Overcharged??? Advice needed

[bunkyman]

Hi there,
Don't know if this is the right place to post this, but oh well. Move this if necessary.

Here goes anyway. I just moved back to my Dad's recently and came by a letter from his Bank stating he had a payment to Virgin Media that didn't go through and was therefore charged 8 pound for non-payment. Well, what confused me is the payment. Get this: £50.00 per month for home phone and Broadband with Virgin Media. No TV services, just broadband* and home phone.

I think he's been overcharged for bloomin' years with them never ever changing the payment structure.

If he has been overcharged, which I'm sure they might have been doing for years, can he get his money back at all? This is just thievery in my eyes. I swear, he's been paying the same amount for 10 odd years. He might be paying what they expected for broadband in 2003, if you get me, when it first came about.

Anyhoo. I'm curious on all this and would like some advice.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Alex

*Broadband Download speed is 8.25mp on the test I've just run, which should hardly warrant 50 quid a month.

[Kabaal]

I'd say so, i pay £44 a month for 120mb BB & phone the TV part of it is free as it's the old M package.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by bunkyman

If he has been overcharged, which I'm sure they might have been doing for years, can he get his money back at all? This is just thievery in my eyes. I swear, he's been paying the same amount for 10 odd years. He might be paying what they expected for broadband in 2003, if you get me, when it first came about.

It's quite possible that he is paying more that the current offers, but that isn't the same as being overcharged. If he hasn't looked the package for a while, then he'll be the price originally agreed plus subsequent price changes.

So, you should be able to get him onto a much better price going forward, but it's unlikely you'll get any substantial refund.

[arcimedes]

What is your Dad actually paying for

What broadband package ?

What phone package? i.e is he paying for extra free calls like all day and any other things like caller display. They all add up.

Your speed test is confusing as I have never heard of "mp" do you mean megabytes or megabits?

[bunkyman]

So no chance of a refund at all, even though he's been paying way over what he should have. That's a bit disappointing. I think he's probably paid 2 years in advance with the amount he's been paying at 50 a month. Is there anyway Virgin would allow him to have few months free, given what he has paid in?

In many ways this is his own fault though. My dad is hopeless with his money and finances. I will have a word with him over this and see that the package is changed.
One more question though...with his current package, what should he be being charged? Is it £25 p/m?
We have 8mb bb and home phone. That is all. No Virgin TV, just bb and phone.

Thanks for your help btw.
Much appreciated.

---------- Post added at 10:06 ---------- Previous post was at 10:01 ----------

Originally Posted by arcimedes

What is your Dad actually paying for

What broadband package ?

What phone package? i.e is he paying for extra free calls like all day and any other things like caller display. They all add up.

Your speed test is confusing as I have never heard of "mp" do you mean megabytes or megabits?

Yes I meant MB. I just did a speed test is all.
You may have a point with the phone package, as even though It is barely used it could be on a silly package with the result being pounds added to the bill. Not sure about his bb package, at all.
All I know is, 50 quid a month for Broadband and a home phone is a bloomin' joke. I think you'd agree.

Thanks.

[BenMcr]

Is there anyway Virgin would allow him to have few months free, given what he has paid in?

Only VM can answer that.

Check what broadband package his bill says, and also what modem he has.

Most customers with a modem should be on at least 20Mbit now, so if you are only getting 8Mbit with a speed test, something may not be right.

Or it may be ADSL...

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Or it may be ADSL...

Very good point.

[MalteseFalcon]

Also, go to thinking of leaving us, 150, option 5 then 3. More likely to get a British person to talk to. Whilst I have no problem with Indian call centres, I do find some of them have really strong accents which take time to understand.

Also, retentions is where you would probably get a good deal for him, as they will have the power of adding a credit to the account rather than a normal call centre operative.

[alanbjames]

Virgin Media love doing this. Until April my brother was on their 20mb package, Medium TV and basic phone and he was paying £41 where his original offer so many years ago was 3 for £30

Now hes paying £45 for 60mb Large TV and Evening and weekend calls.

[welshycarysrees]

i to have been overcharged this month this is part of the reason i joined the website today.
My bill is usually £45 a month or there abouts with calls. This month they debited £94.34 extra from my account and i cannot get a clear answer to why.

[RobboEdin]

Originally Posted by welshycarysrees

i to have been overcharged this month this is part of the reason i joined the website today.
My bill is usually £45 a month or there abouts with calls. This month they debited £94.34 extra from my account and i cannot get a clear answer to why.

Your bill will explain the charges.