Forum Discussion

the_beast's avatar
the_beast
Tuning in
1 month ago

Pods failing, but impossible to get anything done...

I've had 3 of the old white pods for a few years now, but they're getting less and less reliable, starting to squeal and all get hot so they need replacing.

I was promised the new black pods when I agreed to a new contract, and that I just needed to message and they'd be sent out. However that seems impossible to actually do. I've been on the useless chat for hours, going through the pointless security (what's the point of being signed in to MyVM if I still need to verify who I am?), then invariably get cut off with no way to restart an old conversation.  So I have to go through the whole stupid saga again...

Anyway - on the first occasion I managed to get passed the useless chat bot I was promised a new pod in 5 days. I wait, and a week later get nothing. So back to the chat, more messing then the next advisor tells me no order was ever placed. They then place an order, assuring me it's for the new black pod, and they'll swap them out one at a time.

I take a day off work to get the parcel I'm told needs signing for - only for it not to arrive, but instead come the next day. Luckily someone is in to collect it. But it's another white pod, not the black ones I've been promised.

More messing on the app, and I can't get to the point where this gets sorted out without being cut off.

How do I actually sort this out? I'm paying for something I'm not getting, and it's getting ridiculous. It should be simple to replace old faulty equipment yet somehow it seems to be impossible as this has been going on for weeks. 

9 Replies

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  • goslow's avatar
    goslow
    Alessandro Volta

    Can you see any evidence of the pods overheating (such as 'soot' marks on the walls or on the electrical faceplates if you remove the pods)?

    Examples below

    Wifi Booster burning out socket | Virgin Media Community - 5610274

    If so, post up a few pic's which might prompt some action from VM.

    Overheating pods is a known issue which gets mentioned regularly on here (often causing damage) so keep a close eye on them.

    A VM person should reply to your topic within a few days.

    • Client62's avatar
      Client62
      Alessandro Volta

      The forum is not the primary place to report faults.

      Phone VM customer services and report the overheating VM Pods.

      • the_beast's avatar
        the_beast
        Tuning in

        How? The app only directs here or to chat, and as per my post chat doesn't work. 

        The only response from VM was useless too though, so it appears a formal complaint and the regulator is the only mechanism to actually get anywhere. 

  • Thanks for reaching out to us the_beast, and welcome back to our Community Forums!

    Sorry to hear of the issues with the existing pods you've been issued and with the attempts to obtain replacements.

    Can you please confirm if the white pod that has arrived has been installed and if this has helped resolve the issue at hand?

    If the Wi-Fi pods are being offered as a replacement for faulty equipment or if it's for a broadband service that is below 200mb download speed, only white Wi-Fi pods would be issued.

    Thanks,

    David_Bn

    • the_beast's avatar
      the_beast
      Tuning in

      Thanks for getting back to me.

      It's for M500, and I have been promised the new, Wifi6 black pods both as a condition of renewing my contract and again by 2 separate agents.

      What do I need to do to get the black pods I was promised? Or do I need to go back to the official complaint and the regulator route as I've been lied to if I can't actually get them?

  • Mate I’m a GIG 1 customer and also have the old white pods, I have had 2 replaced (like for like) as they were noisy as if the interior fan was running on full speed and were hot to the touch! I was also promised replacement black pods as an entitlement due to my GIG 1 contract, going forward 6 months on and no black pods, neither anyone understands my frustration, what I say is always repeated back to me by the VM agents and they conflict with one another! To top it off the agents try putting on an American accent which **bleep** you off further! 

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta

    We have a VM Hub in Router mode, 2x Wi-Fi Access Points and Ethernet sockets in 4 rooms.
    A simple, dependable, easy to manage solution that works with any ISP.
     
    The VM Pods are so limiting and continue to result in thousands of hours of customer inconvenience along with increasingly regular reports of thermal damage to mains sockets and home decor.

    VM Pods may be 'Free', but what price do you put on your own time and convenience ?