August 19, 2016

Yet another price rise - where's Ofcom??

Virgin Media has announced yet another above-inflation price hike coming in November. Unbelievable. As you’d expect, the supposed service watchdog, OFCOM, is nowhere to be seen as we get ripped another one by Liberty Global’s atrocious ‘giving customers less for more’ strategy.
Prices will increase £3.49 a month for the majority of customers.The company said it was writing to customers about the changes, which will take effect from November 2016. Line rental will increase by £1.01 a month, which will be included in the increases for television and broadband bundles that include a landline.
“We do everything we can to keep prices competitive while striking a balance with investing in more of what our customers want,” lied a Virgin spokesman. Really? Well I for one, with my decrepit TiVo boxes, intermittent broadband outages, a TV lineup that’s outpaced by a ten quid Now TV box and the dodgy Superhub 2 wifi feels very much underserved and ripped off these days. Care to respond Virgin Media?
Incredibly, this is the third price rise many of us have had this year. On 1 February they increased prices by an average of 5.4%, and on 1 June we were told to swallow another increase for the Sky content.
Apparently customers will be given 30 days after receiving notification to move to another provider without penalty if they do not want to pay the new rates. Will we be ‘permitted’ to downgrade our service without penalty if we stick with Virgin Media?

10 comments:

halcyondays said...

Ofcom have said as a consumer we can end our contracts because of price increases but that only applies to people joining sometime in 2014. Absolute joke!!!

I've just upgraded my tv package and the discount i got because of loyalty will be non existent in Nov when the prices go up.

I'm looking more and more towards Sky Q and i never thought i'd be saying that. Or even cord cutting entirely.

Customers need to vote with their feet here.

RodHull said...

I'd leave VM in a jiffy, but unfortunately the fastest speed available to me using BT's infrastructure is approx 2 mbps. So much for OFCOM ensuring there's fair competition in the marketplace.

overyourhead said...

I'm gone. My eyes have been opened. Long-term loyal VM customer voting with my feet. Sky is cheaper and better. Hopefully me leaving will help those of you who stay and VM will see the light.

Unknown said...

That's it, I'm off. I never thought id consider sky again but with these increases ill defo look at it. VM are going backwards, tivo feels old and antiquated and the broadband has been useless for 12 months. I've been a loyal customer for over 8 years, but my loyalty is really being tested.

The Unsung-Hero said...

Loyalty is a mugs game. You should be no more loyal to VM than you are to insurance companies and utilities. Everyone knows the second you leave it's only a matter of time before the 50% off flyer drops on the mat.

Unknown said...

Bye Bye VM this is the last straw, I have been with VM since the CableTel days some 18 years ago.The Tivo box is so slow, TV Anywhere is a joke. BT or Sky have to be better than the appalling service that VM has become.

Unknown said...

I have been with Virgin since it was Nynex. I have had minimal problems in all those years and when I have had them , they have been resolved very quickly. I also keep looking for a cheaper alternative , but Sky are way way over priced for the services I get with Virgin. Look at all the add ons with Sky and the actual speeds of their broadband network . I have been quoted up to 17 mps wow. I have the Top package with Virgin which cannot be beaten on price . Also , does anyone think that Sky are not going to up their prices ?

Nialli said...

@Peter Woods - hence my call for action by OFCOM. Virgin, BT and Sky (and Now) will all increase prices as high as they can, so once VM get away with it the others will follow. Over 10% in less than a year, more for customers taking the Sky Premium services, is outrageous. And what justification is there? They're extending their network, which is of absolutely zero benefit to the millions of existing customers they're stinging

mail said...

I left last year, when a temporary house move forced me to move to sky. I had every intention of moving back as I had been with them since the days of telewest analogue. But Sky Q came along and I couldn't go back to Virgin until they can match it or beat it. I don't mind paying a premium for a good service but Virgin are slipping on that front. Sky Q is an incredible bit of design

The Unsung-Hero said...

Just another comment on this, is it time that we all disregard media pricing in general post contract period and simply offer them what you think it's worth? Coming to the end of my sky deal. Got the works for £67. I am going to give them a take it or leave it offer. Not sure what that will be just ye, but will let you know how I get on.