Forum Discussion

Leesylou80's avatar
Leesylou80
On our wavelength
9 months ago

Missold into having a phone

I recently rang to cancel everything except broadband. I've been Virgin for 25 years and their services cost a fortune! However, I was told that if I cancelled the TV and phone, it would make my broa...
  • nodrogd's avatar
    nodrogd
    9 months ago
    Leesylou80 wrote:

     

    I then asked why they were charging line rental and call plans if the phone was plugged into the hub, as it essentially is now a VOIP phone. She said that wasn't the case and everyone will have to carry on paying line rental and phone package fees when the entire copper wire network is turned off. I kept saying that I didn't understand it becaise if I'm using the internet to make a call (I can promise you I am because since this started, the quality is AWFUL) then it's not using their line, so why should I pay? "This is just how it is" was the reply. Another hour later and a hesitantly agreed to keep paying for phone, BB and TV.

    Today, i've read from Virgins own help pages that when you are switched over to the VOIP service, you won't pay line rental etc... So why am I paying them?! I have looked into it and I could get a VOIP number that costs me £12 a year for the number to have and £2.50 a month for the calls I would make.

     

    All that changes with the 21CV upgrade is the copper pair between your house & the street fibre node (where the calls have ALWAYS been transmitted back to the exchange digitally via fibre) is now combined with your Broadband (but NOT internet) connection back to the local cable headend. The expensive, power hungry switched exchange at the headend is still handling your calls, hence you are still paying for the cost of it's use.

nodrogd's avatar
nodrogd
Very Insightful Person
9 months ago
Leesylou80 wrote:

 

I then asked why they were charging line rental and call plans if the phone was plugged into the hub, as it essentially is now a VOIP phone. She said that wasn't the case and everyone will have to carry on paying line rental and phone package fees when the entire copper wire network is turned off. I kept saying that I didn't understand it becaise if I'm using the internet to make a call (I can promise you I am because since this started, the quality is AWFUL) then it's not using their line, so why should I pay? "This is just how it is" was the reply. Another hour later and a hesitantly agreed to keep paying for phone, BB and TV.

Today, i've read from Virgins own help pages that when you are switched over to the VOIP service, you won't pay line rental etc... So why am I paying them?! I have looked into it and I could get a VOIP number that costs me £12 a year for the number to have and £2.50 a month for the calls I would make.

 

All that changes with the 21CV upgrade is the copper pair between your house & the street fibre node (where the calls have ALWAYS been transmitted back to the exchange digitally via fibre) is now combined with your Broadband (but NOT internet) connection back to the local cable headend. The expensive, power hungry switched exchange at the headend is still handling your calls, hence you are still paying for the cost of it's use.