Internet, Telephone & TV provider

[AThomas]

I currently use Virgin Media for Internet, TV and Phone Lines, but following a call from BT I am looking into other alternatives out there.

The package I currently have with Virgin Media is as follows:
* Up to 30Mb Broadband with Wi-Fi (currently Download 30.6Mb, and Upload 1.9Mb)
* TV 'Large' channel (135+ channels), about 20 I might actually watch though!
* 2 Phone lines, one with unlimited weekday, weekend, and evening.

(Note, the broadband also gives me free security to my laptop).

All of this costs me £85 or thereabouts per calendar month....I don't even get a TIVO box!


I am sure there are cheaper service providers to the SG12 area, but I am trying to also factor in quality as well as cost.

For this reason I wanted to ask the wider Ware community whether they could recommend other providers for ALL 3 services (Internet, TV and Phone)... I don't want to be using more than one service provider for these 3 items.

I would like other peoples suggestions....I would like a similar level of good internet performance; am less fussy with TV channels (as long as I get 1->5, Dave, Discovery Channel, and CNN I am happy!, but I do need 2 phone lines, and must be able to keep my current Virgin Media email address (actually an old ntlworld one!)


Keen to know what Ware residents think of BT around here?


Thanks!

[Mancunian]

i'm on virgin with internet, phone line, tv etc, my current package is:

Broadband with wireless hub 60mb
XL TV package with over 200 channels plus 30+ HD channels
Home line with free weekends and mobile calls
Netfix
1GB Tivo box with additional box in bedroom

current cost £67 per month

don't understand why you are paying £85 a month for less than what i get and pay, you really need to speak with Virgin Media and upgrade to one of their new packages which actually gives you more for less like i did.

hope this helps

[Matt40]

I have virgin broadband cable 30mbs, 13 quid a month and their phone rental which i pay annually to get the half price discount (cant remember the amount). I have freesat so no tv cost. Remember virgin are imminently upgrading 30mbs to 50mbs for no extra cost.

[Scottman]

This looks very familiar.

I received a letter in December, from Virgin, saying my package was going up by about 5% - I was then paying about £52 a month for internet, large TV and phone. Checked prices on uSwitch, then rang (their free number, menu 'Thinking of Leaving Us?') and told Virgin I was leaving for PlusNet, which was then the best alternative package. Was immediately offered a new 12 month contract, paying the phone rental (discounted) 12 months up front (£120), then getting the rest for about £13 a month for 12 months.

I was furious with them that I had been pulled along (and slow boiled) for a number of years - the commendably polite (and honest) lady who I was speaking to encouraged me to renegotiate my contract annually. My diary is now carefully marked for that purpose. I would have left them on principle but, with this package, it wasn't worth the hassle.

Go, Do....

[tonyappleton]

As with most companies now, you have to phone to negotiate a better deal with their retentions department.

[Alec]

Yes, the annual renegotiation call would appear to be a regular thorn in my side too.

I've been with TalkTalk for years - and they're fine, but I do appear to have to put aside a good 45 mins or so to speak to the very cheerful person in South Africa who wants to do everything they can to make me happy, except give me a good deal. I haven't lost yet, mind. Just be persistent and escalate...

[AThomas]

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I have spoken to the nice people in the Virgin Media retentions team tonight....

It looks like they can bring my costs down from the £85 I pay per month to about £67 per month (for 6 months) and then £73 (after the initial 6 months).

I am currently out of contract they say, and it is only when an existing customer calls in querying their charges, that they can do a review of their overall VM package.

The TIVO box does have a £49.99 installation cost associated with it.

I need to see whether this TIVO box is worth it, as it will reduce my monthly costs to about £65 in comparison to the £67/month... Mancunian what are your thoughts about TIVO out of interest?

I'm going to decide over the weekend how to proceed with VM...... the broadband speed is good, and seldom gives me problems, and needing to change my old ntlworld.com email address will be a pain!

[Alec]

It looks like they can bring my costs down from the £85 I pay per month to about £67 per month (for 6 months) and then £73 (after the initial 6 months).

Don't forget, of course, to call in 6 months and renegotiate down that £73...

[Mancunian]

AThomas,

we wouldn't be wthout tivo now, really good, does loads of thing from recording multiple programs, internet the lot, however i got mine installed free when i called them to renegotiate my package so i would check that and i didn't get the 6 months at one price then go up after, my bill has stayed the same. you really need to go hard on them and as what i did threaten to leave and go to sky etc they will bend as they did with me.

Good luck the Manc

[Scottman]

AThomas I think you need to do something else. Use uSwitch or any other comparison site to establish the lowest quote for the service you really need, and leave Virgin (or threaten to) for that package. Virgin will match it, and tempt you with the Tivo for free.