RPI Price increase, but I'm on old contract
Hi All,
I received the usual RPI price increase letter.
I'm aware that since fall 2023 Virgin has baked into its T&Cs the clause that leaving the contract without early repayment charges is no longer an option, but I'm on an old contract (july 2023), and there is no mention of that. It actually says that I can leave Virgin in case of a price increase. In my contract there is no mention whatover of RPI or inflation etc.
I called Virgin CS a couple of times and the operators just kept mentioning that in the new T&Cs, RPI and inflation-related costs don't create the basis to an early cancellation of the contract (without paying charges), and refused to consider the fact that I'm on an old contract.
Please advise.
This's the wording from my contract: " ...increase our monthly charges under this agreement;.." "we will give you at least 30 days’ notice of such a change and inform you of your right to cancel this agreement without paying an early disconnection fee by giving us notice in accordance with the instructions set out in our notification. You need to give us your cancellation notice within 30 days of us notifying you. If you cancel this agreement under this paragraph N6, your contract will terminate on the earlier of (i) 30 days after your notice is deemed delivered in accordance with paragraph T3, or (ii) the date on which the change comes into effect, or, where this is not feasible due to the timing of your notice, as soon as reasonably possible after that date."
Unfortunately, they actually aren’t in breech of contract. If you read the terms of the contact you signed up for, it does give VM the right to modify the terms of it, with the proviso that you can reject the changes and leave. Last year, VM excised their right to make such a change to the contract you were on, and you had the right, then, to terminate it if you disagreed. As you, obviously, didn’t leave, the implication would be that you accept this change and hence are now bound by it.
But, please, you don’t have to just believe me, a random person on t’internet - by all means, consult a solicitor, but I’m sure you’ll be told the same thing!
But yes, the reply above from Zach_R, absolutely was a simple, knee-jerk C&P response, without him having actually read nor understood the gist of what you were asking in your original post. But such is the way VM’s customer services work.
