When I moved into my current property just under 10 years ago the internal Virgin media equipment was missing. There is simply a sever in the internal lounge wall where the cable came through, despite the previous homeowner using Virgin media.
I have stayed with broadband providers who use Openreach since moving into the property.
If I was to switch to Virgin media would there be a damaged equipment charge?
No (not directly) but you would need to make sure you book a technician visit for the installation (which may cost) to replace the missing cables and wall boxes.
VM will know there was a previous VM service at the address and may try to send out a 'Quick Start' kit (i.e. just send you the equipment for you to connect yourself) which you won't be able to do without any service cables.
If VM sends a Quick Start kit, and you cannot connect because of a fault, then the tech visit should be at no cost but there will be a delay between you receiving the kit and having to wait for a tech to come afterwards.
Why would there be any cost at all for the customer?
Scenario 1 : they sign up, request a tech visit to install the equipment, shouldn’t be chargeable.
Scenario 2: VM insist on sending out a ‘Quick Start Kit’ which doesn’t work, and then VM are looking at compensation payments. Not good for the OP, short term, long term, could be quite lucrative for them!
Current no setup fee is a 'promotion' so may be time dependent as to when the OP decides to join VM as to whether booking a tech in advance costs or not
The legal stuff - No setup fee
This promotion means you won’t pay the usual setup fee of £35. No setup fee is available on all bundles, broadband & phone, and broadband only packages. If you can set up using a QuickStart self-install pack, but choose to use an engineer for the installation, you’ll still be charged £30 for this service.
Outside of the promotion, they may have to pay a fee of £35 to get a tech out because the previous occupier chopped the VM cables (which is a sort of indirect 'damaged equipment charge')
(assumes they might want to prioritise the possibility of a quicker and easier installation by booking a tech first of all over the possibility of a failed Quick Start, a delay waiting for a free VM tech visit and the dubious possibility of maybe getting some compo)
