The price of your Virgin Media service is going up

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by Chad

I raised the same point yesterday. Seems to be purely coincidence The price increases are not linked to the free stuff you are getting

So how long can prices not go up for whilst we're enjoying this "free" stuff then? 1 year, 3? 5?

I know what you mean but then we also know that nothing is really "free", right?

[RichardCoulter]

I feared price rises happening and things may get worse.

I have already made these points elsewhere, but feel that they are relevant to this thread too.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) are trying to sue VM to obtain a significant amount of extra money for some former VM staff who were made redundant. All staff have received their redundancy payments and, following help from VM, all staff who wanted alternative employment secured new positions relatively quickly.

My point to them was that, if the CWU win the case, there simply isn't a pot of spare money for these extra payments. Virgin Media is heavily in debt and services would be affected and/or prices would increase with subscribers seeing nothing for it. This would see disgruntled customers leave VM and the downward spiral would continue, leading to even more staff losing their jobs.

When somebody from the CWU was asked how he felt about the effect that this could have on customers and former colleagues, he openly stated that he did not care.

Maybe VM are using these price increases to build up a slush fund in case they lose the case?

Maybe that's why no new decent channels have been forthcoming?

One thing that is for sure, is that any victory by the CWU will not be paid for by VM, but it's customers and/or remaining staff.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

Maybe VM are using these price increases to build up a slush fund in case they lose the case?

Maybe that's why no new decent channels have been forthcoming?

One thing that is for sure, is that any victory by the CWU will not be paid for by VM, but it's customers and/or remaining staff.

Why are you continually posting this?

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Why are you continually posting this?

These are my thoughts on the matter. We have both repeated ourselves because of duplicate threads, perhaps it would be better if they were to be merged.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

So how long can prices not go up for whilst we're enjoying this "free" stuff then? 1 year, 3? 5?

Those who will have encountered a hike of up to £10.00 in their subscription within 10 months will be hoping for 5 years. In reality it'll only be about 5 months. Virgins current carriage deal with SKY for SKY premium channels expires on 30th June 2013. SKY Movies and SKY Sports customers should expect a July / August surprise! There is now way a new carriage deal will be agreed on the same terms.

Originally Posted by carlwaring

I know what you mean but then we also know that nothing is really "free", right?

Does that mean Virgin back on Watchdog again?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by RichardCoulter

One thing that is for sure, is that any victory by the CWU will not be paid for by VM, but it's customers and/or remaining staff.

There are many possible reasons for any price rises, but to speculate (or even talk) about them will take the thread off topic.

Please do not do this.

[RobboEdin]

It would be useful if those that publish their new price on here could also say what services they have at what levels.

We know, for instance, that the Phone is going up £1.09 to £14.99 as this will be published externally anyway but it would be useful to get information such as:

"My bill is going up £4.09 and I have Phone M, TV XL and BB XL."

We could then get some idea as to the price increases of the other services.

[qasdfdsaq]

Meh, BT are putting prices up on 5th January.

[SilverLady]

I wish someone could explain my increase of £3.24, which works out at 14.7%.

My package lists:

Talk Weekends, M+TV, Broadband L, Free Voicemail, V+HD Monthly Fee, Loyalty Customer

Package price is £27 and I get a loyalty discount of £5 making monthly payment of £22.

I paid for annual line rental a couple of months ago, so this is covered.

There may be an error as price increase letter says I can save by paying line rental upfront, but I already do this, but where does the very high increase come from?

Second question - if I have to phone up Virgin to query this, which option do I select to get through?

[knack]

The extras for no extra page is quite amusing.

Everything mentioned in their list is included in the service cost. That other providers charge extra for HD channels is completely irrelevant.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by knack

Everything mentioned in their list is included in the service cost.

Do other providers not charge for 118 calls?
Sky certainly do charge for call-outs (after the first year.)
Anyone else offering free Wifi on the Tube?

So by "amusing" you actually meant "entirely accurate" then?

That other providers charge extra for HD channels is completely irrelevant.

I'd say it's very relevant. You're only dismissing it because you can't argue against it

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by knack

The extras for no extra page is quite amusing.

Everything mentioned in their list is included in the service cost. That other providers charge extra for HD channels is completely irrelevant.

Unless you can find another supplier that offers all that (and even the WiFi access on the tube is a major selling point for a lot of customers) inclusive in their price, then it's very relevant.

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by carlwaring

Anyone else offering free Wifi on the Tube?

No but there's several others offering free WiFi across the country, if not across the whole world... More useful than the tube if you ask me.

---------- Post added at 17:38 ---------- Previous post was at 17:37 ----------

Originally Posted by Stuart

(and even the WiFi access on the tube is a major selling point for a lot of customers)

Ah, the London-centric view of the UK.

[tricol]

With BT, Talk Talk and Sky TV services you do get to own the box (PVR) which can be used on Freeview or Freesat if you no longer subscribe to their services. So,unlike Virgin Media, you can have a contract and then own a PVR worth a few hundred pounds rather than having to return their rented TiVo or V+ box.

[qasdfdsaq]

Free HD channels for life? Nice.