[Merged] Technical Support via newsgroups is withdrawn.

Gary L · 22-02-2010, 16:09

Quote:

We're going to be making some changes to the newsgroups and forums
services, and these are outlined below.

VIRGIN MEDIA NEWSGROUPS

As you may be aware, last year we launched the Help & Support forum
(which can be found at http://community.virginmedia.com) within the My
Virgin Media section of our website.

The usage of these community forums has now risen to the point where a
significantly higher number of customers are using them in preference
to using the Virgin Media newsgroups. As such we have decided to focus
our online technical support resource to assist customers via the
forums instead of the Virgin Media Newsgroups.

From March 22, online technical support will be available via the
forums, with the team available to assist between the hours of 0800
and 2200, 7 days a week.

In line with this decision, from March 22, we will no longer be
offering technical support via the Newsgroups, and we will be closing
the Virgin Media family of newsgroups. These will be set to read only
on the news servers (so that no further posts can be made to them). A
closure post will be put in each group within the virginmedia.*
hierarchy to this effect when the groups are set to read only.

We would encourage customers using the Virgin Media newsgroups to sign
up to the forums and join our ever growing community.

text.news SERVER

The text.news.virginmedia.com server was introduced to enable access
to the Virgin Media Newsgroups from non-virgin media Internet
connections to provide support via the Virgin Media newsgroups. As
such we will be decommissioning the text.news server as part of the
decision to provide online support via the community forums. This
server will be set to read only (so that no further posts can be made
to them) from March 22. We will also stop the news feed to this
server so that no further group updates are made from this date.

The server will be physically turned off on April 30, and all
customers are advised to re-point their news software to use
news.virginmedia.com (which will continue to be maintained) as their
news server soon as possible.

If you need assistance in configuring your news software, please refer
to http://www.virginmedia.com/news-setup.

GazCBG · 22-02-2010, 16:10

Was just reading the boardband cable support on the newsgroup and read a message from Alex Brown with the subject: [From Virgin Media] Changes to Newsgroups and Forums.

Is there any truth in this?

Quote

Quote:

X-Posted and Follow-Ups (FUs) set. Please respect FUs.

Dear All,

Weâ€™re going to be making some changes to the newsgroups and forums
services, and these are outlined below.

VIRGIN MEDIA NEWSGROUPS

As you may be aware, last year we launched the Help & Support forum
(which can be found at http://community.virginmedia.com) within the My
Virgin Media section of our website.

The usage of these community forums has now risen to the point where a
significantly higher number of customers are using them in preference
to using the Virgin Media newsgroups. As such we have decided to focus
our online technical support resource to assist customers via the
forums instead of the Virgin Media Newsgroups.

From March 22, online technical support will be available via the
forums, with the team available to assist between the hours of 0800
and 2200, 7 days a week.

In line with this decision, from March 22, we will no longer be
offering technical support via the Newsgroups, and we will be closing
the Virgin Media family of newsgroups. These will be set to read only
on the news servers (so that no further posts can be made to them). A
closure post will be put in each group within the virginmedia.*
hierarchy to this effect when the groups are set to read only.

We would encourage customers using the Virgin Media newsgroups to sign
up to the forums and join our ever growing community.

Siguature is:

Quote:

Alex Brown
Senior Manager, Internet Products & Customer Experience
Virgin Media

Gary L · 22-02-2010, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big-Gaz

Is there any truth in this?

Yes. everyone knows Alex. even if it is for the bad things

Ignitionnet · 22-02-2010, 16:13

Yep, it's outta here.

EDIT: If they'd actually offer some measure of support on their forums it would be useful, not a lot at the moment.

The newsgroups were getting trolled to death by a couple of posters so this is no surprise, posts can be deleted far more easily on forum.

Gary L · 22-02-2010, 16:18

I always knew it was coming sooner or later. if not for the bad feedback they was getting, or the constant trolling.

the sad thing is that they are turning off the text server too, not just the support groups.

Graham M · 22-02-2010, 16:27

Great news.

Raistlin · 22-02-2010, 16:41

Threads Merged

Turkey Machine · 22-02-2010, 17:04

Oh man, I loved the newsgroups for the information. So where are people gonna bitch and moan about their services now?!

Joking aside, this is a bad move as it'll force people to go to a forum they may not need for support they will need. It also forces more to dial the support number.

Digital Fanatic · 22-02-2010, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

Yep, it's outta here.

EDIT: If they'd actually offer some measure of support on their forums it would be useful, not a lot at the moment.

The newsgroups were getting trolled to death by a couple of posters so this is no surprise, posts can be deleted far more easily on forum.

The newsgroup guys are going to moderate and offer technical support on the VM forum officially

Yes it was trolled to death

Gary L · 22-02-2010, 17:24

We've only got their word that support staff will be doing the forums now instead of usenet.

I'd say there's no real intention of having any support. and they'll phase it out once the official support groups are closed.

Peter_ · 22-02-2010, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

We've only got their word that support staff will be doing the forums now instead of usenet.

I'd say there's no real intention of having any support. and they'll phase it out once the official support groups are closed.

Staff already moderate the official forum.

BenMcr · 22-02-2010, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

We've only got their word that support staff will be doing the forums now instead of usenet.

I'd say there's no real intention of having any support. and they'll phase it out once the official support groups are closed.

Maybe you should wait to accuse Virgin of lying until after the date they have set to move the support over?

Gary L · 22-02-2010, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moldova

Staff already moderate the official forum.

They have to moderate it. otherwise you'll get all sorts on there

---------- Post added at 16:31 ---------- Previous post was at 16:30 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Maybe you should wait to accuse Virgin of lying until after the date they have set to move the support over?

Ok.
I'll wait.

Peter_ · 22-02-2010, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

They have to moderate it. otherwise you'll get all sorts on there

Then why did you ask the question above, all the support people on that forum are staff.

So they are now going to offer full support via a forum which most people can access easier than newsgroups.

Gary L · 22-02-2010, 17:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moldova

Then why did you ask the question above, all the support people on that forum are staff.

Because moderation and support are 2 different things.

Quote:

So they are now going to offer full support via a forum which most people can access easier than newsgroups.

Not really. it will stop a lot of people bothering though.
unless you count the takeup by new customers, and not the long standing old customers.

closing the text server itself will kill off a long running community.