Blog Post
Only really been using the V Box for recording. With the wide availability of free online players now available through my TV I'm.now using it less and less.
So I'm trying to find out what additional channels I might lose if I cancel my MixTV and abandon all TV not available on Freeview, Freesat or the players.
I'm disgusted to receive ANOTHER email from Virgin stating that they are "increasing their prices year on year". What is the point of having an 18/24x month contract when Virgin can increase their prices YEAR ON YEAR within that contract. £11 from April then 3.9% every other April.
I've been a Virgin Customer since 2010 - but I've had enough. I will be cancelling my subscription this year. Anyone feel the same?
Regards
Marv
Yeah it's scandalous, for me that £11 is an over 25% increase! It's unjustifiable but when they have done this before I get on the phone to retentions and that normally gets a better result.
Note that it's not 3.9% from next April, it's RPI + 3.9%, so next year's price increase will likely be around 10%, and because that's now stated in the contract you won't have the "luxury" that you do have this year of rejecting it and leaving before any fixed term ends. For both this year and next the percentage increase quoted is against the undiscounted rate, so if you are on a discounted contract then your proportionate rise will be greater. VM currently quote the introductory offer for the Big Bundle at £29.99 a month, and the undiscounted price is £65 a month. A 13.8% increase on £65 will be an extra £8.97, when that's applied to the £29.99 bill, what that customer pays is going up by 29.9%. That's going to come as a huge shock to many people, especially those who thought they'd got a fixed price deal.
You can cancel without penalty within 30 days of getting the price rise notification, but make sure you allow for any price rise plans with alternative ISPs, as well as any connection costs. VM will of course try and retain you by offering discounts or even a complete new contract, but make sure you understand fully what you'll be paying, when prices change, and by how much. Potentially somebody agreeing a new contract now could be on a new discount deal of 18 months but might still be hit by the April increase, would still be in a fixed term when next year's circa 10% rise hits, but be unable to leave or renegotiate until their 18 months is up.
Do I feel the same? No as I've already cancelled, and my price is fixed through 2023 with a smaller ISP who focus on customer service.
Well, Giganet will be offering their gigabit broadband package around here in a few weeks. £40 for a full fibre gig up/gig down connection. Guess where my money will be going as soon as they can connect me (and that's a 1 month rolling contract, not some money grabbing long term tie-in)?
Yearly inflation PLUS rises from Virgin have had me itching to cancel as soon as there was a real alternative.
With the upcoming removal of "real" land lines, and the proliferation of streaming services, they had better get their business model sorted out PDQ, or they are going to find themselves left with zero customer base soon, and I for one will have zero sympathy.
