Pricing Increase Notification

[MWF962]

Got an e-mail notification of Ts & Cs changing in Nov 2023. It identifies price increases in Apr 2024 of RPI+3.9%. I am only 4 months into an 18 month fixed price deal. Will my contract subscription increase in Apr 2024 or when the contract ends in Oct 2024?

[dnpark38]

If it says it is going up in April it will I would think.

[Nicotene]

I'm in the same predicament. I agreed a fixed price 18 month contract and was told it would not increase until the contract ends in September 2024. You have until October 31st to cancel the contract so probably best to give Virgin a call and get them to confirm there will be no price increase in April. I'll end up cancelling if they do try and up the price.

[Matthew_ML]

Hey MWF962, You will receive a personalised communication that will detail the specific change to your monthly charge. Price increases will vary as it will be specific to the service(s) you have. Cheers 

[Derwentmailman]

I too received the same notification but remain somewhat unlear as to whether the 18 month contract I agreed to back in March 2023 will be subject to any price increases in April 2024.  I received no price increases in April 2023 on the VM part of the contract.  VM provided the recorded conversation with them in a data request and left me in no doubt that the price increases would not apply to my contract during this 18 month contract period. 

Me: During that 18 month contract I will pay £37 to Virgin Media which will stay at £37 for the entirety of that 18 months - is that correct?

VM customer services on phone: Yep that's correct

I was informed during this initial call about were the increases on the O2 SIM part of the volt bundle and they have already happened but at least that was no surprise. 

[Derwentmailman]

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@Matthew_ML wrote:

Hey MWF962, You will receive a personalised communication that will detail the specific change to your monthly charge. Price increases will vary as it will be specific to the service(s) you have. Cheers 

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The email I got did not go into specific detail for my monthly charge increase (if any) in April 2024.  All it does is list the new pricing terms and conditions and certainly does not give clarity for those on x months contract remaining.  If these apply to mid-contract price increases for products taken out now than why not state this in black and white.  If these apply to contracts taken out at an earlier point in 2023 (for the April 2024 increase) then again why not state this unambiguously? 

[Matthew_ML]

The introduction of inflation-linked price changes, which comes into effect in April 2024 when RPI is projected to be lower than it is today, will give customers clarity and certainty about what to expect from their bills while fuelling the investment required to meet growing demand for our services. Cheers

[cozzer365]

Looking at the guidance on this page, it suggests that contracts will also be affected (see scenario 1 and 2). The terms and conditions also state that they can make these changes as long as they notify us and give the option to terminate the contract without an early disconnection fee. 

Instead of responding with useless corporate speak, maybe @Matthew_ML could provide some actually useful information to people who are worried about fixed contracts not being worth the paper they are written on, and Virgin Media once again potentially making above inflation price rises for their services?

[Derwentmailman]

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@cozzer365 wrote:

Looking at the guidance on this page, it suggests that contracts will also be affected (see scenario 1 and 2). The terms and conditions also state that they can make these changes as long as they notify us and give the option to terminate the contract without an early disconnection fee. 

Instead of responding with useless corporate speak, maybe @Matthew_ML could provide some actually useful information to people who are worried about fixed contracts not being worth the paper they are written on, and Virgin Media once again potentially making above inflation price rises for their services?

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I too looked at this guidance and it appeared to be at odds (and for other posters in this thread) with what I was promised back in March 2023 when I renewed for 18 months.

The email states that any future price increase will be RPI (February's number) + 3.5% rather than just inflation-linked so let us be clear about this April 2024 increase.

As for giving clarity @Matthew_ML, all we want to know now before 31/10/23 whether customers on contracts, taken out earlier in 2023, will be subject to the implied RPI+3.5% increase in April 2024 (which appears to be happening) - especially to those who have renewed contracts in good faith (and in my case having the telephonic call records) that the price charged in month 1 of said new contract would remain the same for the duration of the contract particularly when assured orally that this was the case.

So to VM, time to be transparent about the situation arising from said email that has landed recently in customers inbox.   

[Shroko]

Does this mean that every existing Virgin Media customer is affected, or is it only those customers who signed up prior to this year's increase?