Forum Discussion

bluesmartie007's avatar
bluesmartie007
On our wavelength
2 years ago

2 week installation delay

<span;>Ok, I'm sure this has been posted already, but I'm honestly at a loss what to do next. My broadband installation was due on the  15th Jan, between 8am and 1pm. The engineer didn't show. I called and was told it had moved to 1pm to 6pm as external work had not been done. I said that this work has still not been done, and that the progress on the app is still showing it needs to be done. I was assured it would be, and told to wait in. The work wasn't done, and the installation date changed to 29th, 8am to 1pm, with the preparing the property moved to the 28th. I was notified of none of this. There has been zero communication. I called up customer service again, and in that time the appointment changed to 1pm to 6pm, again no notification. I discovered this by checking the app so I was sure of the dates to say to the advisor. The advisor told me they don't have the means to do anything but would escalate the issue and I would be called within two days, and updated.

<span;>Two days pass and I hear nothing. I go on the WhatsApp chat, and I'm told that an engineer will be out the next day to do external work, then in the same conversation I'm told it will be that afternoon and I will get a call within 2hrs. 2hrs pass and I hear nothing, no external work is done, which is no surprise. I go back to WhatsApp that night to be told they are powerless to help and I need to call the number I did on the 15th, in the mean time they will escalate this for a 3rd time. Upto now Virgin have not contacted me in way. They've not notified me of changes or of escalation or of progress or updates. Not one call, text or email. I call the number the next day. I'm told that it will once more be escalated and to expect a phone call with an update in the next 24hrs.

<span;>My current broadband contract has ended, and I'm looking at 2wks without any broadband now. I'm not actually hopeful it will be installed on the 29th. The reason for this is the lack of confirmation/acknowledged of the issue, via any form of communication, from Virgin media. This can only lead me to believe this issue is far from resolved and is set to drag on. I have zero faith, frustrated doesn't even come close. It feels like Virgin media are driving me over a cliff and all I can do is watch  while they tell me they understand, how sorry they are and how they'll escalate my concerns about the cliff edge. All I've had from Virgin is a customer service advisors are repeated apologies and promises to escalate, with no result what so ever. I don't know what else I can do or who I can turn to, I may as well just tell my dog the saga, and be free of the incessant empty apologies from advisors.

<span;>I have also asked about the compensation. It says in the automatic compensation policy, that for every day they delay installation it's £5.85, which over 14 days amounts to £81.62.  Plus £29.15 for an engineer not showing. This amounts to about £110. I have asked repeatedly about this to only be told that it's automatic and will be worked out after installation. On the 3rd phone call I was told I will receive nothing as it's external work that is delayed and this is not the fault of Virgin media, but they can credit my account with £50 as a goodwill gesture. Is this correct?

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta

    Your story is common I'm afraid, and could run on further.

    VM try various excuses to avoid paying compensation, but most of them fail. You will get good advice on here from other users who have been through this. 

    • bluesmartie007's avatar
      bluesmartie007
      On our wavelength

      How do I raise a documented complaint? I can't seem to find any links, that give me any form of proof I've complained, such as a case number, or even a confirmation email. 

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta

    A complaint, if you can manage to send one, will achieve nothing at this stage as it will be brushed aside just like your phone calls. 

    VM knew when they took your order that a new cable had to be installed and that this can typically take weeks or months, but they gave you a prompt installation date to avoid putting you off and going elsewhere. (As an aside, the longest installation delay reported on here is over a year). 

    Find a temporary provision, like 4g or 5g mobile, to keep you going while you wait. 

     

     

    • bluesmartie007's avatar
      bluesmartie007
      On our wavelength

      Thanks for the reply. When you refer to the new cable being installed, do you mean the cable from the street to the house,? Just Virgin media have been round the estate and dug up all the streets. My neighbour has had their connection installed months ago and is now using virgin media broadband.

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta

    Have they actually run the cable from the road to your house? That is not usually done until you place an order. 

    • bluesmartie007's avatar
      bluesmartie007
      On our wavelength

      No, there is no cable to the house, that's the stumbling block. Virgin are in the area and there are people in the street who have been connected. That's the clarification I was asking. I'm on the same page as you now. 

      • Arissa_H's avatar
        Arissa_H
        Forum Team

        Hi Bluesmartie007 👋🏼.

        Thank you for posting, welcoming you onto our community forum 😊.

        Sorry to see this has happened and you have not had communication back from our team ☹, as this is not the level of service we aim to provide. 

        Has our team advised when the installation would be for and what the reason of delay is? 

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta

    Have a look down the forum page. You'll see similar cases and learn more. 

