Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Well I've just received an email from Virgin stating that the prices are going up again on April 1st (April Fools Joke on customers) ????

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

They are indeed going up, and is not an April Fools on customers unfortunately...

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

here is the link http://www.virginmedia.com/myvirginm...ce-changes.php

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Thanks Virgin! :tu:

It's at times like this when everyone is struggling for money that a 7% increase on my monthly bill is just what I needed.
Can't tell you how happy I am that I get the chance to give you a larger proportion of my ever decreasing money pot.

[/sarcasm]

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Could someone explain how this will effect myself as I'm on the VIP package. It looks like a £1.50 incresae on the bill is this correct?

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

As posted else were mine looks like a 10% increase :erm:

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Your is a £2.49 increase:

Landline increase: £0.99
XL increase: £1.50

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

So let's get this straight - VM are increasing the charge for the L and XL TV packages while those customers on the lower packages stay the same? Shouldn't that be the other way round? The concept of 'Getting more for less' is obviously not something Virgin Media likes to associate itself with.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Many thanks, I did see that on the link someoine else posted but failed to remember it. £2.49 increase is a bit of a shocker but if VM can keep up the good work and give me more HD channels then I can't complain.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

seems like i will have to buy a high def tv just so i get my moneys worth :td:

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Personally don't care..

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I feel totally better now that you have shared that irrelevant piece of information with us. :rolleyes:

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

np, I worked mine out last night 6.5% increase and we're on the lower to mid band of packages. I just can't understand Virgin Media as the last increase was supposed to round off to the nearest pound and make the billing system easier, now its getting a little strange int eh prices with 99p's here 50p's there.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Brill...had virgin installed last week and I'm already paying over 70quid a month and now they are putting the prices up even more? So the contract we signed means nothing then? Oh yeah....the small print.....silly me! :(

Cheers Virgin

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Well I don't who cares about price increases? No doubt the "extra" cash, will go towards, the network, potentially more UK staff etc etc.. So as I said, I dont care..

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

If you've signed up to a new 12 month contract I think the price will remain at the price you signed up for, after the 12 months I think the prices will go up then. As thats what happened to my next door neighbour.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Hmm so what magical things is virgin going to give us to justify these increases? How about a new EPG that works as well as SKY's

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

...or maybe, just maybe, it'll go towards maintaining the status quo while increasing the shareholders' dividends. I know it's a long shot, but it just might happen.

EDIT: Sorry, I know I'm a cynical old fart, but I'm fed up of being shafted left, right and centre. Centre, especially.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Hardly being "shafted" the blame should necessarily be all on VM. The blame, should go to our "capitalist" government and the utility companies. Price increase could be to cover electricity, costs blah blah blah the list goes on..

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

On it's own, no, but when lumped together with everything else and the seemingly unstoppable increase in everything we see and do, coupled with effective wage cuts, it really starts to bite. I wish I had either your easy-going attitude or your disposable income because I know that neither of mine will stretch much further...

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I dont have a disposable income. I take the attitude, these services are "luxury" and I am willing to pay within reason for these services.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Fair do's

EDIT: I suppose everyone's definition of 'within reason' is different.
BTW, I wasn't trying to have a go at you. It's VM who should be in the spotlight here, not you.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

That prices were increased isn't a surprise, where they were increased isn't interesting.

The increase in 'M' HSI is not surprising, VM want people off that tier. The lack of increase in the other tiers isn't surprising, VM's areas are very price competitive for HSI.

The line rental on phones is being done in lieu of price increases on L / XL / XXL HSI. The VM phone network will already be fully amortised and any price increases on rental will be purely for network expense on other things.

The increases on the L and XL TV will be to cover increased programming costs.

Any left over increases will be for network upgrades for TV and HSI.

Nothing really interesting.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Its not that bad, at least they tell you! BT put prices up without warning,

Anonymous caller rejection: when that went up to £4 per month a few years ago when we used BT, they didn't tell us.

1471 6p charge: They failed to tell customers that.

To be honest these charges are inevitable in order to offer the free calls to Virgin Mobile customers, it won't be long before everyone else does the same. And the increase to Virgin TV may mean more channels particularly HD channels. Maybe Virgin Media may carry Sky HD channels soon???

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Wow mine is going up £2.50 which is a bit crap, good job my contract is up in April :D

---------- Post added at 17:40 ---------- Previous post was at 17:38 ----------

If that's the case then shouldn't they add the extra charge to those people who receive the HD channels and those that call a lot of virgin mobile customers?.....why should the people who do neither pay for others?

