25 years - time to go
 

so after more than 25 years with Virgin Media (for those who are old enough, originally joined Nynex....) its time to depart VM.


Am on Volt VIP Package and 18 month contract coming to an end. Normally go through the retentions, and they offer what new customers are being offered, so was paying £80 + £25 for 02.


Was happy to keepo that price, even though new customers get it for £85, but VM only offering £128. So looks like for the 1st time ever, having Sky installed.


Obviously, VMs pricing is their decision. And as consumers we get to choose or reject that price. But always wonder why getting a new customer in is so much worth more to them (as in £48/month) that loyal customers. And once gone, unlikely to return.


But we move on - thanks to all the help people have given me on here over the years (unless VM suddenly have a change of heart - but doubt it!).

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

We do have a Sky section so no need to leave the forum. I'm looking into the logistics of leaving next year so will be interested in your experience of moving over to Sky after being with VM for a similar number of years as you. Good luck and I hope the move goes smoothly. :)

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

I’ve been a non VM customer for more years than I’ve been one while a member of this board. :D. In fact I only had one of their network products for about my first 3 years here. After that it was off-net dial up, then ADSL, before they decided to exit that market.

Stick around, it’s still fun, I promise :D

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Although there was a little spell with Sky in the middle I can't believe that I've been with Virgin Media for most of the last 30 years. The offering has deteriorated to the extent that Sky looks favourite for the next renewal. A good while to go yet though.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

No need to leave the forum mate, i'm not a vm customer and have always been made to feel welcom on here.
There is a SKY section on here too amongst others that you may enjoy.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

My main problem with moving is that I do not have an openreach line , by that I mean anyone's telephone line. I assume that one would need to be installed, reducing any savings, mind you l have no idea what that would cost installing and on going costs, guessing that it has some sort of rental cost?

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Depends who provides your service down that Openreach line once it’s in, but these days you can normally get a deal with all calls bundled, so the entire ongoing cost is line rental in that sense. Of course you don’t have to have a landline phone at all if you don’t want it. You can find broadband-only deals easily enough, which used to be hard to come by on a BT line.

Alternatively if your local mobile signal is up to it you could get some 4G internet kit. Or else get Starlink.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

This is one of the things we need to sort out before we switch away from VM next year. I know it could cost up to £140( BT direct) to have a new phone line installed so I need to see if any competitor to VM will provide a cheaper package/ free phoneline.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

When I enquired about moving to BT they said that they would cover the costs of the phone line installation themselves & would cover any fees charged by Virgin for leaving early, up to a maximum amount.

There was also a half price deal on for TV which lasted for the full 18 months of the contract. I think that BT Sport was thrown in too IIRC.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Being in Cardiff FTTP should be available, install FOC.

---------- Post added at 21:10 ---------- Previous post was at 21:08 ----------

You can no longer get a phone line as there is a national "Stop sell"on PSDN lines by Openreach since last week.. Just check if installation charge for Broadband.

Use the address checker here to see what is available via Openreach. https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

I also hope you will stay should you leave VM.

I am also thinking about leaving VM after nearly 20 years due to the contracts and if I do go, I won't leave VM until after the Sky service is installed just in case there is a problem.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

I think you mean PSTN.
I wasnt aware there was a complete stop, where did you see that ?
Last time I looked into it, they were doing it on an exchange by exchange basis.

Edit: nevermind, a little google digging found the information.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Just tried the link. Had to use my UPRN<eeek> number and the table that has appeared is a tad discombobulating to say the least.
I'm going to finish my gin and vimto cocktail then go lie down in a dark room to recover.

Link saved.

:erm: I shall attempt to translate the information when I feel braver. I've got till next June so I'm in no hurry to shed my timerous beastie approach to anything that smacks of being technically challenging. :D

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

My mate phoned about 2 weeks ago and got the new customer price + O2 cost
With Netflix added he's happy not paying more than he currently is and got netflix as he was using mine till they stopped that

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

We had been Virgin customers for a similar spell to the OP - signed up to NTL in the mid-90s. Never permitted a dish on our property and reluctant to be a direct Murdoch customer, we were loyal to VM and quite enjoyed the annual price negotiation phone marathon to get a decent deal. The most we ever paid was £140/m for the full package but for the past ten years I'm managed to keep it under £100/m without sacrificing anything.
But the last few years have been a nightmare of broken promises and sub-standard services. I'll spare you the details but this year's price rise and revised T&Cs were the final straw.
Out of contract, we signed up for Sky Stream and Broadband in May. The pucks turned up next day, OpenReach connected a broadband line within two weeks - Sky picked up the installation cost. No FTTP here yet but we get a rock solid 68Mbps which more than meets our needs for streaming TV and music services.
For 18 months we pay £13/m for the broadband and £73/m for the TV services. Virgin's final offer was their "enormous bol*ocks" package (or whatever they call it) and £164/m with annual increases baked in. When I asked the guy to check that number, it shot up to over £200/m! I'd had enough and cancelled.
The Sky Stream service has been brilliant - no buffering, crystal clear picture and sound, exceptional. Can't fault it. Highly recommended.
We'll never, ever sign up with VM again.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Looked have no idea what it means :confused:

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Yes Paul PSTN. Although FTTC is no longer available to new customers Up to 80mb broadband is available via SOGEA (Single Order Generic Ethernet Access) which is a copper line from the cabinet. Still FTTC by another name.

