TiVo Loyalty, is it worth it?

iadom · 11-12-2011, 22:02

I am certain that there may well be other threads along the same lines, if so then please move this in with them mods.

I have been an Ntl/VM customer for many years now. I have 2 V+ boxes, 2 phone lines ( one Ex dir the other heavily used) and 20 meg BB. Full XL package etc.

My bill from VM averages between £150 & £170 per month. About four weeks ago I rang to ask to be upgraded to a Tivo box, I am sure I was talking to an Indian call centre. All my details including the smartcard number of the box I wanted swapping out were given. I was told that as it was a weekend she could not contact installations but I would be contacted by phone ASAP.
I was never contacted by phone as a result of this initial call.

I then decided to try the online upgrade route, this was over two weeks ago. I went through all of the procedure and was informed that installation could be done on the 3rd/4th of January.

I did make tentative enquiries from a person 'in the know' on another forum and was advised that if I reported a fault on the box, which in fact would be true and is one of the reasons we want to change in the first place, that if I told the tech that I was interested in a Tivo box there was a good chance he would stick one in there and then due to the (very small) bonus he/she could earn.

I decided to play by the rules and awaited confirmation from my online booking.
I duly received an e-mail thanking me for my enquiry and informing me that my installation would take place on the 17th of January.

I was bit miffed by this as the box to be replaced has been a bit iffy but decided that I would let the wheels that had been set in motion turn around, no matter how slowly.

I would have been unlikely to make this post save for the fact that on Friday my daughter moved into a new house locally.

She contacted VM less than two weeks ago and on Saturday had a new Tivo box, a V+ box, phone line and a super hub with 50meg BB installed. She tells me that this is costing her less than £70 per month. Now I have no idea just how long this offer and low price is likely to last but to say the least I am really peed off to be paying twice as much to be shoved to the back of the queue.

There, I feel much better for getting that of my chest, been along, hard day.

Jim.

mhatter67 · 12-12-2011, 01:06

Hi Jim,

On average it is about a month install wait for a new TiVo, this is probably down to the high demand. In relation to your daughter getting a TiVo installed very quick it could be either:

Cancelled install booking slot offered to her
As discussed on this forum regional differences in install confirmed dates.

In my case it is about a month wait and I am having mine installed on Tuesday

Regards
Mark

andy_m · 12-12-2011, 08:36

In fairness to Virgin, the fact that you're paying double the price might have something to do with the fact that you've got double the phone lines and double the set top boxes.

Also, your daughter hasn't yet seen the effect that actually using her phone will make to her monthly bill. The fact that your bill fluctuates each month means that you do experience this effect.

iadom · 12-12-2011, 10:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by andy_m

In fairness to Virgin, the fact that you're paying double the price might have something to do with the fact that you've got double the phone lines and double the set top boxes.

Also, your daughter hasn't yet seen the effect that actually using her phone will make to her monthly bill. The fact that your bill fluctuates each month means that you do experience this effect.

Removing the cost of the heavy use phoneline means the bill is still around £120 per month.

That is for two bog standard V+ boxes, a very lightly used phone and 20meg BB plus the full TV package.

She has two boxes, a Tivo and also the latest V+ box, a phone line and 50meg BB,plus the full TV package for under £70, I still think that existing customers are getting a raw deal.

Jim.

PS. I was down there on Saturday and the Tivo doesn't half lock up a lot.

nodrogd · 12-12-2011, 10:20

I have a similar setup to you, except I am not on a VIP package (one phoneline on L & one on M). I pay just over £100 excluding calls. Might be worth ringing retentions and haggling.

andy_m · 12-12-2011, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by iadom

Removing the cost of the heavy use phoneline means the bill is still around £120 per month.

That is for two bog standard V+ boxes, a very lightly used phone and 20meg BB plus the full TV package.

She has two boxes, a Tivo and also the latest V+ box, a phone line and 50meg BB,plus the full TV package for under £70, I still think that existing customers are getting a raw deal.

Jim.

PS. I was down there on Saturday and the Tivo doesn't half lock up a lot.

I misread some of your opening post, but if the heavy use phone line is really making that little difference then you're being ripped off for the rest. Unless you have sports and movies and she doesn't.

Digital Fanatic · 12-12-2011, 10:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by iadom

Removing the cost of the heavy use phoneline means the bill is still around £120 per month.

That is for two bog standard V+ boxes, a very lightly used phone and 20meg BB plus the full TV package.

She has two boxes, a Tivo and also the latest V+ box, a phone line and 50meg BB,plus the full TV package for under £70, I still think that existing customers are getting a raw deal.

Jim.

PS. I was down there on Saturday and the Tivo doesn't half lock up a lot.

What exactly is your bill? You says it's £150 - £170, then it's £120? But you don't use the 'phone? I'm confused?

The best thing would be to get your latest bill and itemise it here, then we could advise further.

Also your daughter would have got a faster install as I'm assuming she was a move and transfer and was an existing customer? Where as you want to upgrade and already have a service. Plus over 2 weeks ago is November.. December is a very busy month for installs.

iadom · 12-12-2011, 11:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

What exactly is your bill? You says it's £150 - £170, then it's £120? But you don't use the 'phone? I'm confused?

The best thing would be to get your latest bill and itemise it here, then we could advise further.

Also your daughter would have got a faster install as I'm assuming she was a move and transfer and was an existing customer? Where as you want to upgrade and already have a service. Plus over 2 weeks ago is November.. December is a very busy month for installs.

The heavy use phone line has always been billed separately for my personal accounting reasons and averages over £60 per month. At the time I signed up well over 8 years ago a second phone line was part of the offer, the other phone is listed as ex directory, handy for family and friends but rarely used for outgoing calls.

Her new TV channel package is identical to mine, full XL including all HD channels, sports, movies etc.

She was not an existing customer, it is totally new contract/install.

CycoSymz · 12-12-2011, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by iadom

I then decided to try the online upgrade route, this was over two weeks ago. I went through all of the procedure and was informed that installation could be done on the 3rd/4th of January.

I recently upgraded to Tivo, 30meg BB and XL phone. I rang up on December 1st and everything was installed and setup by 4.00pm on December the 5th

Digital Fanatic · 12-12-2011, 12:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by iadom

The heavy use phone line has always been billed separately for my personal accounting reasons and averages over £60 per month. At the time I signed up well over 8 years ago a second phone line was part of the offer, the other phone is listed as ex directory, handy for family and friends but rarely used for outgoing calls.

Her new TV channel package is identical to mine, full XL including all HD channels, sports, movies etc.

She was not an existing customer, it is totally new contract/install.

Without a FULL breakdown, nobody can really tell whether you are getting a good package deal.

iadom · 12-12-2011, 17:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digital Fanatic

Without a FULL breakdown, nobody can really tell whether you are getting a good package deal.

Here you go,

**Hugh** · 12-12-2011, 17:36

The Films and Sport do make a difference....

iadom · 12-12-2011, 17:44

Of course, and my daughter has all of those.

I am a patient soul and will wait until the 17th, it still doesn't mean I can't have a little moan though.

**Hugh** · 12-12-2011, 17:57

To be fair, you never mentioned either of those things before....

If you daughter is a new customer, they sometimes get some of the package half-price for six months.

iadom · 12-12-2011, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by iadom

Her new TV channel package is identical to mine, full XL including all HD channels, sports, movies etc.

To be fair I think I did mention them before.