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Free or not? :dunce:

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Your cancelling over £2.50. Imagine you switched to someone else and 2 months later they put there rates up by £4. You'll be running back lol

---------- Post added at 17:48 ---------- Previous post was at 17:45 ----------

Talk Weekends: Free at weekends
Talk Evenings and Weekends: Evenings and Weekends
Talk Unlimited: Free 24/7

Thats when you will be able to call Virgin Mobiles at no extra cost.

You worrying about your line rental going up to £11.99, its already approaching £13 on BT, and one single calling feature now costs £2.59 whereas Virgin Media offer a single calling feature for £2.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Im just cancelling the phone line and tv as well I have had nothing but really poor service out of those for the last few years, keeping the net though as that's been solid - the £2.50 is just the straw that broke the camels back

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I was thinking of leaving VM and going to Sky. I am on the XL tv not to bothered with ESPN so the increase def made my mind up for me.
Can get by withou VOD.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

So when your box breaks down after warranty your willing to pay for a new one or take out insurance, all that hassle just to recieve channels which show poor range of programmes.

I'm actually tired of all Digital TV channels showing constant repeats, after all the money broadcasters make through advertising and money direct from us,they could at least put some fresh content on!

The worst:

Sky Real Lives:

Constant repeats of Airline from ITV dating back to 1999, they have already been repeated on ITV2!

Coach trip

Virgin 1:

My wife and kids which has been circulating on Trouble since 1997
Who wants to be a millionaire

Animal Planet:

Pet Rescue
Animal cops phoenix



The whole damn line ups on Challenge,G.O.L.D,Dave,Discovery travel and living,ITV3 and a few more.

And then the worst is Sky Movies, Sky charge us between £16 and £19.50 for these channels on top of our regular Sky/Virgin/Tiscali TV subscription TV service and they just show the same movies week after week, repeats,repeats and more repeats. And the daytime selection is hiddeous! It gets better, they even have Advertisements on these channels even though they charge us a fortune just to watch them. They are making a mint out of us!

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

haven't BT and Talk Talk also put their prices up too?

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

So if you are on the VIP package, don't you have to pay the 50p more for having an additional set top box? Or is it just those of us who are not VIPs? Think my bill is going up by £2.99. Maybe Ofcom's new premium channel pricing structure might help me recoup that, if they follow through.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

There are several things wrong with this whole idea of an increase.

Customers wouldn't mind paying the increase if VM stopped meddling with channels, and increased the services.

With Sky, we pay a two pound increase each year and we get every channel going, and the oppotunity to get channels that are not even in your area, ie l live in London, but can get STV, Channel Island TV, and more, you don't get with VM do you.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

There is absolutely no relevance between whatever Sky offer and VM's price rises. Just because Sky offer localised content everywhere (due to their delivery system) doesn't make price rises any more or less acceptable.

Sky increase their prices due to content cost increases, these increases also affect Virgin. Simples.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I think for what I pay in total, I get a good deal.
Yes I wish Discovery was in HD but the VOD is worth every penny.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Really? I don't get VOD but when I look at it at friends houses the content always looks really poor.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Depends what your after. I know it has saved us after either the start or finish has not been recorded or when sport has overun but they have not updated the time code for the V+ to kick in.
Also it's nice sometimes to watch something you've not seen in a while, like Spaced for example.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

It just proves that they do it for a reason.

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

You got ESPN and extra HD channels did you expect them to be free. If you want Virgin to move into the HD age it is gonna cost and the subscriber will have to pay for it. Surprised with the line rental increase though especially with all the 3rd party providers on BT now. Roll on March and o2s £9.50.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

The phone product is just so uncompetitive. £7.95 for anytime calls on top of £12 line rental is just totally out of step with the market. They really need to reduce the cost of XL to £5 for any hope of being competitive with BT or SKY, not to mention the cheapo telco options.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Yes but these cheap phone companies disappear and a larger rival takes over and whacks up the prices.

Example:

TalkTalk took over Tiscali UK, they are now putting up prices.

Other companies taken over by TalkTalk:

One Tel
Tele2 UK
Toucan
Tiscali including Bulldog

These smaller firms just piggyback firms like Cable and Wireless and depend on BT's network, they may charge less but never make any money, its done on purpose, its not as if BT want competiton now is it?

But I like I said before BT's standard phone prices are slowly creeping up next to Virgin Media's, like the call connection charge for chargeable calls is now 9p, Virgin Media's connection charge is 9.76p, hardly a big difference there really.

And the free calls to 0845 and 0870 numbers, waste of time, most companies are now migrating to 0844,0843 and 0871 numbers in order to get revenue share.

Some of the companies which have now migrated:

Traveline: Now uses 0871 numbers
National Express: Now uses 0871 numbers
Hutchison 3G: Now uses 0843 numbers
Ofcom: Now uses an 03 number and 020 number
Sky: Now uses 0844 numbers

Since revenue share has stopped, isn't it fair all these phone companies passed on the savings?

