General : 25 years - time to go

[lemarsh]

so after more than 25 years with Virgin Media (for those who are old enough, originally joined Nynex....) its time to depart VM.


Am on Volt VIP Package and 18 month contract coming to an end. Normally go through the retentions, and they offer what new customers are being offered, so was paying £80 + £25 for 02.


Was happy to keepo that price, even though new customers get it for £85, but VM only offering £128. So looks like for the 1st time ever, having Sky installed.


Obviously, VMs pricing is their decision. And as consumers we get to choose or reject that price. But always wonder why getting a new customer in is so much worth more to them (as in £48/month) that loyal customers. And once gone, unlikely to return.


But we move on - thanks to all the help people have given me on here over the years (unless VM suddenly have a change of heart - but doubt it!).

[joglynne]

We do have a Sky section so no need to leave the forum. I'm looking into the logistics of leaving next year so will be interested in your experience of moving over to Sky after being with VM for a similar number of years as you. Good luck and I hope the move goes smoothly.

I’ve been a non VM customer for more years than I’ve been one while a member of this board. . In fact I only had one of their network products for about my first 3 years here. After that it was off-net dial up, then ADSL, before they decided to exit that market.

Stick around, it’s still fun, I promise

[Kevc69]

Although there was a little spell with Sky in the middle I can't believe that I've been with Virgin Media for most of the last 30 years. The offering has deteriorated to the extent that Sky looks favourite for the next renewal. A good while to go yet though.

[Legendkiller2k]

Originally Posted by lemarsh

so after more than 25 years with Virgin Media (for those who are old enough, originally joined Nynex....) its time to depart VM.


Am on Volt VIP Package and 18 month contract coming to an end. Normally go through the retentions, and they offer what new customers are being offered, so was paying £80 + £25 for 02.


Was happy to keepo that price, even though new customers get it for £85, but VM only offering £128. So looks like for the 1st time ever, having Sky installed.


Obviously, VMs pricing is their decision. And as consumers we get to choose or reject that price. But always wonder why getting a new customer in is so much worth more to them (as in £48/month) that loyal customers. And once gone, unlikely to return.


But we move on - thanks to all the help people have given me on here over the years (unless VM suddenly have a change of heart - but doubt it!).

No need to leave the forum mate, i'm not a vm customer and have always been made to feel welcom on here.
There is a SKY section on here too amongst others that you may enjoy.

[Itshim]

My main problem with moving is that I do not have an openreach line , by that I mean anyone's telephone line. I assume that one would need to be installed, reducing any savings, mind you l have no idea what that would cost installing and on going costs, guessing that it has some sort of rental cost?

Originally Posted by Itshim

My main problem with moving is that I do not have an openreach line , by that I mean anyone's telephone line. I assume that one would need to be installed, reducing any savings, mind you l have no idea what that would cost installing and on going costs, guessing that it has some sort of rental cost?

Depends who provides your service down that Openreach line once it’s in, but these days you can normally get a deal with all calls bundled, so the entire ongoing cost is line rental in that sense. Of course you don’t have to have a landline phone at all if you don’t want it. You can find broadband-only deals easily enough, which used to be hard to come by on a BT line.

Alternatively if your local mobile signal is up to it you could get some 4G internet kit. Or else get Starlink.

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by Itshim

My main problem with moving is that I do not have an openreach line , by that I mean anyone's telephone line. I assume that one would need to be installed, reducing any savings, mind you l have no idea what that would cost installing and on going costs, guessing that it has some sort of rental cost?

This is one of the things we need to sort out before we switch away from VM next year. I know it could cost up to £140( BT direct) to have a new phone line installed so I need to see if any competitor to VM will provide a cheaper package/ free phoneline.

[RichardCoulter]

When I enquired about moving to BT they said that they would cover the costs of the phone line installation themselves & would cover any fees charged by Virgin for leaving early, up to a maximum amount.

