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.
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)
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!