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Have you considered a career in VM sales m419, you always appear to have a sales pitch / anti-the competition post in threads like this?

You also neatly skipped around the big price difference between the respective unlimited calls packages - well done on that one :)

Dumping VM's telco and TV will increase my overall costs marginally due to the bundled discounts. This is more than offset however by knowing that:

A) I've a second broadband circuit available for when the 50M fails - no need to go into the office or work off tethered cell phone.
B) I'll show up in the churn figures. Well deserved for the stubborn resistance to fixing the long standing issues here properly.
C) The crazy peeps at O2 are giving me a ton of cash back making the service virtually free for a year :D

EDIT: Incidentally the stuff about operators piggybacking on BT's network and BT not wanting the competition is tosh. Of course BT don't want it but Ofcom say they've no choice in the matter and it's Ofcom who decide how much BT can charge for access. It's less than 90GBP/year to use a BT line for both voice and DSL, hardly anti-competitive in the context of BT's own line rental charge.

VM know their telco service is a rip off that's why they basically give the line rental away free with HSI :D

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

To be honest i have more to worry about than VM's price rise, Its small in comparison with some of my other bills and there price hikes. Oh and before the usual suspects say "but your staff" the price rise to phone calls, movies and sport hit me as well.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Totally agree and my first post commented on how uninteresting it was. I was more amused by the sales pitch in the post above. VM do not and haven't for years attempted to compete on call costs so to say that they somehow are competitive is absurd. They give the phone line away as a freebie to most packages for a good reason :)

I just shrug when I get my yearly Sky increase along with everyone else. Everything increases in price, if it gets too expensive you just don't have it, simples really.

---------- Post added at 11:30 ---------- Previous post was at 11:28 ----------

Well yes of course they do it for a reason. They don't just throw a dartboard at the price list Gary what's your point? :)

They want the ex-M tier gone and want to try and make a touch more money out of broadband / HSI, it is the main thing bringing in the readies at the moment though it's also the most expensive one to maintain.

Ooooh 4000 posts.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

If only I lived in India :D

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I'll start a collection :p:

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

On M . ( 50p increase to what ? not at home so no bill to look at ) what do I get out of if it if I move to L @£12.50. And would I lose my deal by changing it ?:confused:

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

BB M will now be £20.50 before any discounts - or by itself. Most people will now be paying £12.50 after discounts with a phone line (as most BB M customers get at least £8 discount)

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

what about the BB small 2mb service, is that going up at all? can't see anything mentioned on the VM pricehike info page.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

No it's not

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Now that the XL TV package has gone up by £1.50 can I please have the other ESPN channel (ESPN") please so I can watch the full coverage of American Drag Racing rather than the limited Channel 5 coverage?
Someone pointed out, as a 'positive' of the price increase, that we now get ESPN channels, those channels, AFAIK are not extra but replace those that Setanta had.

And what's all this about VM giving away its phone lines for free???? Looking at the marketing all the packages are attractively priced until you see in small 'plus a VM phone at £11 (soon to be £12)
Grrrrr........

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Setanta was offered free to VM XL TV..when they stopped broadcasting and ESPN got the rights, VM did a deal to get them included in the XL pack - you didn't get charged ANY more for Setanta, so getting ESPN is another "freebie"

Even more HD had been included - at no extra charge to XL TV too, with more to come... XL TV remains excellent value for money.

What do you mean when you say

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Mine goes up £3 per month. I could have stomached £1-2 but £3 is stretching it a bit when I already have issues with paying as much as I do for the broadband and phone. The TV I find good value.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Which packages are you on? Interested in what is excessive about the HSI prices :)

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I think he is confused. I think he means that Virgin will be doing free landline to virgin mobile calls.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Ah, ok..cheers :)

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Yep, can't wait for that. Mrs Flyboy and I are both Virgin Mobile subscribers, so it will be more convenient to phone each other from the land line.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

It will help out a lot when i'm at work to use that.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I'm seriously thinking of ditching Virgin altogether, I'm on XL tv, its a waste of money just lately I hardly ever watch and I hardly ever use my landline, £11 a month for something I use once in a blue moon is ridiculous, not sure whether or not I want to keep broadband, need to sleep on it I think.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

If you don't use something then it is a waste of money, regardless of what it is.