There was also a half price deal on for TV which lasted for the full 18 months of the contract. I think that BT Sport was thrown in too IIRC.

[pip08456]

Originally Posted by Itshim

My main problem with moving is that I do not have an openreach line , by that I mean anyone's telephone line. I assume that one would need to be installed, reducing any savings, mind you l have no idea what that would cost installing and on going costs, guessing that it has some sort of rental cost?

Being in Cardiff FTTP should be available, install FOC.

---------- Post added at 21:10 ---------- Previous post was at 21:08 ----------

Originally Posted by joglynne

This is one of the things we need to sort out before we switch away from VM next year. I know it could cost up to £140( BT direct) to have a new phone line installed so I need to see if any competitor to VM will provide a cheaper package/ free phoneline.

You can no longer get a phone line as there is a national "Stop sell"on PSDN lines by Openreach since last week.. Just check if installation charge for Broadband.

Use the address checker here to see what is available via Openreach. https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

[Rillington]

I also hope you will stay should you leave VM.

I am also thinking about leaving VM after nearly 20 years due to the contracts and if I do go, I won't leave VM until after the Sky service is installed just in case there is a problem.

Originally Posted by pip08456

You can no longer get a phone line as there is a national "Stop sell"on PSDN lines by Openreach since last week.. Just check if installation charge for Broadband.

I think you mean PSTN.
I wasnt aware there was a complete stop, where did you see that ?
Last time I looked into it, they were doing it on an exchange by exchange basis.

Edit: nevermind, a little google digging found the information.

On the 5th September 2023 the UK national ‘stop sell’ comes into effect This means every provider in the UK will stop selling traditional phone lines and fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) broadband, additionally no changes can be made to your legacy telephony infrastructure.

[joglynne]

Originally Posted by pip08456

Being in Cardiff FTTP should be available, install FOC.

You can no longer get a phone line as there is a national "Stop sell"on PSDN lines by Openreach since last week.. Just check if installation charge for Broadband.

Use the address checker here to see what is available via Openreach. https://www.broadbandchecker.btwholesale.com/#/ADSL

Just tried the link. Had to use my UPRN<eeek> number and the table that has appeared is a tad discombobulating to say the least.
I'm going to finish my gin and vimto cocktail then go lie down in a dark room to recover.

Link saved.

I shall attempt to translate the information when I feel braver. I've got till next June so I'm in no hurry to shed my timerous beastie approach to anything that smacks of being technically challenging.

[TMLeafs]

My mate phoned about 2 weeks ago and got the new customer price + O2 cost
With Netflix added he's happy not paying more than he currently is and got netflix as he was using mine till they stopped that

[nialli]

We had been Virgin customers for a similar spell to the OP - signed up to NTL in the mid-90s. Never permitted a dish on our property and reluctant to be a direct Murdoch customer, we were loyal to VM and quite enjoyed the annual price negotiation phone marathon to get a decent deal. The most we ever paid was £140/m for the full package but for the past ten years I'm managed to keep it under £100/m without sacrificing anything.
But the last few years have been a nightmare of broken promises and sub-standard services. I'll spare you the details but this year's price rise and revised T&Cs were the final straw.
Out of contract, we signed up for Sky Stream and Broadband in May. The pucks turned up next day, OpenReach connected a broadband line within two weeks - Sky picked up the installation cost. No FTTP here yet but we get a rock solid 68Mbps which more than meets our needs for streaming TV and music services.
For 18 months we pay £13/m for the broadband and £73/m for the TV services. Virgin's final offer was their "enormous bol*ocks" package (or whatever they call it) and £164/m with annual increases baked in. When I asked the guy to check that number, it shot up to over £200/m! I'd had enough and cancelled.
The Sky Stream service has been brilliant - no buffering, crystal clear picture and sound, exceptional. Can't fault it. Highly recommended.
We'll never, ever sign up with VM again.