November 13, 2015

Time to get angry - yet another Virgin Media price hike announced

I've just about had enough of this - anyone else feel the same? A poll top right to assess the customer reaction to yet another price hike. Here's the story:
Virgin Media customers who are signed up to one of the company's "Big Bundles" will soon see their monthly bill get an inflation-busting price increase. The cable provider says "the vast majority" of subscribers will see their packages rise by up to 5.4 percent (between £3.49 and £3.99 a month), which will include a £1 line rental increase. The changes won't happen right away -- they'll come into effect next February.
The pricing breaks down as follows: customers on a Big Connection or Big Easy package will have an extra £3.49 bolted on to their monthly bill. Those on the Big Bang, Big Kahuna, Big Daddy plans will get the slightly larger £3.99 increase. Broadband-only customers who were lumped with a bigger bill in November are exempt from Virgin Media's latest price review.
The timing of the hike has prompted many Virgin Media customers to voice their displeasure on social media. When the company bumped its top broadband speed up to 200Mbps at the end of September, it said the boost would incur no extra charge. However, just six weeks later, many of those customers are now receiving notice of a price increase.

25 comments:

DatingKit.io said...

Unfortunately some of this is because Sky has decided to bump their prices up to their customers (and to 3rd Parties like Virgin) for the second time in a year. So although its really annoying, it is because Sky is pulling the strings and is an argument over whether Sky has too much of a monopoly when they not only dictate their prices but Virgins, forcing a double increase in the average bill within a single year.

Check the news and you will see that Sky are the main reason for this. :)

Paul said...

Just cancelled Tv and phone, ill use my freesat recorder and prime / netflix its much cheaper and better value for money.

Unknown said...

I cancelled tv kept bb/phone

Unknown said...

I am feed up with all price rises they always blame sky but i thought we were virgin media costumers they can not keep blaming sky for there price i am thinking about going to bt

Danny Boy said...

Hmmm bound to happen at some point
I think soon as my 9 month deal ends i'll downgrade

Danny Boy said...

http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/news/2015/11/virgin_media_customers_facing_price_rises/

rowland2008 said...

I am leaving Virgin media,and having BT installed this Wed,Phone,Broadband,and Tv.As a new customer i am getting a great deal and am only tied to them for a year then i may try Sky.In truth i am totally pissed off with Virgin Media and their arrogance,indeed i have not had one phone call asking why a customer for many years is leaving,that's Virgin Media for you.

Alex said...

I'm thinking of leaving Virgin as well and not just because of the price hike. I'd be interested to know your experiences with BT compared to Virgin

Unknown said...

I too have also left Virgin. Got a 60% 'come back to Sky' discount(making the FULL package with HD £30.30 per month), also got a £100 credit to my Sky account. Have placed an order for BT Infinity for £27.99 with a £100 Sainsburys voucher, which is getting installed next week

Unknown said...

I'm not sure this will effect me, never signed up to the new 'Big Bundle' deals so I might be better off than most!!

rowland2008 said...

Alex i'll let you know,Chris J seems to have a great deal as well,it seems to be a great time for new customers,i too am getting Sainsbury vouchers,i wonder how long it is you have to leave Virgin before you are classed as a new customer.

Unknown said...

You need to speak to the retentions department if you want a good deal, it is an outbound only call centre and they will only contact you once you have started the move to another provider. I have just got xl tv, 200mb broadband, simple phone line, for £31 a month with a new tivo to go with the one i already had, plus 6 months free sky movies and sports

Alex said...

Patrick - Some of the problem I have with virgin is the cost, but at the moment it's mostly down to only getting 10mbps (I pay for 152) between 4pm and midnight alongside 10% packet loss. I've got no chance of streaming anything and playing online games is an exercise in frustration. I'd rather have a slower speed that is reliable without becoming unusable for anything other than paddling the web during peak times.

Unknown said...

Fair enough... That sucks!... Im the opposite, BT would only give me 5-10mb, which in reality would only be 3-4!

Unknown said...

It was indeed an excellent deal and what was even better was the fact fact that because I still had my 2TB Sky box and didn't need/want another one my Sky contract is on a month-to-month basis �� Their offer came just at the right time with VM announcing the price increase.

In response to a post asking how long before you are classed as a new customer again with VM - I was told when I cancelled that I wouldn't be able to rejoin as a new customer for 90 days from cancellation.

With BT they are GUARANTEEING me a min of a 35mb connection or I can cancel contract.

Unknown said...

Fair enough... That sucks!... Im the opposite, BT would only give me 5-10mb, which in reality would only be 3-4!

Alex said...

I appreciate all the advice and feedback chaps. I think I might be locked into a contract after the last speed upgrade until Feb 2016, but I'll dig out the paperwork tomorrow as BT Infinity is looking a much better bet. Their website reckons 57Mb guaranteed where I live.

Unknown said...

If I had opted for Infinity 2 then BT were guaranteeing a min speed of 71mb

rowland2008 said...

Patrick i have had no one call me from Virgins retention dept,i have been a Virgin phone customer since they were called Jones Cable way back i think in the late eighties or around early nineties its too late now with BT coming tomorrow but i think i would have stayed with Virgin if they had offered me your deal.

Unknown said...

As long as you opt to keep your phone number, as soon as the number begins the port process, you can phone virgin and ask for the retentions team to call.. It is all a faff to do, but it can save loads... The retentions team aparantly only call a certain percentage of leaving customers.. So phoning after the port has started should guarantee a call back.

Unknown said...

Im looking to leave virgin due to the costs however what puts me off moving is the broadband. Im currently on 150mbs and worry that bt and skys best will leave me wanting as my family are heavy users. As anyone changed and found it lacking.

Unknown said...

Is it a faithful information? I should call their customer service (phone number here - http://www.customerservicescontact.co.uk/virgin-media-customer-service-phone-number/ ) to know it`s true.

Anonymous said...

So I haven't received the letter informing me yet, but got told when I happened to ring them recently. I have heard from other customers that the letter informs you can leave your contract penalty free. I'd love to move to Sky for TV anyway but my partner is determined to stay with virgin for broadband. So if this is true, can I exit my contract and then start a new one? As my current bundle they offer for £10 cheaper and that's AFTER the intro period. I don't mind their service as such but my bill has increased 3x after being promised price guarantee for life in the shop so want to be treated as a 'new' customer again.

Unknown said...

Yet to receive my letter - is there a URL included to an area on their website that explains more including steps to revise/cancel your package?

Prithvi said...

Cut the cord guys! Buy yourselves an android TV Box from MunsterGadgets.com You get all the Premier League Games, and unparalleled on demand content. Seriously this box changed my life!