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Steven Charles · 16-05-2016, 11:00

We have been with Virgin Media for many years. The main reason we have a TV package is for the live football. We purchase a Sky Sports deal every August, keeping it on until the end of the football season in May, but entering into a new 12 month contract each time. No problem, same process every year.

Upon calling Virgin Media to turn Sky Sports off today, Monday 16th May, I found a completely new attitude from Virgin Media. Firstly they tried to tell me I had entered into an 18 month contract last August, something we have never done at any point, for the reasons explained above. Secondly, they also said we would have to pay for Sky Sports for the next 30 days, again, something which has never happened in the past. Usually Sky Sports is turned off, we are charged for the days we have used it that month and, if necessary, our account is credited with the difference.

The slightly arrogant customer service advisor, with our full annual account history in front of him detailing the rolling 12 month contract, also told us if we turned any other channels off, it would mean a new 12 month contract.

I called Virgin Media today with the sole purpose of turning Sky Sports off, an annual task each May, potentially turning it back on in August and entering into a new 12 month deal, which costs us about £100 a month. By the time I got off the phone I had decided to leave Virgin Media, a company I have been with for twenty years, because they are openly and arrogantly trying to con me.

I would never have agreed to an 18 month contract. I asked the customer service advisor to contact the person I spoke to when making the deal and he said he could not do that because that person was in another department. I asked him to look at our annual history of 12 month contracts, that mad no difference, by the end of the call I was asking for further services to be reduced and I was being 'threatened' with a new 12 month contract if I reduced the package.

Something has gone wrong at Virgin Media, the dweeb I spoke to was merely carrying out instructions, I understand that. I am now waiting for a call back off a manager, something which I have been told will take between 24 and 48 hours.

If you thinking of signing up to Virgin Media, whether it is broadband, TV or phone, my advice would be don't do it. If you do sign up, make sure you receive your contract in writing and make sure you return it signed, a process they do not require and now we know why.

As I say, we have been with Virgin Media a long time, even suffering the awfully slow Tivo equipment, try using BBC IPlayer on it as an example of how slow it can be. The customer service has changed, the service is no longer transparent and the company are out to con their customers into longer contracts they never agreed to and extra payments where possible.

16-05-2016, 11:00	#8
Steven Charles Inactive Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 2	Re: Cancelled Virgin We have been with Virgin Media for many years. The main reason we have a TV package is for the live football. We purchase a Sky Sports deal every August, keeping it on until the end of the football season in May, but entering into a new 12 month contract each time. No problem, same process every year. Upon calling Virgin Media to turn Sky Sports off today, Monday 16th May, I found a completely new attitude from Virgin Media. Firstly they tried to tell me I had entered into an 18 month contract last August, something we have never done at any point, for the reasons explained above. Secondly, they also said we would have to pay for Sky Sports for the next 30 days, again, something which has never happened in the past. Usually Sky Sports is turned off, we are charged for the days we have used it that month and, if necessary, our account is credited with the difference. The slightly arrogant customer service advisor, with our full annual account history in front of him detailing the rolling 12 month contract, also told us if we turned any other channels off, it would mean a new 12 month contract. I called Virgin Media today with the sole purpose of turning Sky Sports off, an annual task each May, potentially turning it back on in August and entering into a new 12 month deal, which costs us about £100 a month. By the time I got off the phone I had decided to leave Virgin Media, a company I have been with for twenty years, because they are openly and arrogantly trying to con me. I would never have agreed to an 18 month contract. I asked the customer service advisor to contact the person I spoke to when making the deal and he said he could not do that because that person was in another department. I asked him to look at our annual history of 12 month contracts, that mad no difference, by the end of the call I was asking for further services to be reduced and I was being 'threatened' with a new 12 month contract if I reduced the package. Something has gone wrong at Virgin Media, the dweeb I spoke to was merely carrying out instructions, I understand that. I am now waiting for a call back off a manager, something which I have been told will take between 24 and 48 hours. If you thinking of signing up to Virgin Media, whether it is broadband, TV or phone, my advice would be don't do it. If you do sign up, make sure you receive your contract in writing and make sure you return it signed, a process they do not require and now we know why. As I say, we have been with Virgin Media a long time, even suffering the awfully slow Tivo equipment, try using BBC IPlayer on it as an example of how slow it can be. The customer service has changed, the service is no longer transparent and the company are out to con their customers into longer contracts they never agreed to and extra payments where possible.