Some further clarification needed here in order to try to help.
When you join VM, you are in a 'contract' which does not end until such time as you give 30 days' notice to VM to cancel (or leave via the new one touch switch process).
You get a discount on the package price from VM by entering into a 'minimum term' period during which you are obliged to stay with VM and cannot leave unless you pay an early disconnection fee (EDF). VM's minimum term used to be typically 18 months but now is often 24 months.
In the past, the discount often used to last for the whole of the minimum term but I believe that now the discount can expire during the minimum term period.
Much of the above might depend upon what was agreed the last time you renewed. You should be able to see your current contract/minimum term information (and what the minimum term agreement is, along with any discounts) if you log into 'My Virgin Media'.
So, if your minimum term has expired recently, and you had discounts to the end of the minimum term, you might expect to see a price rise to the 'standard' price for your package. If you wanted to leave once the minimum term has expired, you should not be charged any EDF.
You may possibly still be in a minimum term and have found that a discount has expired part way through the minimum term. If that was the case, then you would be charged an EDF if you were still in the minimum term period.
Unfortunately we have seen past examples on here of VM agents renewing packages without the direct consent or knowledge of the customer (when they customer has phoned to make a general enquiry about renewing) and the customer finds they are in a minimum term when they thought they were out of the minimum term.
So, first thing to check would be what your present day package terms are, along with any discounts, and when your minimum term ends.
Depending on what you find out from the above, you can plan your future options.
VM sells bundles of services. The more services you use the greater the discount in the minimum term. For example, we often see on here that VM might sell broadband + landline more cheaply than broadband only.
This may work well for some users who are ready/able to switch around at the end of each minimum term but many older users do not want that hassle of having to deal with VM. There have been plenty of past examples on here where older users have not renewed and changed packages and have ended up paying huge amounts each month, as a result of annual price rises, just for basic services.
If you only want broadband + TV you should consider some other options other than VM.
Depending on what sort of TV you like to watch, some have switched to using an aerial and a hard disc recorder and/or buying in the individual streaming services they like to watch.
VM's TV offering is now being heavily steered towards the 360 TV box and now a streaming TV box as the default offering (which has no recording facility).
Depending on what your minimum term status is, you may wish to consider ditching VM altogether when your minimum term is up.
The title of your topic has correctly identified the reason for VM's behaviour. VM simply does not think you will ever leave and is pricing its offers accordingly. You are, however, in a position to change that once you have found out what your minimum term commitments are at present. Some suppliers will offer a contribution towards any early disconnection fees (typically upto £300 from what I have seen) which may help shorten the period you have to stay with VM.
