Forum Discussion

FatSam's avatar
FatSam
Dialled in
6 months ago

The pain of just wanting a simple list TV and broadband packages

Hi,

We are still on a TiVo box (Mixit) with Broadband 125 and landline. All I want to do is look at what TV and broadband packages are available. For example, is there a better box/router? You'd think this would be straightforward!

It is not.

VM offer a 'renewal deal' but the only option is to accept it or do nothing. There is no option to tailor it. There also doesn't seem to be a list of all the broadband and TV packages.

So, can someone tell me where I can just find a list of just TV and Broadband packages? Or TV, broadband and landline (even though we haven't used our landline in 15 years VM don't seem to offer competitive TV and broadband only packages from what I can see these all seem triple the cost at least of having a package with a phone line. Jesus... ). We don't watch a huge amount of TV so gazillions of channels is not important to us. Nor is movies or sports.

I just want to be able to select a broadband speed and select a TV package. It doesn't look like I can actually tailor this.

Also, can someone at VM explain why finding a simple menu of packages is seemingly problematic on the absolute disaster that is the VM website? I also seem to have to sign-in on every page I land on.

*rollseyes heavily*

  • goslow's avatar
    goslow
    Alessandro Volta
    6 months ago

    Can you access this page for channels?

    https://www.virginmedia.com/virgin-tv-edit/tips-and-tricks/virgin-tv-channel-guide

    or this for the 360 box

    https://www.virginmedia.com/virgin-tv-edit/tv/virgin-tv-360-channel-guide

    Can you access bundles (for new customers) on this page?

    https://www.virginmedia.com/broadband/packages

    In the past (when on VM) I found you would get different presentations of info when the website detects you are on the VM network

    Scrolling to the very bottom of the VM website page and using the links in the footer used to bring up general information (rather than filtered information for existing customers).

    • FatSam's avatar
      FatSam
      Dialled in
      6 months ago

      Ah, thank you. I eventually discovered the page with the packages in your link (https://www.virginmedia.com/broadband/packages). But now it's disappeared again, presumably because I am signed in. So all I can see now are a load of (expensive) 'upgrades' with a comma-separated list of TV channels. None of them seem competitively priced so I think it's going to be a case of ditching VM.

      And thank you for the channels list page - I have no idea how anyone would find that. Am I the only person who finds the VM website ridiculously unhelpful and poorly structured? It's like stepping back in time.

  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person
    6 months ago

    If you are not interested in landline or premium TV ( movies, sports) just get Broadband.  Buy your own Freeview recorder and/or a Firestick/Apple TV.  We dropped VM landline and TV a long time ago and have survived without them  😉

    • FatSam's avatar
      FatSam
      Dialled in
      6 months ago

      Yes, I think that's what we may do. We already have a firestick and in all honesty we rarely use the VM box, hence the reason why I want to review. I'm nearly finished moving all my email accounts over to gmail so I won't be tied to VM broadband too. Will see how competitors fare.

      • Tom_W1's avatar
        Tom_W1
        Forum Team
        6 months ago

        Hi FatSam thanks for your post although we're sorry to hear of the concerns you've raised.

        For our bundles offered we'd advise looking here and even though this page is catered towards new customers only, it does show what is available.

        Unfortunately, we do not support package changes over the Community but we'd advise contacting us on 150 / 0345 454 1111 and our team can help to support you further.

        We hope this helps.

        Many thanks

  • goslow's avatar
    goslow
    Alessandro Volta
    6 months ago

    If VM presents you with a renewal offer, it is unlikely to be a very good offer and will be weighted heavily in favour of VM.

    Unfortunately, the only way you are likely to get any decent kind of renewal is to haggle with a VM sales agent and maybe even put in a cancellation in the hope of a call back from VM retentions.

    Here is a past topic (relatively old post now but the advice is still good advice) from Andrew-G at message #5 on some considerations when renewing.

    https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Forum-Archive/Why-oh-why-does-loyalty-get-punished/m-p/5226917#M3259447

    If you are really looking at a broadband-only package for the future (and if speed is not a major consideration for you) you should start pricing up the competition as that will be the greatest bargaining lever you have against VM if you really are willing/able to cancel and leave VM.