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta

    The strangest thing about Virginmedia customer service is when their own staff contact a customer to ask them what is going on with their service... 

    • bluesmartie007's avatar
      bluesmartie007
      On our wavelength

      This is probably a daft question, to put a claim in, will that be made through them, via me calling them? 

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta

    You'll need to put it in writing as a complaint. 

    • bluesmartie007's avatar
      bluesmartie007
      On our wavelength

      You know what, that's better than calling them. I'll wait for the bill and see what happens. Thanks. 

  • Hey bluesmartie007,

    We're glad to hear that you have finally been installed with your services and we hope that you've not had any issues since they were installed. 

    Have you heard anything further with regards to compensation since you last posted? If you haven't heard anything about this, we could look further into this via private message, would you like to do that? We can also raise a complaint for you with regards to this.

    Kind Regards,

    Steven_L

    • bluesmartie007's avatar
      bluesmartie007
      On our wavelength

      Yes I would like to do that. I have heard nothing  nd my online bill is showing a from me payment is due, next month. 

      • Akua_A's avatar
        Akua_A
        Forum Team

        Thank you for letting us know. I can see you recently spoke to our team regarding auto-compensation for the delay in installation. Were you able to resolve this with our team? Do you need any further help?

        Thanks,

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta

    You should now open a formal complaint with VM, rejecting their offer of compensation and laying out your detailed case for the full amount.  Say that if they can't resolve this properly you will go to the Ombudsman.

    If they don't come up with a satisfactory solution, after eight weeks you can go straight to the Ombudsman.  Or they may send you a deadlock letter, in which case you can go to the Ombudsman right away.

    VM complaints:  https://www.virginmedia.com/help/virgin-media-complaint

    • bluesmartie007's avatar
      bluesmartie007
      On our wavelength

      Just penning the letter now. I will update on this thread whatever progress is made, as it may be a help to others. 

      • Sabrina_B's avatar
        Sabrina_B
        Forum Team

        Hi bluesmartie007 👋.

        Thanks for the update on this, apologies for the issues that you have been facing in relation to a delayed installation. I can see that you have reached out to our contact team regarding this. in order to discuss details of this we would need to bring you in for a private message. 

        Please look out for the envelope on the top right of your web browser or if you are using a mobile device, it will be located under your profile icon.
         

        Thanks.
         

        Sabrina
         

    • bluesmartie007's avatar
      bluesmartie007
      On our wavelength

      I have an update. Virgin media are saying that my claim does not fall under their  auto compensation. The reason being 'The delay was cause by eternal work which was required to get your cable pulled, this is due to a blockage in the ducts where the cable was being pulled through. "

       

      They have added "As you advised the technician didn't show up, although this was due to being unable to install you we will add a one of credit of £50 as a good will du to the inconvenience of waiting 14 days to be set up."

       

      Btw, that is copied word for word, you would think a child was writing these letters.  Obviously this offer is unacceptable, along with excuse, so far as I'm concerned. 

      So, what is the next step? They're saying they will close this in 28 days, which falls before the 8wks, I have to give before the ombudsman can be brought. They are asking me to call if I'm not satisfied. To be totally honest, I don't have the patience, or mental strength, to speak anymore to these people. 

       

      Thanks in advance. All advice is greatly appreciated. 

      • _wibble_'s avatar
        _wibble_
        On our wavelength

        I will have a very similar claim as you do (when I eventually get set up)
        As far as I am concerned the contract is with VM, they provided an install date, and any issue they have with 3rd party contractors is irrelevant.
        Sorry I can't be of any more help but at this point I would refuse VMs offer and advise them you will taking your complaint to the Ombudsman. 

  • jpeg1's avatar
    jpeg1
    Alessandro Volta

    It's NOT correct that they can get out of compensation because of their subcontractor being slow. As _wibble_ says, it's their own responsibility to get the job done when they have promised.  You should refuse any other payment. 

    The other excuse they use is an alleged delay in getting permission to dig the pavement. In most cases this only takes a couple of days, and you can check with the Council when they actually requested it. 

    • bluesmartie007's avatar
      bluesmartie007
      On our wavelength

      I'm not. So  the letter says to email them if I accept. I am not going to do that. It then goes on the say call this number to discuss other option, the number being that hellish customer services one. Do I need to call these people, or can I just wait for the 8wks to be served and further this to the ombudsman? The latter I'd prefer. 

      • jpeg1's avatar
        jpeg1
        Alessandro Volta

        You email back to say you reject their offer and require the correct amount which is (what you have calculated). Your next step depends on their response.