other providers?

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Yes and now that doesnt give him the V+ box he wanted does it. Sky+ is not Sky HD. At the end of the day he asked about Virgin Media and i gave him an answer for Virgin Media, there is no need to jump and pounce on me because i told him about Virgin Media.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Look I'm not here for an argument but you've blatantly jumped over the issues of price and at no point did wwe say that he specifically wanted a V+ box for HD.

You're making assumptions about the posters requirements which is bad news as it means you give bad advice.

This is why I did several comparisons so the poster (and other readers) could see if "Virgin packages - are they a good deal?"

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

A number of posts have been edited or deleted due to flaming and insults which had moved away from discussion of the merits of the packages on offer. Remember that whilst all in package bundles can be good value, equally for specific users with specific use patterns the bundle might become costly. There is no need to fall out with each other when pointing out these differences.

Remember the aim here is to offer constructive advice. Bickering amongst each other will achieve nothing, except attention from the CF team, and we all know where that will end.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Um - if you're on to a company call centre you're already most likely on an 0870 number so you're paying for the call anyway.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

shaun

What services do you have from Virgin Media?

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

www.saynoto0870.com

Not is you want to do it for free :)

---------- Post added at 21:08 ---------- Previous post was at 21:07 ----------

None, they're too expensive and when we did they didn't work. How is this relevant?

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

well that was the answer i was expecting after reading your comments.

I have Ntl Bundle and it is good value , the 2 for 20 bundle is also good, there is nothing to stop the customer adding say Local unlimited for just a few pounds.

The original poster did not even say if he was a big phone user, maybe even talk weekends would be ok for him.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Which is why I provided several comparisons and said:

Don't try and paint me as someone with an axe to grind - I haven't, I'm just providing my opinion on the thread title. Incidentally I'm actually the only one in the whole thread to bring figures to the table to back up what I'm saying. :erm:

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Arthur the spur here, l don't know if anyone has realised, talking about sport, Setanta Sports have a NINE channel package for £15.OO per month, with Sky, yet on Virgin media (or NTL/ Telewest) you get SIX channels of Setanta Sports for the same price of £15.00, who is conning who. there is something wrong somewhere.:erm:

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Shouldn't need to redial, then....... :D

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

shaun:well that sounds like u may at least have issues

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Of course you will. the phone package from Ntl requires you redial after 60min or pay 3pppm.

If you're on a call to British Gas for 1.5 hours trying to ge them to sort a problem (even if you call on an 01 number) then you'll need to redial or pay 90p for the supposedly "free" call.

---------- Post added at 08:37 ---------- Previous post was at 08:34 ----------

And the fact that I think the re brand won't change the mentality of the upper management within Ntl means the figures I've quoted from other websites are pointless?

Can I suggest you look at the figures and comment on them rather than any perceived axe I have to grind?

If you want to ignore the figures then just leave the thread - no one makes you come in here. After all the thread title is: "Virgin packages - are they a good deal?"

Have you provided figure or discussion on the topic of the thread?

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Why is that Virgins fault. I want to know why anyone would sit on a phone to British Gas for 1.5 hours, i certainly would not but there again i would not use British Gas.

I think British Gas need to sort out there call centre's if you have to be on for 1.5 hours

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

i was also under the impression the same was with BT and er also every other provider although I do know some who are 70 mins rather than 60 but they are few and far between

Shaun

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

yeah! why on earth would u be talking to british gas for 1.5 hours lol:confused:

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Shaun, couldn't find anything on the Virgin Media website to confirm/deny your proposition re 3ppm for 0800 calls after 60 minutes, so I called CS.

They stated that 0800 numbers continue to be non-chargeable after 60 minutes (phew, that's a relief).

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

BG were an example - it could be any company. :)

---------- Post added at 10:07 ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 ----------

18185 have no restrictions on call length and neither do Vonage :)

---------- Post added at 10:09 ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 ----------

0800 numbers are not my proposition here. :)

I think we're at crossed purposes.

When I said free, I was talking about making the call within your call package (at no extra cost). I.e. getting an 01 or 02 number from saynoto0870. :)

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Please excuse my confusion.....

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

ok, I think I have sussed - if virgin media are going to move people on ntl packages to the new virgin media packages (anyone know if this is going to happen?) then what I am presently on (family pack, sky sports, 2mb bb, std phone) will be £66 a month; £11 phone, £20.50 xl tv, £18 2mb bb, £16.50 sky sports. so the difference between tv packs is £12 - cos I could get the 3 for £30 + skysports for £24 = £54... or I could just be a tightwad and face facts that there really isn't that much new programming on telly :p: , and just go back to 4 + a bit channels & dvd's: broadband +basic phone £20 :cool:

hmm... :juggle:

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

I notice that during the launch, Richard had a pop at the way Sky bundle channels, so you end up spending more to get what you need..now, bearing that in mind..

I like watching the Discovery channels, which Virgin describe as "factual",so Size L looks like the one for me at first glance (I couldn't give a monkeys about the sports or movie channels).

Now someone who watches factual channels watches more than one of the same kind, right? Sky split them up into different "packs" so you have to buy more than you want.

Virgin are doing the same thing, to get ALL the discovery channels as well as other in the same vein like The History channel,The Biography Channel, National Geographic etc., you have to go up to the XL package! Isn't this the same thing that Richard accused Sky of unfairly doing?

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

I don't mind paying a few quid extra to get the channels I want, but like you, they are somewhere (seemingly randomly) between the L and XL package. Although sky may seem more expensive - it would work out cheaper for me (well, if I had a bt landline it would :() - cos the 2/4/6 mixes are only literally £2 or something difference between each! *sigh* I'm not no way in hell prepared to pay £66 a month for our 'entertainment'. so I guess we'll be going without... :sleep:

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

I loathe these big bundle "catch all" packs. I would prefer if cable went back to the category packs, ie Entertainment, Music, News & Docs etc. Although I would prefer to choose exactly what channels I wanted a la carte style. And this could be made to pay for Virgin if you had to have self-selected packs of say 50, 100, 150 etc channels. But you choose exactly what channels you want within these packs. Could be done via VM's website very easily.

If you want all the "Factual" programmes on cable, you have no choice but to pay for the top tier XL pack. Same with Kids, same as with Music channels etc. So Branson is talking utter rubbish, Sky is far more flexible. On Sky you can choose smaller category packs, unlike on cable.

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

thats really quite true sky do seem to offer better value for choice (if thats a, whatever)

but realistically in each of the 3 packs that VM offer theres a range of channels from every category, the range of categories expand as you go up in price.

whereas sky you can have a single category and pay more for another and another category.

so doesent that theoretically make VM better 'all round' for home digital tv?

i know if it were me, i personally like trouble, living, and all that, discovery and such aint for me, but it is for others. id guess its down to personal preference which is better. value for money & choice wise.

or am i talking utter ****e? i feel like i am hehe :P

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

Yeah thanks savvychels ... ive upgraded to VIP.. it was actually done in real time as i was talking to the guy on the phone... He said done!!! and it was done....No waiting...

Re: Virgin packages - are they a good deal?
 

I have just read this thread and there are some excellent forum members out there. I am thinking of switching back to Sky after 2 years with Telewest. I was interested in the £85 VIP package but CS have given me a bad taste in my mouth over the past few days and have been trying to study my options with Sky. I will have to come back to this thread and have a good thorough look again before I go back onto the Sky site. Thanks everyone out there. :tu: