Vote:- Is it time VM changed it's pricing

chrome · 02-09-2009, 20:24

Eveyone know's how difficult VM prices,bundles and discounts are to understand. Is it not time for VM to look again at it's price structure and how they charge customers? Would it not be better for all customers to be charged the same amount on each service. Or keep it the same with bundle discounts and customer service staff offering different prices to different customers?

Ignitionnet · 03-09-2009, 08:35

How about another option for changing the price structure which makes sense? Remove the bundling discounts would be a bad idea.

Better would be advertising the products as TV + Internet + Phone for xxx GBP/month instead of frigging the pricing by quoting cheapy prices which are conditional on the product being taken as part of a bundle.

Alternatively giving prices for products then saying something like 'Take 2 products save xxx, take 3 products save yyy' would be nice.

Sadly VM seem to think they are exempt from having to price in this manner despite it being how pretty much every other cable company in the world operates and prefer to quote an extremely attractive price which one must bundle everything in with to get.

Taf · 03-09-2009, 08:58

I find the whole pricing structure very confusing... and very anti existing customers!

If they sold veg from a market stall with the present confusing structure, I doubt they would get many sales....

"Carrot dear? Add an onion and pay only a little more? Chuck in a spud as well and I'll do you a deal? Hang on, I've been selling you veggies for years, you can't expect me to cut my throat do ya?"

Hiroki · 03-09-2009, 14:05

Personally I think we should all be offered the same price without discounts as it's such a pain when someone gets the same as what you have but cheaper.

But personally when it comes to the tv I think we should be able to pay for what we want to watch instead of paying for crappy channels were never going to watch.

Stuart · 03-09-2009, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Broadbandings

Alternatively giving prices for products then saying something like 'Take 2 products save xxx, take 3 products save yyy' would be nice.

That would be far too sensible..

The way VM advertise prices is borderline dishonest (it's not an outright lie in other words), and is very reminiscent of Mobile Phone tariff prices, in that sometimes to get the advertised price, you have to take on another product or long term commitment which is barely mentioned. I cite as an example these mobile broadband deals where to get the "free" laptop you have to sign up to their service for 2-3 years, but the requirement to sign up for the service long term is only mentioned in the smallest print they can get away with.

figgyburn · 03-09-2009, 15:36

yes,i would rather pay say a Â£1 p.m. for each channel i wanted to watch.there is so much crap on now which i have no intention of ever watching.i wish i could delete them completely from the programme guide.i do use the fav button but the missus flicks up and down the main epg and it drives me bonkers.cheers john

Tony. · 03-09-2009, 20:31

Broadbandings idea is IMHO the way to do this.

spankysmagicpian · 03-09-2009, 20:32

Sky used to do the same when I was with them years ago. Top deals for new customers and tough for existing.

I know it might prove a controversial opinion of mine but how about removing loyalty discounts etc? I know it's nice to have something off for being a long term customer but at least make it standard across the board if they do continue with them.

If one person pays full price and others pay less then the cost of say XL broadband should be averaged out making it cheaper for all.

Hiroki · 03-09-2009, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by figgyburn

yes,i would rather pay say a Â£1 p.m. for each channel i wanted to watch.there is so much crap on now which i have no intention of ever watching.i wish i could delete them completely from the programme guide.i do use the fav button but the missus flicks up and down the main epg and it drives me bonkers.cheers john

Haha yeah that would be great to just pay Â£1 per channel, would mean i'd be paying around Â£4-Â£6 a month for tv

m419 · 04-09-2009, 16:54

Or rather than offering free calls or broadband when you take TV which sky sometimes offers, offer XL TV for free when customers take at least 20MB and take ANY Virgin phone package.

Sky would hate that!

The thought of Virgin Media offering superfast broadband 10 times faster than Sky and offer there own basic channels for free would certainly cause a price war.

