@virgin.net email issue for virginmedia account.

[jamesbrennan_1_]

I tried to change our virginmedia sign in details to a @virgin.net email, but received the message 'Sorry, you can’t change your sign in details to a @virgin.net email address, please choose a different email.' Can someone help please? 

[goslow]

You need to use a third party email address i.e. Gmail, Outlook etc. etc.

[jamesbrennan_1_]

goslow,

Thank you. I get that. I was hoping for a work around, or at least an explanation from VirginMedia why we cant use a virgin.net email address for a Virginmedia account?

Cheers

[goslow · Accepted solution]

It's VM's somewhat mangled attempt at 2FA. You'll find various past topics across the VM forums where scammers have taken over the email accounts of VM users (both current and past, where VM has failed to delete old mailboxes when a customer has left).

Once you have given VM a third party email address, that becomes the username to log into VM webmail so breaking the link beween VM email address and password.

VM has also introduced app passwords (generated from within 'My VM') which have to be used with email client programs (again a 2FA method to try to curb the activities of the scammers).

A cynical person might also say that now all VM users are going to have third party email addresses set up, it gives VM some 'flexibility' (!) in what it does with its VM email service in the longer term.

Are you asking this question in conjunction with the other issue going on at the moment to do with virgin.net customers receiving emails about closing their virgin.net mailboxes at 30 days' notice?

[jamesbrennan_1_]

Thank you goslow, that’s very interesting and informative. I see where BM might be headed with their email service. Poor show, if so.

Yes to your question. I was hoping to secure the virgin.net email address by linking it to our current VM services account. I thought this reasonable. Any suggestions welcome! Only 26 days to go! 
Cheers! 

[goslow]

You can't do that linking process yourself, VM has to do it for you.

If you are currently a VM broadband subscriber you have an option as summarised below

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5/Email/Concerned-Virgin-Net-eMail-Users/m-p/5575739#M279991

but the .net account you want to preserve has to be in the same name as the broadband account and moving the .net account over wipes out any existing mailboxes that are already on the broadband account and replaces them with the .net mailbox so doing this may not be suitable for many users and they may need to wind up the .net mailbox, even though they are still VM broadband customers.

[jamesbrennan_1_]

Thank you goslow

That is really helpful, particularly as we don't have any existing mailboxes already on our VM broadband account. I have read the warnings, so if I preserve the virgin.net account for now, I'll start to use (and migrate) my virgin email account to a gmail account for long term benefit. 

Really appreciate your prompt help and advice. Cheers. 😊

[goslow]

The VM forum team should reply to your topic within the next few days and give you the official confirmation of what your options are for linking your mailbox to your broadband account.

FWIW, personally I would get your third party email address set up and start moving your contacts and services over to that in any case. That way you are covered for the future whatever email antics VM decides to initiate next.

[jamesbrennan_1_]

Thank you! 👍