For people who love tv, then XL is great value. :)

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I love TV, but I certainly wouldn't call it great value and that's with me on one of those so called lifetime retentions deals.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Maybe you should try sky then or freeview? If you don't watch much tele and there is only a select few channels you watch then Sky would be a good deal because you can choose the mix you want, so you basically pay for what you watch and nothing else. The problem with XL tv is you're paying for all the channels you wouldn't neccessarily watch. Plus if you had a landline with BT their line rental is cheaper and you get free 0845 calls etc. Don't put your eggs all in one basket if you're not happy.:);)

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Well obviously there are a couple of million people who do find it reasonable value for money, If they are not worth the money even with a rebate then like others have said there are other services out their. It isn't like you have only just come to this conclusion. You have been posting the same thing for several years on more than one forum.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Well, have a look at what Sky offers/costs for the price of XL and you will be shocked... remember with XL you also get:

Free HD Channels

Free ESPN channels (incl HD)

TV Choice On Demand

Music On Demand


plus you are getting it even cheaper with a retention package... can't please everyone I guess... maybe Freeview would be better for you? £0 a month? :D

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

. . . and free V+

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I have had Sky since day one and had satellite TV before Sky moved onto Astra 1, I jumped from Sky to cable about 4 and a bit years ago as Sky started to ask for the full subscription rate for the first time in all those years after being on good offers due to being a pioneer. Cable had a new customer offer, so I switched, then got that extended for a year, then got a retentions 'for life' deal.

Have Freeview built into TV, use Sky box for the FTA channels and my motorized system for other channels.

Used to have BT landline, but when I first switched to cable I just had TV and broadband and dumped landline and went VoIP only with a PAP2 ATA and several VoIP providers setup, however part of the retentions deal was free install of the landline and then evening and weekend package and I get free caller display too, so use cable for inclusive and free calls, VoIP for other calls and use SayNoTo0870 to find alternatives to 084 and 087 numbers.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I still cant understand, having got such a good deal and having made sure that they don't make any money out of you by using Skpe etc., why you are so relentlessly negative about them. You are not providing any where near enough from your subscriptions for them to invest in their infrastructure, so I think you should be the last to complain about their services.
Hopefully when VM have finished their network upgrades and added more HD etc. they will be in the same position that Sky were several years ago and then remove all these ridiculous deals. Most of them were given for the loss of the Sky basic channels anyway which have long since returned.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

That's exactly what they are starting to do offload the free-loaders and retain customers that they can make money from. They are a business after all not a flaming charity. Cable has been held to ransom so many times it's about time they started calling peoples bluff.

I don't understand the audacity of some customers. They complained when Sky basics went and got a retention deal yet now they have returned they still expect to get the same deal? Does not make sense. I think these 'for life' deals VM were doing are stupid, VM just dug themselves a hole. I can understand a customers frustration if VM take it away without just reason but if any previous greivances have been sorted then VM is more than within it's right to ask for the full price like everyone else has to pay. It's the customers like me paying full price that subsidise the freeloaders!

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

:clap: :clap:

---------- Post added at 17:01 ---------- Previous post was at 17:01 ----------

:clap: :clap:

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

if you get rid of your telly at the same time you won't have to pay TV licence too:D

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I believe in getting the best value for money, the less I can pay for more the better, thus I don't use Skype but grown up VoIP as Skype is one of the dearest VoIP providers.

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

liamsgirl

you've managed 2 posts in 3 years!!!! Is there a 3 year gap between posts?

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

I'm not too fussed about my TV services going up £2/month (XL+additional set top box) as they've increased the HD offering and things like ESPN are included, however sticking 99p on the phone line rental is sneaky.

I don't use the land line, I won't benefit from the free calls the Virgin Mobile users, I don't know any. I'm just forced to have it as it makes my other services cheaper and VM hope that I'll use it to give them some more revenue.

For what is essentially a legacy system that they've done nothing to warrant a price increase and if people say you now get free calls to Virgin Mobile customers then they're not free, you're now just paying 99p a month extra for calls the Virgin Mobile.

Semi rant over ;)

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

yep the god darn price's go's up and the phone plan's dont come down like bt have done about £5 for bt and you get talk umlimited with free 0845 n 0870 number's and what do we get that good old virgin media free virgin mobile call's as well as talk unlimited and u pay £7.95 rapping of **** bag's not every 1 as virgin mobile's all my family n mates are on o2 n vodafone lol

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Pardon? :confused:

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

Wise choice, though I find now that the newer Sipura adapters such as the SPA200x series have a couple of advantages such as traffic prioritizing the Voip traffic and throttling other traffic, but then they sit between the CM and the Router rather than plugging into the router to deliver the dual phone sockets.

The only real limitation I found with the PAP2 series is they cannot offer least cost routing over the Voip system, you cannot have 2 voip providers defined then choose which one to use from a single handset. but I agree voip is the way to go forward.

May I ask which voip providers you use?

Re: Virgin Media Prices going UP again
 

aint we on about vm putting the price's up on they stuff ?