I think the charges and pricing is more simplified in comparison to BT, I mean calls to mobile phones on BT costs all different prices depending on what network you are calling but Virgin phone has one set rate per minute to call any network. And to be honest people don't really call mobiles from landlines much anyway and when they are its just a quick call. Thats why BT's advertisment to get people to use their landlines to call mobiles instead of using prepay mobile phones failed!

Secondly, Sky's TV charges are worse, I mean all these differents mixes,matches and packages and minimum contract terms is all just gobledigoop! There is now a minimum term for keeping Sky Talk whether you keep line rental with BT or not!

A good tip for Sky Talk users is, those who pay there line rental to BT, at weekends, make use of the free 0845 and 0870 calls by routing your calls through BT instead of Sky Talk, you can do this by dialling 1280 in front of the number you are calling. Why pay Sky around 6p per minute to call an 0845 number when it is free via BT? But be aware if you pay your line rental to sky, it is not possible to overide Sky Talk.

Tarantella · 05-09-2009, 12:53

The part of the website that deals with offers should be improved so that people can fully interact with all the options available including all upgrades and downgrades and complete service removals.

Any penalties accrued from changing services or leaving VM within the 12 month contract period should be displayed automatically and a contract number should be generated which serves to help both customer and VM personal should further phone or website contact be required.

People already with VM should not be over subsidizing new customers but should automatically get loyalty benefits on an automated system.

spankysmagicpian · 05-09-2009, 15:35

I don't think it won't be long before Virgin will have to seriously consider their broadband pricing. With BT starting to offer up to 20 meg.

Angua · 05-09-2009, 16:57

Looking at changing "just" the phone part of the package and from the website there is no clear idea of cost if you are already a customer. Is Talk 200 Â£11.00 plus Â£20.00 or Â£20.00 for everything or Â£11.00 plus Â£9.00 for Talk 200. It is a clear as mud.

If each service was priced individually with straightforward discounts for every product added, things would be so much better

m419 · 05-09-2009, 18:44

It is clearly stated that Talk anywhere costs Â£20 per month including line rental.

So for Â£20 per month you get 200 minutes to call mobiles,UK landlines,international mobiles and landlines,0845 and 0870 numbers

Note: Minutes cannot be used to call 07744 or 07755 numbers. The minutes cannot be used for calling 09,076,0844,0871 and directory enquiry calls and does not include operator assisted calls such as calls connected via Cable and Wireless operator services via 100 or international operator on 155. And lastly minutes cannot be used for using Virgin Media's own Talking clock via 123.

All prices shown include line rental! So 400 minutes for Â£28 means Â£11 line rental plus Â£17 for the allowance.

Calls outside your allowances will be charged at standard rates and calls to landlines outside your allowance will cost 4p per minute at all times plus a connection charge of 7p per call.

Calls to freephone 0500,0800,0808 and free-to-page numbers remain free and does not eat up any minutes or cost anything extra.

Angua · 06-09-2009, 08:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by m419

It is clearly stated that Talk anywhere costs Â£20 per month including line rental.

So for Â£20 per month you get 200 minutes to call mobiles,UK landlines,international mobiles and landlines,0845 and 0870 numbers

Note: Minutes cannot be used to call 07744 or 07755 numbers. The minutes cannot be used for calling 09,076,0844,0871 and directory enquiry calls and does not include operator assisted calls such as calls connected via Cable and Wireless operator services via 100 or international operator on 155. And lastly minutes cannot be used for using Virgin Media's own Talking clock via 123.

All prices shown include line rental! So 400 minutes for Â£28 means Â£11 line rental plus Â£17 for the allowance.

Calls outside your allowances will be charged at standard rates and calls to landlines outside your allowance will cost 4p per minute at all times plus a connection charge of 7p per call.

Calls to freephone 0500,0800,0808 and free-to-page numbers remain free and does not eat up any minutes or cost anything extra.

If you go on line and look at changing the package it shows telephone at Â£11 already ticked as this is a service I already have then Â£20 for talk 200. So not so clear to this person!