Old NTL customer recently received a Virgin Media V Box

princesstreacle · 08-09-2009, 14:04

Hi

I was an NTL customer and received their TV and phone package. After a few years I got fed up with the customer (dis)service I received from them and switched to Sky - although I do still get my phone and broadband service from them, albeit they are now Virgin Media.

A short while ago I got pestered over the phone by a Virgin Media salesman to take on TV with them again - I declined!

However, a few days later I received a V Box through the post (I wasn't home and a neighbour took it in). I didn't agree to anything and I didn't sign anything. I've checked my bill and I'm not being charged for receiving a TV package.

My question is this. I don't want the V Box, so can I sell it on Ebay? (I don't want to sell something if I have no right to do so) Also, and I apologise for my ignorance here, but is the viewing card registered to me/my account or is it matched with that particular box and therefore able to be activated by a new user?

I would appreciate some advice.

Many thanks

08-09-2009, 14:07

you cant sell it legally its not yours.

TV M does nt cost anything and they have sent you the box as a self install it appears.

princesstreacle · 08-09-2009, 14:12

Thanks Zing.

I'm grateful to you. At least I now know where I stand.

**Chris** · 08-09-2009, 14:24

Also, the box and card are paired with each other and tied to your account. Neither box nor card are any legal use to anyone else.

princesstreacle · 08-09-2009, 15:18

Hi Chris

Thanks for the clarification - I'm grateful

I'll just store it away somewhere, although I wish they'd never sent it the first place!

sammyjayuk · 08-09-2009, 21:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesstreacle

I'll just store it away somewhere, although I wish they'd never sent it the first place!

If you want, assuming you've got the space and the cable point is conveniently situated, you could always use it for the free catch up on demand.

Of course, if you really don't want it you probably ought to get VM to take it back - the box remains their property (as does the card) and if it were to get stolen you could end up being liable for replacing it. At least let them know (again) that you don't want it - I can't see how they could hold you liable for something you've told them repeatedly that you don't want*.

Sam

* I know you've already told them once, but there's obviously been some sort of mixup - otherwise you wouldn't have been sent the box.

hedgie · 10-09-2009, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyjayuk

If you want, assuming you've got the space and the cable point is conveniently situated, you could always use it for the free catch up on demand.

Support this 100% if the cable is still in a suitable point go for it. The Catch Up service is really good.

bob_a_builder · 15-09-2009, 18:06

Quote:

TV M does nt cost anything and they have sent you the box as a self install it appears.

I've just had the call offering the M TV for 'free' (on top of exist phone and BB) of course they throw in 1 month free of the L - which doesn't interest me at all

Any gotchas to watch out for - no doubt they they will to continue to try to charge for the L service- so will have to be hot on canceling that

Since already have plenty of channels via freeview, only interest would be catch up / iPlayer
is that in M package or not ? - only reason I said yes, was to take a look at this

Any other benefits or opportunities for them to overcharge on the 'free' service I should be aware of

**Chris** · 15-09-2009, 20:18

They can't charge for the iPlayer because it's a BBC service you've already paid for in your TV licence. That at least should be in the M package. Don't know about the rest of their VOD stuff, but as they will want to give you access to all the stuff that they can charge you for per-view, I would have thought it in their interests to make it available on M.

Peter_ · 15-09-2009, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob_a_builder

I've just had the call offering the M TV for 'free' (on top of exist phone and BB) of course they throw in 1 month free of the L - which doesn't interest me at all

Any gotchas to watch out for - no doubt they they will to continue to try to charge for the L service- so will have to be hot on canceling that

Since already have plenty of channels via freeview, only interest would be catch up / iPlayer
is that in M package or not ? - only reason I said yes, was to take a look at this

Any other benefits or opportunities for them to overcharge on the 'free' service I should be aware of

Here is some information about VOD services including the BBC iPlayer http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html...on-demand.html

Also here is the TV channel listings available on all packages starting with 45 for size M http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html...els/index.html

bob_a_builder · 01-10-2009, 17:40

Ok so I received the TV box a week or so ago, all connected and working
cancelled XL pack asap since didn't want that anyway

Now today receive in post a letter including a 'new' contract, the only thing thats new about it is they've added the TV box (it includes BB & phone which I've had for 10 year +
also it specifically lists min period for all 3 - TV, BB & phone as 12 months
lists contract date as 21st Sep- which I suppose when I called up to activate it

Letter says you have 7 days to cancel, but can't if you started using equip (tv box?) which I have because it arrived ages ago
Plus letter is dated 16th Sept but only arrives today ?

Seems like a ploy to lock you into a new 12month period during which you can't leave - which as it happens I had been considering

m419 · 01-10-2009, 17:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesstreacle

Hi

I was an NTL customer and received their TV and phone package. After a few years I got fed up with the customer (dis)service I received from them and switched to Sky - although I do still get my phone and broadband service from them, albeit they are now Virgin Media.

A short while ago I got pestered over the phone by a Virgin Media salesman to take on TV with them again - I declined!

However, a few days later I received a V Box through the post (I wasn't home and a neighbour took it in). I didn't agree to anything and I didn't sign anything. I've checked my bill and I'm not being charged for receiving a TV package.

My question is this. I don't want the V Box, so can I sell it on Ebay? (I don't want to sell something if I have no right to do so) Also, and I apologise for my ignorance here, but is the viewing card registered to me/my account or is it matched with that particular box and therefore able to be activated by a new user?

I would appreciate some advice.

Many thanks

Keep it and use the M TV package as mentioned, you still get Catch Up TV on demand plus Filmflex when needed.

Thats another thing, those wanting to try out Sky,Tiscali or BT Vision that already subscribe to Virgin TV,Internet and phone should downgrade to M package if keeping the phone, reason being, if you ever want Virgin TV again, you want have to pay installation costs or renter new contracts, you simply upgrade when you want.

bob_a_builder · 01-10-2009, 18:16

In my case I did ask for the box as a result of a phone call, specifically for, as you say, "use the M TV package as mentioned, you still get Catch Up TV on demand"

but I object to being bounced into a new contract across all my services

sammyjayuk · 01-10-2009, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob_a_builder

In my case I did ask for the box as a result of a phone call, specifically for, as you say, "use the M TV package as mentioned, you still get Catch Up TV on demand"

but I object to being bounced into a new contract across all my services

I think that’s to do with the way VM “bundle” their services—perhaps by adding M TV you’ve changed the bundle, therefore the bundle as a whole gets recontracted.

BenMcr or someone ought to be able to tell you exactly why it’s happened.

Sam

ps. Were you told that you were going to be recontracted? Sam