VIP madness

lutra99 · 16-01-2008, 17:42

Just phoned VM about upgrading to the VIP package. My last bill was about 72 quid, and I get the top TV package (but without sports and movies etc) and 20mb broadband. Also the basic phone thing. So I reckoned it would be worth spending the extra few quid a month for the VIP package so that I could get the sports and films. However I don't want another box as I don't have another TV in my flat; after a lengthy chat with her manager the woman from VM told me that I would still have to have one installed even if it wasn't going to be used! How daft is that? I refuse to pay a new installation charge (£20 apparently) and cannot wait in all day for the unreliable contractors to turn up. Are there any VM insiders that can explain why they are sticking to this daft policy? I thought there was a shortage of boxes (at least that was what I was told when mine was banjaxed)

BenMcr · 16-01-2008, 18:07

Because the VIP is the VIP pack. If you don't want it, dont have it

But Virgin offer the VIP pack as is, not bits of it.

If you don't have another tv, get them to put the V+ box in and then put the other one in a cupboard

You pay £30 install for the V+, Normally it would be £150

The VIP pack knocks £413 off the standard prices over 12 months and £287 if you had all the same stuff but were on the 3 for £30 bundle

Virgin sticking to their price list and install policy is hardly daft

You dont have to wait in all day, they offer AM or PM appointments for installs

You are basically saying 'I want a really really good deal but I don't want to do anything for it'

Are Virgin ever going to able to win? Normally they are accused of not doing a good deal, and when they do, they get accused of including too much

lutra99 · 16-01-2008, 18:45

Forgot to add that I already have the V+.

I have already waited in for them to fix problems with my V+ several times, only for them not to turn up at all or to arrive without any equipment or tools. Is IS daft to insist on:
1. giving me a box that I don't need; 2. Employing a contractor to come out and install something that is not required. Judging from other posts I'm already paying more for my services than other people, so I'm hardly saying 'I want a really really good deal but I don't want to do anything for it'. What benefit do VM get from insisting that I have another box?

Snotty tone rather unnecessary

BenMcr · 16-01-2008, 19:42

All I'm saying is you cannot blame Virgin for sticking to what they advertise.

The whole problem with ntl was that no-one knew what package they were on half the time, didnt know why they were paying what they were paying etc. Nor did Customer Services because it was possible to make things up.

gazzaaa · 16-01-2008, 19:50

Hi, I was one of the first to have the VIP package (on the release of the V+ box) in our area. At that time I had no problem getting VM to only come and change my old box over for the VM box. In other words I did not have to have the second box at all. What really cheeses me off though is the billing for this package. You would think you would have one or two lines on the bill saying "VIP package £85, extra phone call charges £???? total is £??? But no you get charged for all of the parts seperately, then have numerous credits applied. What normally happens is that every second month they over charge me, I ring up and they apply a credit for next month with a promise that "it is fixed from now on.....", but a month later I have to make another phone call.

BenMcr · 16-01-2008, 23:32

The current tv and phone billing system seriously doesn't like bits of the package missing, that might have something to do with it. Usually it won't even allow a discount to be added if all the services aren't there

Based on where you live (Northampton) you were on SABS, which didn't really care and contributed in a big way to ntl's reptuation at bad billing

If you are in Site ID 01-18 or 23-31, all you should see a total service charge section of £85. If you don't it is wrong. All call charges are listed on a seperate page of the bill

If you are in Site ID 21-23 you should see £48 on the service charge section as you will have a seperate £37 direct debit for broadband (again the two together total £85)

johnemyr · 22-01-2008, 21:22

I was on the old VIP package with 8mb broadband and no Talk International for which I was paying £99.95 split into two monthly direct debits of £18.00 for broadband and £81.95 plus telephone call charges. I have now gone on the new £85 VIP package which has added 20mb broadband and Talk International to my existing setup saving me £14.95. I am in site ID 20 which is not covered in the previous post, will I still be paying two different accounts?. I don't expect this change to go smoothly if previous talks with CS is anything to go by.

BenMcr · 22-01-2008, 23:04

Sorry that previous one should have covered site id 20 as well (my fault that)

Yes you will.

johnemyr · 23-01-2008, 17:15

Thanks for that. Looking forward to next month's bill.

ntluser · 29-01-2008, 16:41

I'm on the VIP deal in account area 20 and I'm supposed to get two bills one in the post for my TV and phone and one via e-mail for my broadband.

In practice I only get the postal bill and have yet to receive an e-mail bill though I do get two direct debits so my bills are paid.

When I contacted billing they said the e-mails were being sent out could not tell me where they were being sent to and I certainly was not receiving them.

I'm Ex NTL and can only imagine that somewhere there is a virgin.net account somewhere in my name holding a collection of my e-mail bills.

tweetypie/8 · 29-01-2008, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Because the VIP is the VIP pack. If you don't want it, dont have it

But Virgin offer the VIP pack as is, not bits of it.

If you don't have another tv, get them to put the V+ box in and then put the other one in a cupboard

You pay £30 install for the V+, Normally it would be £150

The VIP pack knocks £413 off the standard prices over 12 months and £287 if you had all the same stuff but were on the 3 for £30 bundle

Virgin sticking to their price list and install policy is hardly daft

You dont have to wait in all day, they offer AM or PM appointments for installs

You are basically saying 'I want a really really good deal but I don't want to do anything for it'

Are Virgin ever going to able to win? Normally they are accused of not doing a good deal, and when they do, they get accused of including too much

wll put ben.