TiVo : Trying to upgrade to Tivo at fair cost

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

AIUI it was originally like this, then changed from per box to per account.

Am I correct and if so when/why did it change back again

This is the first time it's been changed

[paultrademark]

It changed from per account to per box on the 1st November IIRC

[zekeisaszekedoes]

Seems there is a lot of confusion about this matter, which considering the conflicting replies I got even upto and including the generally excellent CEO's office staff isn't surprising.

• In my case we had an old NTL-branded Samsung STB.
• For the upgrade it was free 500GB TiVo (no install/activation/unit charge), extra £6.50 per month for M+ package and £3 for TiVo service.
• If the household wants another STB it's an additional £6.50 per box regardless of whether it's a V HD, V+ HD or 500GB TiVo, which means choosing the TiVo makes the most sense since you're getting more for your money.
• The £3 TiVo service charge applies to the whole household, regardless of whether you have one box or several... think of it as like the Sky Sports channels, where one subscription fee covers all STBs in the household.

[BenMcr]

For the upgrade it was free 500GB TiVo (no install/activation/unit charge)

500GB TiVo is usually free activation. Whether you get free install or not as an existing customer depends on what offers are available at the time.

Originally Posted by zekeisaszekedoes

The £3 TiVo service charge applies to the whole household, regardless of whether you have one box or several... think of it as like the Sky Sports channels, where one subscription fee covers all STBs in the household.

Not anymore it doesn't. It has now changed to per box for any ordered after 1st November

[zekeisaszekedoes]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Not anymore it doesn't. It has now changed to per box for any ordered after 1st November

Lame. So basically it's £9.50 per extra TiVo now.

...see what I mean about the pricing structure being baffling?

[DaMac]

I'm confused, as somebody on VIP 50 (XL TV and Sky sports/movie HD) and looking to change V+ and VHD out for a 1TB and a 500gb TiVo and go up to 100 mb broadband at the same time i'm not sure what would be the best deal i could get and with the sounds of it i'm not sure anybody at Virgin really knows either.

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by DaMac

I'm confused, as somebody on VIP 50 (XL TV and Sky sports/movie HD) and looking to change V+ and VHD out for a 1TB and a 500gb TiVo and go up to 100 mb broadband at the same time i'm not sure what would be the best deal i could get and with the sounds of it i'm not sure anybody at Virgin really knows either.

That different CS reps will give you different prices, is a a huge stain on VM's reputation. I never change my services without going on line and getting the correct price from someone like Ben. I shouldn't have to do that, but being quoted wrong prices in the past makes it necessary.

[Mr K]

Originally Posted by passingbat

That different CS reps will give you different prices, is a a huge stain on VM's reputation. I never change my services without going on line and getting the correct price from someone like Ben. I shouldn't have to do that, but being quoted wrong prices in the past makes it necessary.

Agree CS is really poor. I only realised my extra box would be free, if I had TivO installed, from this forum. I can't see any mention of it on VM's site. It just leaves a lot of long standing customers paying full/advertised price feeling ripped off when they find out about it.

It's a shame as the retentions team give really good service, and VM have a good service to offer. If only they would invest in CS a bit more, which might mean us paying slightly more, but so be it. Think they've got the price/service balance wrong at the moment.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by DaMac

I'm confused, as somebody on VIP 50 (XL TV and Sky sports/movie HD) and looking to change V+ and VHD out for a 1TB and a 500gb TiVo and go up to 100 mb broadband at the same time i'm not sure what would be the best deal i could get and with the sounds of it i'm not sure anybody at Virgin really knows either.

VIP 100 with two TiVo boxes would be £114.46

Install would be £49.95

with 2 x £49.95 activation - one for 1TB box and one for the 500GB box

and £30 activation for 100Mbit

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by paultrademark

It changed from per account to per box on the 1st November IIRC

Was this change made to coincide with the free offer for the baby Tivo?

Does this mean that those with installations made prior to 1 November now have to pay an additional charge?

[Digital Fanatic]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Was this change made to coincide with the free offer for the baby Tivo?

Does this mean that those with installations made prior to 1 November now have to pay an additional charge?

anything ordered before 1st of Nov will be on old pricing.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Does this mean that those with installations made prior to 1 November now have to pay an additional charge?

It only applies to TiVo boxes ordered after the 1st of November. Any existing TiVo boxes are covered by a single £3 TiVo fee

[tvtimes]

Got my Tivo for free apart from the £3 subscription a month. I played my face and got free install and free activation. I was out of contract.

[RichardCoulter]

In the absence of any reply, I can only assume that this change was made to coincide with the free offer for the baby Tivo.

Yes, you save on install costs, but pay £3 forever more. Doesn't look to be such a good a deal when looked at like this.

[zekeisaszekedoes]

I dunno mate, I wouldn't call it "baby"... sure there are bigger HDDs out there now, but hardware-wise AFAIK the only difference between the two TiVo units (both made by Cisco) is harddrive size. Chances are you could crack open the VM TiVo and fit a bigger harddrive, although of course that's in violation of terms and conditions of VM contract.