Here's the result for my address for SOGEA (ex FTTC).

https://www.cableforum.uk/board/atta...2&d=1694699612

@Itshim @Jolynne if you want help translating the checker result just post or pm me a screenshot.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

I've thought for years that Virgin oversell their broadband speeds - I'd suggest the majority of households don't need 1Gb. Admittedly, we don't work from home and our daughter has her own place now so we're just Mr and Mrs Average when it comes to broadband needs. That's not to say we won't take FTTP (Fibre To The Premises) if OpenReach or Hyperoptic pull their fingers out, but until then I've got 5G on my phone if I ever need it.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

You can’t get 1GB over wifi, unless you happen to have super-current devices throughout your installation (which is unlikely). At those sorts of speeds it’s more about the number of simultaneous fast downloads you can do, rather than having one going at ludicrous speed. That said, if you want the full gbps you can always hard-wire to one of your router’s Ethernet ports.

With BT’s 300Mbps service we did - quite rarely, but still - occasionally find streaming at 4K on the living room TV dipping a little below maximum available quality if everyone else in the house was also hammering the wifi at the same time. Now we’re on 900Mbps it’s full speed, full quality, all the time.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

I guess openreach aren't exactly setting the world alight with installing high speed fibre. After reading this I looked to see what speed I could get and, in the suburbs of Birmingham,it's 61 mb so not likely to be much use for streaming and work use at the same time.

---------- Post added at 17:03 ---------- Previous post was at 16:57 ----------



edit - tried to price up sky stream and despite advertising 61mb internet they say that they don't have enough speed to meet the 30mb to run sky stream

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Have you checked if City fibre are in your area?
That's who my isp use and i get on average 930mbs up and down.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Did you add the Ultra HD option and multi room?

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

I've had 1GB over WiFi with my phone.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

If your phone and router both support WiFi v5 (802.11ac) then gigabit speeds over wifi is possible.

In reality most people don’t have that, or even if they do they have a local environment congested enough to bring their real-world speed well below 1 gbps.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

I did put multi room in so that I get the equivalent to what I have now with Virgin.

When i got all the figures it couldn't beat the deal I'm currently on with Virgin so I think change is more likely next year when the deal expires. With the current attrition rate on channels it might no longer be needed.

---------- Post added at 08:26 ---------- Previous post was at 08:23 ----------

City fibre don't cover my area unfortunately.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

so, as the original poster, thought i would update. Signed up with sky, but they dont have fibre in my area (what...???? We are not in the sticks!). But my 2 boxes arrived the next day,


Was concerned about the speed difference (going from 600-odd down to 50), so gave VM one last chance, knowing I had sky already in my pocket, which i made sure they were aware of. And hay presto, a new offer. Full package, including moviews & sports in UHD. Broadband to 1 gb, for £86. Plus i can cancel my o2 sim which i have never used.


Only thing i dont have is TNT, but that is the subject I suspect of another thread as they are now charging for it separatly (to make things simple, oh and to charge you more....)


So VM have me for another 18 months.


So if they say they will not move, get a sky install date, know the facts of the cost of Sky (even less than I am paying - but I;m ok with that duer to broadband speed) - and then give them 1 last chance, knowing you have sky already there (which can be cancelled easily enouigh).

We def understand!!

One expects stuff to get BETTER over time not worse... (And prices not to skyrocket for worse quality)

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

I moved last year after being a customer for around the same time.

Retentions offered naff all other than "How about we give you less and charge the same", clowns.

Ditched phone and TV and went with Aquiss as our ISP, never looked back. Their customer service is refreshing to say the least having been with VM for soo long.

Will always be weary of VM, the customer service is none existent, their network is lacking investment so even when they offer 2Gbps, although I might be tempted, it is just not worth the hassle, especially with the length of contracts now.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

I have Aquiss FTTP now (as my backup/secondary connection atm).
The current plan is to drop VM when my contract expires, upgrade the FTTP to the highest speed, and set-up 4G as my backup.

[My Aquiss is a 12 Month contract, which seems to be their standard, they also offer 1 month contracts at a slightly higher price]

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Retentions have told me VM will be emailing or writing to customers in Feb of next year with discounts, are they telling fibs again?

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

I signed up with NTL in the mid-'90s and had great discounts over the years, but this year after a deal ended my bill went from £76 to £100 and was due to go to £120 after a discount ended.

I called retentions a few times, best offer was £99 to drop movies, lose TNT, keep Max It, and 250 BB
So I cancelled, and signed up in my wife's name for 250mbps BB costing £15 a month for 6 months, then £33 for 18 months.
Signed to Sky Stream for £24. Very happy with that.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

There just not very competitive now with the amount of choice they need to up their game

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Am I correct in thinking that the address remained the same , so did you not have to return the equipment? and wait for your wife's to be sent out ? Or are virgin media that stupid :confused:

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Also been using the service since analogue cable TV and Comtel and NTL and their 512kbps BB. Had lots of deals over the years and just took another haha Gig 1 for £29.55 per month with only 1 April price rise during the contract period

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Yeah, same address, my wife's name, and bank details.

I sent my old equipment back, and my wife's modem arrived before that. We had less than 24 hours without internet. Good discount on Sky Stream too for 18 months, (excellent picture, even on MTV channels) should save £750+ in 18 months

Very happy.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5...t/td-p/5275076

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Thanks to both of you, good to know.
An option for the future, now need to get one of the dogs a bank account :D

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Allegedly the 90 day thing isn't enforced. They are never going to turn down custom.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

My Gig1 deal I got from cancelling is 45p cheaper than new customer deal for 6 months the likely £15 cheaper for the next 12 months

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

The equipment has to be exchanged for data protection reasons - personal data gets stored in it.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Not has virgin for about 4 years. Waiting to get out of my Sky contract to go back.

Re: 25 years - time to go
 

Why? Just curious.