Virgin on Watchdog again
 

www.bbc/watchdog/Virgin media

I know there was a thread on here concerning VM, but today again they were on Watchdog.

I found it totally amusing to note that the stupidity of VM is to waste money on delivering leaflets to an area where there is NO CABLE.

Also delivery of leaflets to areas offering special deals to customers BUT its only when you read the samll print it clearly tells you NEW CUSTOMERS only.

The stupid reply that VM gave to Watchdog was 'we will look into this matter'

Now before members state that this letters are delivered by private companies, WRONG, leaflets are delivered under the directions of the sales teams of VM, so surely it does not take a mindreader to think - oh we will deliver to an area where there is no cable or plans to have cable.

If l am not wrong isnt this the SECOND time this company has been on Watchdog to deal with complaints.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Arthur, don't you read the advice I gave you (twice) about hyperlinks?

Just typing in random words vaguely connected to the subject doesn't work - I think you need to go back to the Witless Protection Scheme......

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

:rofl:

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Hugh, I have been on the Watchdog site and there is no link to the Virgin Media story today, so how the hell can l give you a link if there isn't one - i am not a magican.

Or are you Niel Berkett in disguise.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Well - no you couldn't - you don't give us a link if there IS one either.

This is why I tend to not bother reading your stuff until someone else posts a link.

Perhaps if you made the effort people would take you more seriously?

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

LMAO Arthur your a legend.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

:rofl: :rofl:

I believe Arthur's an honorary member... :D

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Have to admit Arthur is completely right about this as I watched it myself this morning. Only link I can find is for iplayer as written news not updated yet.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...ly_Episode_16/

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

So don't just make one up FGS....

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

So let me get this straight, if there is a link he does not bother to give a link. If there is no link he goes to the bother of making up a link. Priceless


:LOL:

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

I get same type of leaflets and letters from BT saying as an existing customer I can get special deals, I have not been a BT customer for over 15 years, BT even removed the drop lead from the telegraph pole 10 years ago!
So it is not just Virgin that sends there leaflets

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Well there has to be something wrong somewhere, l used to work for two companies that bought up to date lists to customers in new areas of London and Middlesex and then phone them or deliver leaflets.

I know for a fact that VM send out sales reps to local areas to find customers in cabled areas. IF anyone walks down a road and its cabled area - there will be a green box -right, and then you look on the pavement and there is a small box that sends cables into the house.

Its different with BT, you see phone polls. With VM you see green boxes etc.

What l am saying is that it is a total waste of money to send out leaflets in an areas that doesn't have that service, VM must pay thousands of pounds on leaflet waste, wehere they put could this to good use.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Anyone got a spare Which Computing Magazine that they can donate to Arthur?;)

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

I believe you are not the only one who has advised Arthur of this!

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

A quick video tutorial might help Arthur... Follow these steps to copy and paste a web page into your forum post. The video shows how to do it for sending links via email, just apply the same steps to your forum posts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCYP0mPeDoU

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Arthur I don't think it is more expensive. It would be it was targeted, as it would need Sorting into the correct addresses.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again 3/12/12.
 

I too saw VM on watchdog yesterday for wasting time, money and paper.

It stated that they have been sending mailshots to encourage households to subscribe to VM.

Nothing wrong with this, but these are to households who either live in a non cabled area or are already existing customers.

The sensible thing to have done would have been to run a 'data match' between the various databases beforehand.

The people involved have repeatedly told staff about this, but they have continually ignored requests to stop this wastefulness. In one case after calling them to stop a woman was asked for her name. All that happened was that they continued, but instead of being addressed to "The householder", they included her name!!!

To add insult to injury, they have been running a corporate video that spouts on about how they hate wasting paper and have made inroads in reducing it's usage.

One of these ways is to introduce paperless bills. At first this gave you a discount, but now it costs one an extra £1.75 for each bill.

They were even charging an elderly man, with no internet, for receiving paper bills, even though he had no alternative!

I think that it's ridiculous that people have had to resort to contacting a TV programme to resolve the above issues.

What do others think?

Have you or anyone you know experienced any such behaviour by VM?

I'm sure that other companies indulge in this foolishness too!

That's a much more helpful way to deal with the situation, rather than insulting and belittling Arthur.

We all had to learn these things after all and it sometimes takes longer for others to grasp.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again 3/12/12.
 

