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Mandyleed50's avatar
Mandyleed50
Joining in
11 days ago

Being charged for telephone line haven’t ever used

I am continually told by VM that I will be charged more if I get rid of my phone line. I haven’t used a landline for many years and am sick of being charger for something I don’t use. I am asking how VM can get away with this because surely I and others should be allowed to get rid of a product if we don’t use it and not be charged more. I tried to reduce my package yesterday because it is far too expensive and instead of a lower cost one it was higher. I am in a contract until Jan 2026 but I am fed up of being charged so much as a long term customer. All I wanted was a basic tivo Tv/broadband package without phoneline and yet I’m paying £70 for a huge one I never wanted. I’m am asking for advice on the telephone line part today because I am thinking of going to ombudsman for advice and when Jan comes I go somewhere else like Sky. I have stupidly been a customer since the diamond cable days

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  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person
    11 days ago

    VM are a "triple" supplier, i.e. TV, BB and phone.  Historically it's always been the case that the more you have the bigger discount.  So it's fairly "normal" for you to be charged more for less.  I was in the same boat years ago and took the phone even though nothing was ever plugged in.  In more recent times, I have left and returned twice  but only for BB which is quite common now.

    • Mandyleed50's avatar
      Mandyleed50
      Joining in
      11 days ago

      Yes I am thinking leaving Jan after contract ends and going elsewhere. I need good broadband as work from home a lot and patients records etc are all computer based. I really liked the TiVo box because it records up to 6 programmes at one time and I spend lot time at home but even that has not been as good as it was. Am finding out that programmes I’ve recorded over past 3 weeks are all stop/starting to point where they’re unwatchable so unless on demand they are being deleted. So I am getting little for my money now in regards to other within same group. Loyal customers mean nothing now so time to go I think. 

      • newapollo's avatar
        newapollo
        Very Insightful Person
        11 days ago

        I really liked the TiVo box because it records up to 6 programmes at one time and I spend lot time at home but even that has not been as good as it was. Am finding out that programmes I’ve recorded over past 3 weeks are all stop/starting to point where they’re unwatchable so unless on demand they are being deleted

        If you are having problems with recordings then you need to contact VM and report the issue to them.  It sounds like a possible hard drive problem and is so your box would be replaced free of charge. If you still have the older tivo box it should be swapped out for a V6 box.

  • goslow's avatar
    goslow
    Alessandro Volta
    11 days ago

    VM sells packages of services. The more services in the bundle, the greater the discount VM offers.

    For many customers, VM's core services (such as landline and linear TV) are of ever-decreasing interest. VM tries to get around this by 'compelling' customers to take services the customer does not really want.

    You will struggle to get out of an existing minimum term/package without paying early disconnection fees.

    In theory, VM can provide you with broadband only but often VM makes it very hard for a customer to downgrade to broadband only.

    You may actually have to leave VM and re-join later on if VM continues with its usual obstructive approach to downgrading.

    Do you have to continue using VM after Jan 2026? If VM will not provide what you want, what are your alternatives?

    We see regular topics on here where customers are in the same situation as yourself and just give up battling with VM and build their own package of services they actually want using different suppliers. This might include buying a hard disk TV recorder, having a TV aerial fitted and/or buying into selected TV streaming services.

    • Mandyleed50's avatar
      Mandyleed50
      Joining in
      11 days ago

      Yes you are very right and I can’t leave now but will do in Jan as another reply suggested too. I think some of us might believe being a loyal customer means something but it doesn’t so if anyone else reads this with similar questions I advise to read these replies as they are true and it is time we forget the ‘loyal’ part and leave. I know they would charge to leave early but I certainly take all this on board ready for Jan next year. Thanks very much 

  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person
    11 days ago

    As noted previously I was a long time NTL/VM user, but in recent years it didn’t matter come renewal time.  Hence I have left twice for better deals.  This past few years it’s whoever gives me the best deal at the time.  I don’t use any ISP email, TV or phone, just Broadband, so can move around as needed.

  • Client62's avatar
    Client62
    Alessandro Volta
    10 days ago

    VM have become so difficult to deal with I am glad we only have Broadband.