[Whicker]

Thanks for replying, Charlie. I just got the hd ready tv delivered today, which is rather exciting, and I've ordered the V+ box to be delivered on Friday.

To go back to Jethro's friend; I paid £75 upfront on the plastic over the telephone because I have the XL package, and there are no further charges for the service, and as they upgrade, so do I.

I rather doubt whether any company these days gives old customers a better deal than new ones (strangely enough, you'd think loyalty counted for something - but not any more! Therefore I dare say your friend could get that or perhaps even a better deal.

I do think that they are open to a bit of haggling, in a good natured way! I didn't haggle, so startled was I to discover that I didn't have to pay a monthly charge and I rather expected the initial installation charge to be in the region of £150. Perhaps I should have tried!