Upgrade pricing?

[Hopper99]

A quick question. I received the 'It's time to go digital' letter and thought I'd look into getting a V+ box and upgrade to 50Mbps broadband at the same time.
I currently take the following VM services;
Broadband Size: XL £37.00
Line Rental £11.00
Paper Bill Charge £1.25
Total £49.25
I have looked at VM's web site and if I go through the select your own bundle I can select the following
Monthly One-off
Your Bundle £35.00
Broadband Size: XXL
TV Size: M
Phone Size: M
Wireless "N" Router and adapter £0.00
V+ Service £5.00
Virgin Phone Line £11.00
V+ Installation £69.00
50Mb broadband activation £20.00
Your cost summary:
Total one-off cost £89.00
Total monthly cost £51.00
Online credit (taken off your first months bill) -£20.00
I have just spoken to someone at the end of the 0800 052 0730 number who confirmed that the one off cost would be £139.00 because the on-line price has special offers not available over the phone!
My question is, what is the difference? I am requesting the same services but if I choose to speak to some one the install costs go up by £50!
Can someone shed some light on this please? Am I being peanalised for being an existing customer or do I need to leave VM to go back? It seems a bit weird to me.

[BenMcr]

The one off cost should be £119 - £99 for the V+ and £20 for XXL activation. A second £30 install fee would not be charged

The £50 difference is if you order all 3 services online in one go. You already have telephone

[Hopper99]

Thanks for the info, I'll get back to them.

[Hopper99]

Ok, an update.
I called back following the £49 V+ announcement and spoke to an agent about upgrading my services. I said that I would like 50Mb BB and as analogue is being switched off soon to add digital tv (M) with a V+ box. The agent said that the cost per month would be £2 less that I am currently paying i.e. £46 with an upfront charge of £49 for the V+ box. I was happy to get the V+ and save £2/month so I agreed.
Eight days later I got my welcome Pack which outline the new details as follows;
Package Price
TELEPHONE LINE RENTAL £11.00
PHONE, BBAND XL & TV DISC £17.00
DIGI PKG-TELCO
4P PLAN
TV SIZE:M
V+ BOX £5.00
XXL 50MB BROADBAND £52.00
BB SIZE XXL ACTIVATION CH £20.00
MANNED INSTALL MODEM XXL
USB XXL MANNED
FREE INSTALLATION £30.00CR
(I)V+ INSTALL FEE £150 £150.00
TV XL V+ BOX OFFER £101.00CR
INSTALLATION CHARGE £30.00
MANNED INSTALL 12 MONTH CONTRACT 50
The above suggests that my new monthly payment will be £51.00 not £46.00 as discussed, is the extra £5 for the V+ and overlooked by the agent initially? Could someone let me know what my monthly cost will be following the XXL price reduction next month? The install isn't happening until 08/09/2009.
Thanks in advance.

[BenMcr]

Yes the extra £5 is for the V+

From 1st September it would be £44 a month

However they shouldn't be charging for for the V+ install AND the 50Mbit install. You should only have to pay £49 for the V+ and £20 for 50Mbit activation

[Hopper99]

Thanks Ben,
the way I read it was the £30.00 installation charge is being offset by the free installation £30.00CR. If I'm mistaken please let me know.

[BenMcr]

Oh yes, didn't see that there

[Pontiac]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

However they shouldn't be charging for for the V+ install AND the 50Mbit install. You should only have to pay £49 for the V+ and £20 for 50Mbit activation

If that's the case for him, how come that's not the case for me if I want move from XL Plus to TripleXL50 with a second stb? How come you said I will have to pay a £49 V+ install/conversion fee AND the £30 XXL install?

[grimwau]

I am having my VIP package upgraded to the 50MB BB on Sept 20th and have been quoted free install (due to the many V+ problems I have had) and £20 activation, for £88pcm (again due to V+ problems).

As this is about the same as I am currently paying for 20Mb I asked if they would confirm this via email. The person I spoke to said it wasn't necessary as anyone who accesses my account will be able to see this information and any discounts will automatically be applied.

Do you think that this correct or will I get a nasty shock with my first bill?

[BenMcr]

The only way they can give you VIP + 50Mbit for less than £98/£96 is with a manual credit - which won't show up on any contract

I would phone back and see what another agent makes on the notes

[grimwau]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

The only way they can give you VIP + 50Mbit for less than £98/£96 is with a manual credit - which won't show up on any contract

I would phone back and see what another agent makes on the notes

Thanks Ben, but before I do is your calculation based on the price decrease coming in September or the present one?

[BenMcr]

£98 is before £96 is after

[grimwau]

Just got off the phone to Virgin and I asked the lady I spoke to if she could look on the system and tell me how much I would be paying each month once I have had the 50Mb installed.

I explained that I had been quoted a figure (without saying what the amount was) and that I wanted someone to check and confirm it for me. She went to my account and said that it would be £88.00.

One thing that puzzles me about the £98.00/£96.00 you have quoted above is that there is only a £2.00 difference. I was sure that I had seen somewhere that the difference in price between the 50Mb and the 20Mb was going to be reduced from £16.00 to £8.00.

Anyways, thanks for the suggestion to ring and confirm as it has now put my mind at ease.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by grimwau

One thing that puzzles me about the £98.00/£96.00 you have quoted above is that there is only a £2.00 difference. I was sure that I had seen somewhere that the difference in price between the 50Mb and the 20Mb was going to be reduced from £16.00 to £8.00.

That's right

But at the moment the difference between VIP and VIP with 50Mbit is a £10 - which is already £5 off the usual £15 difference

So from the 1st of September XXL becomes £8 more than XL, but because VIP customer already have an extra £5 off they only get a £2 reduction

so VIP @ £88 + £8 for XXL = £96

[gumpy321]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

That's right

But at the moment the difference between VIP and VIP with 50Mbit is a £10 - which is already £5 off the usual £15 difference

So from the 1st of September XXL becomes £8 more than XL, but because VIP customer already have an extra £5 off they only get a £2 reduction

so VIP @ £88 + £8 for XXL = £96

Is the same reduction already applied to the XXL BB, XL TV & XL Phone customers?