There is a difference between unwilling and unable to learn - perhaps you should have a look at how many times people have tried to show Arthur to do this, also it's a bit rich you mentioning belittling -when you do it quite often yourself.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

It also doesn't help that VM are using an out of date address database. Where I deliver post there were about 100 houses demolished a few years ago, VM keep sending large letters to these addresses about once a month which I have to endorse for return.

There are a few other rounds in the office I work at in the same situation so at a guess i'd say we have to return around 600 letters a month and my office only covers three post code areas.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

It sometimes takes time for some people to learn new things in life- you should be aware of this. There are many and varied reasons as to why this is so.

I do not belittle people- don't talk nonsense.

Can we now get back to the subject of VM on Watchdog please...

---------- Post added at 17:19 ---------- Previous post was at 17:16 ----------

Good heavens! This is ridiculous, surely it must cost more in aggregated resources to use an out of date list than buy a new one :shocked:

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

No I shouldn't

Yes you do

You mentioned it first - and yes we can.

I have mentioned that I get many letters - calls from VM even though I don't have cable in my area, it doesn't bother me too much although I'd be happier if the calls were less.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

In my list of things I worry about when I go to bed this ranks 7,869.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

To the CF Team, don't worry, l am still learning at the moment - l am nearly 61 remember and l cherish all the advice that l am being given.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

I believe that it is everybodys duty to try and have patience to those who take longer to learn new things. Some people have learning difficulties, for example, so, yes, I think that you should.

I do not belittle others. We could go round in circles all day, but it probably doesn't make very interesting reading ;)

I'm pleased that these inappropriate contacts from VM don't inconvenience you too much, but there is also the environmental impact to consider, as well as the unecessary cost to VM- this could be used for getting the extra channels that customers want instead :D

You are very gracious Arthur. It must be difficult to get to grips with new technology, apparently, the earlier we start to learn in life, the easier it is to grasp.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Good - but as you are no doubt aware that's your opinion not a fact.

Yes you do - quite often, but as you say let's not go round in circles about it.

I don't care about the cost to virgin or new channels to be honest. As for the environment - I suspect VM don't care about that either as long as they are getting people in. Even spamming non cabled areas they will probably get some people into their quite frankly crap off net product hen they phone to see about getting services.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

My opinion that others should have patience with those less able than themselves is indeed my opinion, but there are occasions where this is required by law eg to prevent disability discrimination.

I do robustly defend myself from a minority who seek to cause trouble for little or no reason, but do not accept that I routinely belittle people.

I care about any wasteful expenditure by VM as it's ultimately customers and shareholders that end up footing the bill!

You make an interesting point about Off Net, perhaps they could design an alternative mailshot for non cabled areas, or put something on the back along the lines of "if you're not in a cabled area, don't worry, we can still supply you with products from Off Net".

VM have made a big thing about environmental issues lately eg they have introduced paperless bills and a corporate video about paper waste has been made to show to staff- then they go and waste paper sending inappropriate mailshot!

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Arthur with greatest respect I am several years older than you and am more than capable of adding a link to my posts so please don't play the 'old age' card as it just doesn't wash.

You have been shown numerous times, by various members, how to identify and add links to your posts, I even offered to show you how to do it privately by PM and you showed not the slightest interest to learn. Age is not the barrier here it is disinclination. My offer of several years ago is still open to you if you wish to PM me I will happily teach you how to locate and post the information members keep asking of you.

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

I find the DDA pretty useless and do know a great deal about it - not just due to my own circumstances.

I do have an inordinate amount of patience where its due.

We are never going to agree on your opinion of how you see your actions / posts etc so maybe you should leave it at that. The evidence of your 'style' is after all all there in your posts - just the same as mine.

I find VM the same as any other company that I've come across - they may well make all the right noises but as soon as it comes to money they tend to throw that out the window - and I Can't say I blame them either.

It's not just the mailshots - they call too and don't seem to realise (despite) being told repetedly that there's no point in calling.

I left in the end as they wanted to charge an extra £25 a month to move me onto adsl2+

But my dad sticks with them and he gets letters at least once a week.

---------- Post added at 19:59 ---------- Previous post was at 19:57 ----------

Indeed - several of the blind people I teach IT skills are well into their 90's and they manage just fine :)

They give me a run for my money I tell you :)

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

Re: Virgin on Watchdog again
 

I had those too offering me up to 38Mb down and 9.5Mb up. My area isn't even on a schedule to get any form of BT fibre.