Forum Discussion

DavidQ's avatar
DavidQ
Joining in
5 months ago

Reducing an out of contract package

I'm managing the account of my parents who are moving into care. They've been Virgin Media customers since it was NTL in the 90s. Currently they are out of contract and have quite an expensive (TV + broadband) package.

We are still making some use of the internet connection while their house is on the market, but don't need the high speeds they have now nor the TV package (there's no TV). We're loathe to keep paying for the current package unnecessarily, but neither do we want to be forced onto a new contract by downgrading the service.

Do the community have any advice on what a sensible option might be? I'm a Virgin customer myself and pay considerably less than my parents for a superior package. I suspect here's a loyalty discount they could have been getting for a long time but didn't know to ask for it. Could I add their service to my account temporarily, or can the community recommend non-Virgin options for temporary minimal speed broadband for a few months?

 

  • Mr_K's avatar
    Mr_K
    Knows their stuff

    Just cancel it, and get your interweb from elsewhere. You are right to be paranoid about contacting VM and being put on a new contract. 

  • newapollo's avatar
    newapollo
    Very Insightful Person

    Hi DavidQ 

    I  doubt this applies but depending upon your parents financial circumstances they may qualify for the <Essential broadband> package with VM  which would provide a low cost, low speed broadband connection

    With VM they need to be on either Pension CreditUniversal Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance†, Income-based Employment Support Allowance†, you are eligible for Essential broadband packages.

    However there are other providers that have similair cost effective broadband although the majority do need the customers to meet similair conditions to VM's.

    One provider that has a less expensive broadband package is /communityfibre which has no qualifying criteria if it's available in your area and provides a 12-month 35 Mbps fibre package for £12.50 a month.  I realise you probably/hopefully wouldn't want/need a 12 month package but it may work out cheaper overall.

    There's a list of other providers social tarifs on the ispreview site <here>