Virgin Media - Above Inflation Rises from 1st February

[MrB]

Originally Posted by Kushan

As far as I know, the line rental Saver means you've paid your line rental so the increase has nothing to do with it.

Phone them up, you can get the price down to less than the rise.

Thank you. In the past they have said that they cannot make any changes on the system without it removing the Mates Rates discount. When I last called, they gave me a credit on my account to cover the rise for a year which has deferred the rise, but then I realised the base price is going up each time so at the next rise I am still only getting back to the last rise (if that makes sense). The Mates Rates discount used to be much better than it has become (used to e half price, now it isn't). It may be time to consider other options as £50+ per month is a lot for phone, internet and TV, even if it is a good service.

[jb66]

Originally Posted by jungleguy

I normally dread Christmas..... I put all my friends and family on mates rates way back, and they would moan like mad how expensive VM had become over Xmas diner. Fortunately they have all cancelled and gone to Sky or BT for a better deal.

Same, In my group of mates we have someone who works for sky so most mates have cancelled

[RichardCoulter]

I received a letter today that said my package is increasing by £5 per month in return for absolutely nothing as far as I can tell. They're taking the urine now and I will certainly be considering my options.

[Gavin78]

I'm still on the premier package not changed it yet so my price rise come Feb will make my bill around £89 a month.

It's a shame VM didn't do better deals on tv and BB as would love to drop the phone line but I guess the £17.99 a month goes back into the company for some fat cats wages

[Kushan]

Originally Posted by MrB

Thank you. In the past they have said that they cannot make any changes on the system without it removing the Mates Rates discount. When I last called, they gave me a credit on my account to cover the rise for a year which has deferred the rise, but then I realised the base price is going up each time so at the next rise I am still only getting back to the last rise (if that makes sense). The Mates Rates discount used to be much better than it has become (used to e half price, now it isn't). It may be time to consider other options as £50+ per month is a lot for phone, internet and TV, even if it is a good service.

I'm also on the mates rates and was able to negotiate a good saving just last month.

[JPAC]

Originally Posted by Kushan

I'm also on the mates rates and was able to negotiate a good saving just last month.

Is mates rates knowing people who work for VM or loyalty discount? VM said I had the best deal only last month so I guess the only thing left now is cancellation.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by JPAC

Is mates rates knowing people who work for VM or loyalty discount? VM said I had the best deal only last month so I guess the only thing left now is cancellation.

Mates rates is knowing people who work for VM.

It'll be interesting to see if VM do actually let you go. I can't say I understand why a company would try and retain customers who regularly phone up to reduce their bill.

---------- Post added at 19:36 ---------- Previous post was at 19:34 ----------

Originally Posted by MrB

It may be time to consider other options as £50+ per month is a lot for phone, internet and TV, even if it is a good service.

If the primary consideration is price rather than quality then definitely. TalkTalk might be a good way to go.

[Gavin78]

Maybe because the cost of reducing a bill by £5-£10 a month is better than losing the additional £50+ they would lose in the event the customer left.

In my case I am still on an old package haven't rang up to change yet but I pay £85 a month while the same package is £69. I'm out of contract now of course.

Either way do you think I should still pay £85 while the same ppl are paying much less?

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by Gavin78

Maybe because the cost of reducing a bill by £5-£10 a month is better than losing the additional £50+ they would lose in the event the customer left.

On the other hand they would gain the £?? they would have cost to actually provide service for the customer.

[Kabaal]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

On the other hand they would gain the £?? they would have cost to actually provide service for the customer.

It's not like they are giving out ridiculous discounts, for the most part it's only £4 to £8 off these days.

[qasdfdsaq]

Well if it costs £45 to provide a service to a £50 paying customer, a £8 discount will mean they are losing money.

[JPAC]

Perhaps VM would rather keep you as a customer at around cost price than you tell everybody you are better off with a competitor and start a snowball effect of losing a lot of VM customers.

[Kabaal]

Originally Posted by qasdfdsaq

Well if it costs £45 to provide a service to a £50 paying customer, a £8 discount will mean they are losing money.

That's just a guess with made up numbers though, for all we know it could cost them £30 to provide £50 worth of services.

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by JPAC

Perhaps VM would rather keep you as a customer at around cost price than you tell everybody you are better off with a competitor and start a snowball effect of losing a lot of VM customers.

Unsure if that'd happen. It's an interesting argument though; VM should give customers discounts when they ask for them else that person will tell lots of people they should leave VM, and they will.

I suspect there are far stronger arguments people have made to others as to why they should leave VM than complaining because VM won't further discount already discounted packages to the point of cost price.

I don't think VM really want the TalkTalk market. TalkTalk's profit margin is wafer thin and certainly wouldn't cover the kind of CapEx VM and every other cable company have to invest.

Far better, if feasible, that VM lower prices across the board and let people who aren't happy with what they are paying, even after being given discounts, and who they aren't making any money on go to the cheaper competition and enjoy a potentially inferior service.

[qasdfdsaq]

Originally Posted by Kabaal

That's just a guess with made up numbers though, for all we know it could cost them £30 to provide £50 worth of services.

That's just a guess with made up numbers though, for all we know it could cost them £50 to provide £30 worth of services.