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moggyman's avatar
moggyman
Up to speed
3 days ago

Deals for oldies who don't want broadband?

My 88-year-old Mum's contract is about to expire.

For ages now she's just had a very basic TV package (essentially just Freeview as far as I can tell), her old Tivo box, and her landline. VM put a router in for the latter some time ago, and that's all it's for.

She doesn't understand nor want broadband and I wouldn't let her near it as she can barely work the microwave. I've just spent a fun couple of hours on webchats with VM because she had a letter recently to tell her that her monthly cost was about to rise from £12.27 to £27.02. Being on the basic State pension, she was worried and upset about it, and I don't like seeing her like that. I was NOT happy.

I tried a couple of webchats but despite explaining (repeatedly) that she doesn't want nor need broadband, the only deals fired at me included it. One guy tried to push such a deal on me and it was nearly 50 quid. I repeated that Mum is 88 and on a State pension, didn't want internet access and so on but he/she wouldn't deviate from the script.

I just wondered if anyone else out there was looking after an elderly relative who just wants a phone, their TV (inc DVR) and nothing else? Yes, you and I need internet access these days but Mum doesn't and nobody seems to cater for that market - or if they do then they are keeping it very, very quiet.

11 Replies

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  • Roger_Gooner's avatar
    Roger_Gooner
    Alessandro Volta
    3 days ago

    Her old Tivo box is on its way out and she'll need broadband when it's replaced with a V6, 360 or Apollo. But is she likely to be happy with Freeview? If so get her onto that (will probably need an external aerial for good reception). And if ditching the TiVo causes the phone to become more expensive then investigate if a phone from BT or other providers will be cheaper.

    • moggyman's avatar
      moggyman
      Up to speed
      3 days ago
      Roger_Gooner wrote:

      Her old Tivo box is on its way out and she'll need broadband when it's replaced with a V6, 360 or Apollo. But is she likely to be happy with Freeview? If so get her onto that (will probably need an external aerial for good reception). And if ditching the TiVo causes the phone to become more expensive then investigate if a phone from BT or other providers will be cheaper.

      She is utterly confused by technology, bless her. It took me months and months to train her how to use the Tivo. I know it's old tech but she's happy with it and can just about operate it.

      I have thought about a Freeview box but I doubt very much she would get to grips with it and as you hinted at, taking one element i.e. the landline, out of what would normally be a package deal may be expensive. I want to try and minimise the fuss for both of us and that could be done quite easily if VM would let her keep what she has now and maybe just add the standard annual price increase on top - not increase it by 50%+. I find that to be rather obscene.

      • japitts's avatar
        japitts
        Very Insightful Person
        17 hours ago

         if VM would let her keep what she has now and maybe just add the standard annual price increase on top - not increase it by 50%+

        The trouble you have here, is that your Mum currently has a time-limited discount on the standard price, and it's that discount that's coming to an end.

        The 50% increase you mention, implies a roughly ~33% discount on standard pricing that's expiring. Getting a renewed discount to go with a fresh (likely 24month) minimum-term is therefore the way around that.

        The broadband requirement sounds like your sticky wicket, and I suspect there's no way around that. Many of VM's TV functions require an internet connection, and they may be reluctant to keep providing a basic one "on the free" without something in return.

  • Roger_Gooner's avatar
    Roger_Gooner
    Alessandro Volta
    3 days ago

    She could always call VM (choose 'Thinking of leaving') and ask for a better deal. However I think it most likely that she'll be offered a box upgrade - which must be accompanied by VM's broadband. Perhaps there could be an acceptable deal comprising broadband, streaming Apollo box and phone, but I fear I don't see an option to Freeview.

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta
    3 days ago

    A freeview recorder is her way forward. A one-off payment, no more bills, and no more pushy sales people. 

  • newapollo's avatar
    newapollo
    Very Insightful Person
    2 days ago

    Hi moggyman​

    The suggested Apollo (streaming box) would be unsuitable as it uses Liberty Global's own propriety  Horizon Entertainment platform which is completely different to the Tivo interface that your Mum is used to.  It's like comparing android to ios.  The streaming box also doesn't have a hard drive so your Mum would be unable to record programs.  The TV360 box would also be unsuitable as it also uses the Horizon interface.

    Since your Mum has an 'old Tivo box, and her landline. VM put a router in for the latter some time ago, and that's all it's for', it would suggest that she may have  the more up to date V6 box which runs on the tivo platform rather than the the older tivo box. (The easy way to tell the difference apart from looking at them is that the newer V6 has access to the  Amazon Prime app which isn't available on the older tivo.  The older tivo box has it's own built in modem hence it didn't need a hub/router to access the internet)

    If you look at the linked page <here> the older tivo box is shown on the right, and the more modern V6 box on the left.  Currently broken tivo boxes are replaced with V6 boxes which need the router for the internet connection.

     Your Mum may have been issued with a 'dummy router'. In the past when the tivo boxes needed replacing and the VM customers didn't have broadband with VM then they had been given a router and 50Mbps internet at no extra charge so they could be switched to the V6 box.  With the 'dummy' router the internet can only be accessed by the V6 box for the apps and catch up/streaming services.  If this is the case then Mum wouldn't be able to access the internet with a smart TV or firestick etc using VM internet. 

    Mum really need to speak to retentions (think of leaving) aka cancellations and give in her notice to see what deals are actually available for her.   

    • moggyman's avatar
      moggyman
      Up to speed
      2 days ago

      Thanks for that info. I moved from a Tivo to a 360 when I took out a new contract last year and I just know that Mum would struggle with the interface.

      At her age and attitude towards new technology, the easier I can make any required change the better it will be - for her and my own sanity.

      • Steven_L's avatar
        Steven_L
        Icon for Forum Team rankForum Team
        2 days ago

        Hello moggyman,

        Welcome back to the Community and thanks for taking the time to post here on the forums. I'm sorry to hear of the issues that your Mum is having with her TV package. This sounds like her current contract has come to end of its initial term and thats the reason why the price has gone up by so much. We can have a look into this from here via private message. Please look out for my message and we can get started.
        Kind Regards,
        Steven_L

    • Roger_Gooner's avatar
      Roger_Gooner
      Alessandro Volta
      17 hours ago

      My belief, and I could be wrong about it, is that VM only provides a free hub to voice-only customers, and TiVo-only customers who upgrade to a V6 must take out a broadband contract as well.

  • moggyman's avatar
    moggyman
    Up to speed
    18 hours ago

    Nope. VM won't budge. She has to pay the 120% price rise for what she has now. Any new contract must have broadband. It's like Monty Python's spam sketch. I could save her a whopping 25p if I took out a new contract with teeny broadband included but it isn't worth the fuss. Being penalised for being elderly and not wanting to use the internet doesn't sit well with me.