Getting better value for money
 

I'm currently out of contract (for about 6 years) and have been looking at my current package and thinking that I could be getting much better value for money.

Currently I'm on...
XLTV with a single V+HD box (SA)
20meg BB
XL phone
...for this I pay ~£54 per month which includes a ~£24 per month loyalty discount from a dispute years ago. So, without the loyalty discount my costs could be about £78 per month, which seems a bit steep to me.

I'm eyeing up the premier collection which, for what I can see, gets me...
XLTV with 500MB Tivo
extra VHD box (ideal for my lad's room)
60meg BB with SHUB2 (?)
Talk Weekends phone
...for around £63, which seems like much better value to me.

It looks as if hanging on to the discount is actually putting me at a disadvantage. Would you agree?

Would my being out of contract give me any extra bargaining power to drive a better deal? Will they insist on an installation fee?

Any advice is appreciated. Cheers.

EDIT: **Ooops should probably be in 'Billing'. Soz.**

Re: Getting better value for money
 

Just for clarity the Loyalty discounts replace any previous deals, so it's not a case that without the Loyalty discount you would be paying £78

If for the extra £9 it suits your needs better, then yes. BTW you would probably actually have the V+ HD box as your additional box, not have it swapped out for a V HD

Re: Getting better value for money
 

All you can really do is have a chat with the retentions team they may offer you the premier pack at a discounted rate plus you'll get the TiVo box and a second box which i think is the VHD box? They'll probably wave the £49.95 installation fee aswell.

Re: Getting better value for money
 

Thanks Ben.

Yes, I don't mind the extra £9 as I'm getting a significant uplift on my services (except the landline, but that only gets light use anyway)

This is probably a difficult question for you to answer, but what would you estimate that I should be paying for what I currently get? (assuming it was possible to put such a package together) I don't know what help this will be to me as I've kind of already made my mind up, I'm just curious as to the current value of what I get now.

I guess there isn't much impetus for offering me a slightly better deal to make sure I renew my contract then?

---------- Post added at 12:14 ---------- Previous post was at 12:11 ----------


Thanks mate. That's the way I hope it plays out.

Re: Getting better value for money
 

As XL 20 and V+HD boxes haven't been sold as services for at least 3 years now (I think), then all I can say is you should be paying what you are paying.

Re: Getting better value for money
 

If you end up tied into a contract and keep your VM phone it could save you some money to make use of the pay up front option for your land line. You pay £120 for twelve months rental and save just under £60.

http://store.virginmedia.com/phone/a...tal-saver.html

Re: Getting better value for money
 

Thanks, joglynne.
Yes, I was thinking about that too. That's a fiver a month off the top line. Not to be sniffed at.

Re: Getting better value for money
 

It may not help but I was in a similar situation to you, albeit paying £54 for TVXL (V+HD) Phone L and 20Mb BB. I had about a £11 loyalty discount as well.

I phoned retentions, I said that I wanted TiVo and Phone XL but I didn't want to pay the installation. They offered me the Premier collection with 1Tb TiVo and phone XL for £60.99 and a £5.99 installation charge. Contracted for 12 months, but I don't mind that.

All I can say is speak to retentions, don't threaten to leave or get aggressive. Just state what sort of deal you want (be cheeky about it, say you want the Premier collection with a similar loyalty discount as you have now) and see what they come back with.

Re: Getting better value for money
 

Sounds like a very similar situation. Thanks for your comments.