SD : TV price rises

[OLDGOLD]

I notice "My Virgin Media" website is down. Apparently 'for maintenance'.

Now, I'm not one for conspiracy theories (well, not all the time ), but I wonder if this is deliberate to stop people trying to either a) see where the increases are made up (even though they won't be on there yet, of course) or b) to prevent people getting a breakdown of exactly what they currently pay with a view to comparing it to alternative providers?

Saturday evening seems a strange time to do 'maintenance'. Surely it can be done in the early hours when hardly anyone is likely to want to log on?

[Dave42]

Originally Posted by OLDGOLD

I notice "My Virgin Media" website is down. Apparently 'for maintenance'.

Now, I'm not one for conspiracy theories (well, not all the time ), but I wonder if this is deliberate to stop people trying to either a) see where the increases are made up (even though they won't be on there yet, of course) or b) to prevent people getting a breakdown of exactly what they currently pay with a view to comparing it to alternative providers?

Saturday evening seems a strange time to do 'maintenance'. Surely it can be done in the early hours when hardly anyone is likely to want to log on?

ive just logged in mine working fine

[geordiechris]

Originally Posted by OLDGOLD

I notice "My Virgin Media" website is down. Apparently 'for maintenance'.

Now, I'm not one for conspiracy theories (well, not all the time ), but I wonder if this is deliberate to stop people trying to either a) see where the increases are made up (even though they won't be on there yet, of course) or b) to prevent people getting a breakdown of exactly what they currently pay with a view to comparing it to alternative providers?

Saturday evening seems a strange time to do 'maintenance'. Surely it can be done in the early hours when hardly anyone is likely to want to log on?

My "My Virgin Media" is ok. Must be an area specific maintenance closure

[carlwaring]

Indeed. No problem logging-in here.

It was down earlier but is working now.

[Acathla]

Just had a letter detailing a £6.59 a month increase from Feb 1st 2013.

So I decided to call in to find out the breakdown of all the costs. They didn't know really but he did come back with:

£2 increase on TV (I have XL)
£1 increase in TiVo
£2 increase on BB (I have XXL)

He didn't know what the other £1.59 was for but I suspect it will be line rental related.

That's quite an increase over the year and although it's affordable to me it's a rather large jump all in one go - I would have liked any increases to be phased in over a longer period. I'd also like the VM app for Android to be released before (but that's another story).

I was told that a letter would be sent out to all customers by the end on November detailing the breakdown of the increase. No idea why these letter weren't combined into one - save a lot of bother!

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Acathla

I was told that a letter would be sent out to all customers by the end on November detailing the breakdown of the increase. No idea why these letter weren't combined into one - save a lot of bother!

There won't be another letter - I have no idea where they got that idea from

[Acathla]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

There won't be another letter - I have no idea where they got that idea from

Hmm OK so how can I find out a true breakdown of the price increase (what services by how much) since two people now were not able to give me that information.

I'd like to see where I could maybe cut services to save.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Acathla

Hmm OK so how can I find out a true breakdown of the price increase (what services by how much) since two people now were not able to give me that information.

I'd like to see where I could maybe cut services to save.

To be honest a breakdown won't help. VM sell services as bundles, so you have to compare one bundle with another to understand what options you have to reduce your services.

[paultrademark]

Originally Posted by Acathla

Just had a letter detailing a £6.59 a month increase from Feb 1st 2013.

Wow, biggest one so far.. can anyone else beat an inflation busting extra £79.08 per year?

[kop32]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

To be honest a breakdown won't help. VM sell services as bundles, so you have to compare one bundle with another to understand what options you have to reduce your services.

Ben,the way I read it Acathla wasn't looking to reduce their services but wanted to know (quite rightly) how the increases were distributed .

[paultrademark]

Exactly, not everyone is on a specific bundle and alot of people probably have custom bundles with new customer discounts, loyalty discounts, Promotional offers, goodwill gestures etc.

So if there is a specific bundle price rise document that VM must use to work it all out, can we ask what the breakdown will be?

For example, I have a bundle discount, Promotional Offer and Goodwill Gesture credit all on my bill each month.. if I tell you what services I have, can you tell me my price increase?

Oh and what about the customers who are on different TiVo pricing.. such as £3 per account, £3 per box, £5 per box

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by kop32

Ben,the way I read it Acathla wasn't looking to reduce their services but wanted to know (quite rightly) how the increases were distributed .

Going around in circles with this.

The only specific increase VM have announced is £1.09 for the line rental, the rest of the price rises are a single amount against the account, as the per the letter that is sent out.

Even if you knew the breakdown, it wouldn't then translate to making changes, as the bundles aren't a straight addition or subtraction on adding or removing services.

Which is why I'm saying you can only compare one bundle against another

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Going around in circles with this.

And the reason for that is the lack of transparency in the billing system.

It is really outrageous, given the large increases, that people can't see the individual price increase for each component of the service, along with the bundle discount that has been applied.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by passingbat

It is really outrageous, given the large increases, that people can't see the individual price increase for each component of the service, along with the bundle discount that has been applied.

We shall have to agree to disagree on that - I see no value in showing a discount that isn't one, nor showing prices that aren't actually what you are charged.