@cje85 wrote:
@jamesofmerton wrote:
'An existing customer with a new contract should be equal to a new customer'
not in terms of price they aren't. that goes for all isp's, energy companies, insurance companies etc. that is the way the 'game' works. new customers groomed in on the cheap loss making deals, whilst knowing that if people are happy most will continue to pay ever increasing prices.
the 'game' is to allow for a competitive market that means customers can go in search of new cheaper deals (initially) should they choose to. encouraged by the regulators and both labour and conservatives.
People always say that on this forum, but it's simply no longer correct. Customers on other major ISPs can re-contract on new customer prices. Virgin is the only major ISP which still refuses to offer this.
Watchdog reported that lots of viewers felt unhappy that as loyal customers of Virgin Media, they were paying more than new customers for phone, broadband and TV packages.
We asked Virgin Media why it had not signed up to a voluntary Ofcom agreement to give existing customers access to the same prices paid by new customers, in contrast to many of its major competitors. The company declined to provide a response to this question but says it works hard to ensure prices are clear and represent good value.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2Yd8kKmYkzdrPC24dY2Z4Ds/watchdog-virgin-media
Virgin Media is refusing to offer loyal broadband customers the same deals as switchers despite pressure from Ofcom.
The company, which claims to offer some of the fastest broadband speeds in Britain, is one of the few remaining large providers that reserve their cheapest deals for new customers. Longstanding Virgin Media users pay about £52 a year more than people on new contracts.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/virgin-resists-ofcom-pressure-to-offer-loyal-customers-same-broad...
Exactly. Thank you. I'm glad I'm not alone with my opinion.
I expected these generic answers, that's why I said I know how it works.
The whole point is that if Virgin Media wants me to sign an 18 month contract then I should get the same conditions like a new customer.
As I'm going to be bonded in a contract to Virgin Media again and I cannot leave without penalty.
I should have got the loyalty bonus automatically without a contract.
Or without me contacting Virgin Media. Then probably I would have never even thought of leaving in the first place.
Even if I had to pay a little more than a new customer.
But charging me £53 for a service that others get for £28 is outrageous!
(Not to mention the service quality, but I don't want to bring that here.)
Virgin Media could get £28 per month from me. Now it will get £0.
Good business policy. 👏👏👏