Who needs a contract?

[frogstamper]

Id like to start by saying I have been with VM in its various guises for 18 years going right back to the Nynex days, the reason I'm stating this is because in all that time, apart from initially signing up, I have never had a contract.
Is anybody else in this situation? or have I just slipped through the cracks. When reading through the various threads about the deals people have with VM they invariably mention signing a contract, I recently changed my package to go up to 4mb broadband, I also have TV-XL and phone M and the billing dept said it would cost an additional £7pm, I was paying £15.50 for BB-M and Phone-M, luckily this was just prior to their new prices, once again no mention of a contract. Anyway what I'm getting at is Id like to upgrade [again] to the "IP" service, XL everything + V+ and V box for £65pm, but if I'm paying that amount the longer I can guarantee that price the better, so I'm wondering if I should ask for a contract!. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

[BenMcr]

A contract is a minimum term offer whereby Virgin offer a set deal in return for you keeping that set of services for 12 months (usually). It is not something you can just ask for, and usually you only get one when either you sign up in the first place or move house.

The reason everyone mentions contracts on here is usually because they take out a deal based on one price for a minimum term and then for whatever reason, it ends up being a different price, therefore not part of the agreed contract. As they are the bound to keep the services for 12 months and currently there are sometimes some communication diffculties with Virgin sorting it out, a written contract usually helps.

The XL plus you are looking for is not a contracted offer, that is, if you already had TV with V+, a phoneline and broadband, you you get the services offered at £65 but would have the option of closing your account at anytime if you so wished.

If you need to add a V+ to complete the offer, then the the V+ is a minimum term by itself, which means you would have to keep the tv services for a minimum of 12 month when you took out the V+. The other services remain unaffected.

Unless the deal you take out is for a new minimum term for all services (like the 2 for £20, 3 for £30, VIP bundles etc) you would not get written confirmation of the contract. No written confirmation of the V+ minimum term is given because it is already stated on all adverts for the V+.

[arcamalpha2004]

To the OP you will have a contract and it will have started upon activation of your account.
Contact VM for a copy, if they're not very forthcoming get onto trading standards, last resort ofcom.

[BenMcr]

Oh come on, now you are just trying to stir up trouble where none exists

No company keep copies of contract for 18 years (which is how long the OP has been with cable)

You try phoning BT or Sky up and asking for a contract from 1990!

It would also be completely irrelevant. How would a contract detaling services for analogue tv and telephone be useful when the customer has digital tv, and broadband?

The terms and conditions would also be those of whatever original cable company was in operation 18 years ago so not legal.

Once you are out of contract (as the OP is) it is the terms and conditions which are the most vital. The current T&Cs which everyone is currently bound by are on Virgin's website, and they will more than happily send you a printed copy if you ask them.

[frogstamper]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Oh come on, now you are just trying to stir up trouble where none exists

No company keep copies of contract for 18 years (which is how long the OP has been with cable)

You try phoning BT or Sky up and asking for a contract from 1990!

It would also be completely irrelevant. How would a contract detaling services for analogue tv and telephone be useful when the customer has digital tv, and broadband?

The terms and conditions would also be those of whatever original cable company was in operation 18 years ago so not legal.

Once you are out of contract (as the OP is) it is the terms and conditions which are the most vital. The current T&Cs which everyone is currently bound by are on Virgin's website, and they will more than happily send you a printed copy if you ask them.

Cheers Ben, thanks for putting me straight on that, I must admit I was finding it hard to accept that "Nynex" records would be held all these years later by VM, what possible use could they be to anyone now. Anyway thanks for the original post Ben, great advice as always.

[arcamalpha2004]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Oh come on, now you are just trying to stir up trouble where none exists

No company keep copies of contract for 18 years (which is how long the OP has been with cable)

You try phoning BT or Sky up and asking for a contract from 1990!

It would also be completely irrelevant. How would a contract detaling services for analogue tv and telephone be useful when the customer has digital tv, and broadband?

The terms and conditions would also be those of whatever original cable company was in operation 18 years ago so not legal.

Once you are out of contract (as the OP is) it is the terms and conditions which are the most vital. The current T&Cs which everyone is currently bound by are on Virgin's website, and they will more than happily send you a printed copy if you ask them.

Ben, the poster had asked if they would have had a contract.

I am not trying to stir up trouble at all, the answer is YES they would have a contract, which comes into being when the service is/was activated.

If you want to talk about stirring up trouble I could fan the flames by saying that unless you have signed a contract before the account was activated you are free to walk at any time.

But then VM give so good service that the above is not needed.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

If you want to talk about stirring up trouble I could fan the flames by saying that unless you have signed a contract before the account was activated you are free to walk at any time.

No you are not. You have 3 months and 7 days to dispute the contract if you have not recieved written confirmation, after which you agree to the contract.

This is per the Distance Selling Regulations

[arcamalpha2004]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

No you are not. You have 3 months and 7 days to dispute the contract if you have not recieved written confirmation, after which you agree to the contract.

This is per the Distance Selling Regulations

We will have to agree to disagree Ben.

From what I had shown to me by an insider what you say is not the case.

How can you have 3 months and 7 days to agree/disagree to something you have not signed or received?

As I say we will agree to disagree.

[BenMcr]

From the DSR

If a consumer cancels an order, written notice must be given to you by: services – seven working days from the day after that on which the consumer agrees to go ahead with the contract.

If you fail to provide consumers with written confirmation of all the required information, then the cancellation periods can be extended up to a maximum of three months and seven working days. If the missing information is provided during this time, then the cancellation period ends seven working days beginning with the day after the full written confirmation is received by the consumer

[arcamalpha2004]

Originally Posted by BenMcr

From the DSR

Thanks for that Ben but as I say from what I was told that is not the case legally.

[lostandconfused]

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

Thanks for that Ben but as I say from what I was told that is not the case legally.

Then clearly what you have been 'told' is wrong. The link Ben has posted is from the office of fair tradings own website

[foreverwar]

Originally Posted by lostandconfused

Then clearly what you have been 'told' is wrong. The link Ben has posted is from the office of fair tradings own website

Yeh, but what do they know?