HD channels rip off
 

hi all been with VM for about 3yrs now with just the occassional mess up by them had a new box last week which got me thinking.i started with the basic tv and 10MB bb then upgraded to XL tv paying a extra £100 for the V+ box and then £50 to have the XXL 50mb BB upgraded activated. so now i have a nice lcd tv ive noticed that all the hd channels i dont recive except bbc1 hd etc NOT the movies upon looking at vm site there all free as im on the top packages BUT with a £50 activation fee
what a liberty just to flick a switch is there any way i can get them for free? why did i pay them for a v+HD box if i dont get the HD channels even though im on the top package

Re: HD channels rip off
 

you are wrong.......

Sky Movies/sports HD pack is £7 extra a month per box, if you already have HD channels then you don't pay for the activation fee......... which by the way lets you have access to inclusive basic HD for no ongoing monthly fee on top of XL. :)

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Because sky charge virgin to flick that switch

Re: HD channels rip off
 

ok so i have the basic HD channels so im already reciving HD correct?
and im already paying for the movie channels

now for £7 per month i can recive the movie HD channels?

below chart says its free so where does the 7quid come from
How much does V+ HD cost?


TV M+
TV L
TV XL

HD activation
£49.95
£49.95
£49.95

Monthly fee
£5
£5
FREE

Re: HD channels rip off
 

If your on vip50 which is top package you'll get sky mOvies hd

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Sky Premium HD (Sports/Movies) is £7 on top of you Sky Sports/Movies it's got nothing to do with basic HD or V+HD.

Check the website again and select "Sky Premium HD"

You only get Sky PREMIUM HD included on VIP50

---------- Post added at 22:43 ---------- Previous post was at 22:38 ----------

http://shop.virginmedia.com/digital-...-channels.html

Re: HD channels rip off
 

so they sell you the packages deals to start with then dont tell you u need to upgrade etc to view um crafty [Mod Edit] il have to try plug in to next door see if they get HD movies lol

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Oooh, don't swear on here mate, family forum :nono:

How are they crafty? it's all there and clearly states it doesn't included Sky Premium HD. Which goes mostly to Sky as it's their charge.

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Is this something new. I don't remember ever paying an "activation fee" for HD.:confused:

Are the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Film 4 HD channels not free to view?

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Me neither.

However, there is this on the VM website* Not quite sure why scu11y69 is paying it, as he is not a new customer.

*in the "Legal Stuff" section, HD sub-section.

Re: HD channels rip off
 

I'm sure they charged me something when I upgraded to HD. Think they said it was an "installation" fee, even though all they did was post me it and have me install it myself

Re: HD channels rip off
 

If you add HD to your package then there is a one-off £49. If you've paid a "upfront fee" for V+HD then the fee is included in that.

There is no further extra monthly fees after that.

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Interesting thread; I'm slightly confused where I stand after a call to Virgin earlier this evening.

Had a V+ box for ages, originally on XL but downgraded to M for a couple of years when I wasn't using it. Recently started using it again and noticed I didn't receive any HD channels, even the so called 'free' ones. Phoned up and was told that there was an HD charge per month, but this would be waved if I upgraded to XL, which I duly did.

I'm also unable to pause/record TV at present, and was told that if I wanted this reactivated I would have to commit for a further 12 months; which I refused (why should I have to sign up to a further 12 months when I've been a customer for years to merely receive the likes of BBC HD?)

Anyway, now receiving all the basic channels but still no HD channels. So, things I'm unsure about are:

- Do you need to sign a further 12 month contract merely to reactivate the V+ functionality in a V+HD box you previously paid installation for?
- Do you only receive the HD channels if you sign up to the V+ service; regardless of your package (as mentioned, currently have TV XL but getting no live HD channels, although interestingly HD on demand works fine)?

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Seems the 12 month contract (or extension) applies regardless of whether you're activating or reactivating HD which is kinda annoying.

Got another issue now, Virgin are denying that I paid for my V+ install originally and insisting I pay the £50 now. Waiting for a credit card statement to disprove this although I clearly don't like their inference that I'm lying. Has anyone else had this problem?

Re: HD channels rip off
 

I am in a similar position but they explained it fully to me so I am ok with it.

I have V+ and XL and will soon be downgrading to M. They informed me I will (obviously) lose V+ functionality and also the ability to watch HD channels and (curiously) BBC Red Button which although I found that odd dosen't really matter.

I am only keeping the TV service for Catch Up so i'm happy with that.

If I did choose to go back to XL they said I would have to pay £50 to get HD activated again even though I paid £49 to have V+ installed just less than a year ago, this to me is just a ripoff as I have met all my contractual obligations but in fairness at least it was clearly explained to me, it would sadly probably stop me ever upgrading though, to V+ anyway.

Re: HD channels rip off
 

If I were you I'd tell them where to go! One thing I cant stand is bad customer service and whichever way you cut it, accusing a paying customer of lying is unacceptable. :(

I'm sure if you gave Sky a call and explained the situation, they'd welcome you with open arms. Sky+HD functionality and all! :D

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Yes, saying that I hadn't paid for the original V+HD installation when I knew I had really riled me. I even went as far as ordering a copy of an old statement to disprove it.

Interestingly, realising that I wasn't getting a great deal and generally hacked off with them I phoned up and said I wanted to give my notice to disconnect; pointing out the £50 charge was not worth it when I could get HD turned on with Sky for free by switching and was miffed that despite paying for TV XL I wasn't even able to use any of the recording functionality or HD channels.

Anyway, 2 minutes later, £50 waved (through a credit); upgrade from M to L broadband and £8/month knocked off my bill. Seems they can see sense but only if you threaten to leave. Oh well, job done now at least.

Re: HD channels rip off
 

btw, you can't have HD on Sky for free - it costs you £7 per month.

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Do you mean VM?

HD is £10.25 on Sky, a few channels are free though.

Re: HD channels rip off
 

i thought it £10 something a month for HD on sky

Re: HD channels rip off
 

It is, £7 for the 12 Sky HD channels on VM

£10.25 on Sky

Re: HD channels rip off
 

I'm sure if you explain the situation to them and mentioned you were moving from VM they would come up with a good deal. :)

Re: HD channels rip off
 

im thinking of getting a standard V-box upgraded to a V-HD box in my son`s bedroom but would like to know if i will need to pay a HD activation charge.

i have a V+HD box in my front room on XL tv with the HD already included before the HD activation charge and the standard V-box upstairs. i want the standard V-Box moving to my daughters room and a V-HD box installing where the V-Box is.

does anyone know if i will need to pay to activate the V-HD box to recieve HD channels and how much extra will it cost on avarage per month ???

Re: HD channels rip off
 

Should have said, "some HD". To be fair I'd started comparing packages vs Sky in case they didn't budge and Virgin undiscounted seemed similar to Sky even with the HD add-on they charge (excl. premium channels).

btw. surprised it takes so long to activate, I had to get my pin reset, which was instant but 6 hours later the HD still isn't on and they say it could take up to 24 hours. Is there a way of forcing it quicker?

Re: HD channels rip off
 

You will have to pay the HD activation charge of £49.95 for the additional V HD box.

Assuming that you do not have a cable point to plug the third box into, there will be an installation charge of £40.

The third box will have an additional monthly charge of £6.50 (post April price).