requested to cancel all services- do THEY call back?

[Great One]

Hi all

Been a customer for about 2 years, and pay a whopping £90 per month for TV and BB

Several people have advised me to threaten to cancel and apparently they will offer me all sorts of discounts to keep me, especially as I have a high bill

So, literally about 10mins ago, I call up, tell them its too expensive, i'm feeling the pinch etc, i'd like to cancel please

The lady replies "sure no probs, that will require 30 days notice, i'll make a note of it now on the system".... "thanks and goodbye"

Obviously, didn't want to look silly and straight away change my mind, making it obvious I only called for a discount, but was wondering if they will call up in a few days and ask me to stay? if not, i'll have to call back before the 30days and tell them I don't want to cancel anymore

Any advise on how to go about negotiating a discount, without begging

Note: I have worked out that I can get everything I want from Sky for about £65, however, my council won't allow us to have dishes installed, would VM be aware of this? hence not offering me a discount as they know I can't switch to their competitor? I did not mention Sky at all during the call, as I was expecting the customer service adviser to mention prices first, but the abrupt ending made it difficult to mention Sky after she went ahead and arranged the cancellation

Sorry for the longish post, or if its been posted before

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks

[dev]

of that £90, how much is calls?

assuming your services is correct on the left, i'd look at the VIP package: http://allyours.virginmedia.com/webs...ct.do?id=11029

[Great One]

I do not have a phone service with them, its all TV and BB, which is why I really feel I'm paying wayyyy too much

[on in an hour!]

Originally Posted by Great One

I do not have a phone service with them, its all TV and BB, which is why I really feel I'm paying wayyyy too much

the VIP as mentioned gives you V+ box,extra V box (both with full hit on ch's,including sports & movies) talk unlimited 24 and 20meg broadband,on e-bill will cost you £86 p.m. only extra youll pay is if you ring 07/08/09 Nos,sounds like the deal for you,thats without threatening to leave

I'd suggest in future you don't 'threaten' to leave. Sods Law says you'll eventually get someone wise to this wondrous trick and grant you your wish.
Far better to give the CS person a bit of credit - explain that you're feeling the pinch a little (or unhappy with what you're paying) and simply ask if there's anything they can do to reduce your bill, including any discounts or suggestions for bundles.

Similarly, ring to cancel the cancellation and ask if they can knock you anything off your services price.

[Great One]

Originally Posted by kryogenik

I'd suggest in future you don't 'threaten' to leave. Sods Law says you'll eventually get someone wise to this wondrous trick and grant you your wish.
Far better to give the CS person a bit of credit - explain that you're feeling the pinch a little (or unhappy with what you're paying) and simply ask if there's anything they can do to reduce your bill, including any discounts or suggestions for bundles.

Similarly, ring to cancel the cancellation and ask if they can knock you anything off your services price.

Fair points

tbh, it didn't even reach the stage where I was actually "threatening to leave" and did state my reasons as; its too expensive and that I am feeling the pinch, but she was just very quick to say thats fine and went ahead with the cancellation

Was I just unlucky with who I got on the other end?

I'll go with your suggestion of honesty as the best policy and ask for a price reduction

Thanks for your help

---------- Post added at 20:14 ---------- Previous post was at 20:09 ----------

Originally Posted by on in an hour!

the VIP as mentioned gives you V+ box,extra V box (both with full hit on ch's,including sports & movies) talk unlimited 24 and 20meg broadband,on e-bill will cost you £86 p.m. only extra youll pay is if you ring 07/08/09 Nos,sounds like the deal for you,thats without threatening to leave

Thanks for the suggestion, but Its almost the same price, and I'm more concerned about reducing my monthly costs rather than getting more for the same money. I'm happy with what I'm getting, just not the price

Thanks though

Virgin should send you a "Sleep on it" pack to try and change your mind.

[WHISTLED]

You will go on the dialer for an outbound call assuming they have your contact details

[admars]

I got my bill last night, and i've had and and off broadband for the last month, and I was being billed separately for phone, tv, and broadband.
so I phoned them up and said to the lady that I thought I should be reimbursed fo rhe internet off days, she said "
"yes, records show this day, this day, broadband costs this, that's so many days, we'll reimburse you this amount, that's credited to your bill, anything else"
So i said i thought I was paying too much for what I have, and she just
"yes, there is this package costing x amount(about £60 i think for XL everything), or about £45 for XL TV, L BB, free weekend calls"
So I took the 2nd one, as i was paying about that for M BB and L TV and regular phone.

It's naughty that you have to hope them up to get money back owed, and get a better deal. My cousin did the threatening to leave, so got abetter deal, but she said that her neighbour was getting more stuff fopr less money as a new customer, and wanted that deal, when they said no, she said she'd cancel, and take out a new contract later then. They then offered her that deal.

I guess you should have said whay you want to leave. Now I mention it my TV package used to be XL, and so I phone dup agaes ago, and just said I 'd like to change it to L, they didn't ask any questions, just did it, I suppose if I had said i wanted a better deal etc, they would have done so.

[beeman]

Your best bet would bee to post here what it is your currently getting and what you would want to get. many people here know VM's price list very well and would reccomend the best package for you. then just phone up and say "instead of cancelling i would like the following package....." the canncellations people just offer you the same packages that are generally avlaible (and can authorise a small additional discount £5-£10 as a last resort).

and dose that £65 from sky include the BT line rental or is that on top of it?

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Great One

Several people have advised me to threaten to cancel and apparently they will offer me all sorts of discounts to keep me, especially as I have a high bill

So, literally about 10 mins ago, I call up, tell them its too expensive, i'm feeling the pinch etc, i'd like to cancel please

The lady replies "sure no probs, that will require 30 days notice, i'll make a note of it now on the system".... "thanks and goodbye"

Sorry but i say "and about time too"

There are far to many customers getting silly discounts because they said they would leave when they had no intention of doing that. VM ask a price for there services, If people say they can get it better with another company then they should sod off to that other company. Why should VM lower there prices to pamper for those that lie through there back teeth, while other's that don't lie pay the full price ?

Everyone complains that VM don't upgrade there networks, Well here's there reason why they cannot afford to upgrade

[Great One]

Originally Posted by Sirius

Sorry but i say "and about time too"

Maybe, maybe not. Should've added in the opening post that, one of the advisers I spoke to before I had actually made the call was a VM employee! who I spoke to on their CS instant message board. Who told me if they do not make an effort to try and retain me as a customer, then I should complain as it goes against everything they tell their CS team to do

Originally Posted by Sirius

There are far to many customers getting silly discounts because they said they would leave when they had no intention of doing that. VM ask a price for there services, If people say they can get it better with another company then they should sod off to that other company. Why should VM lower there prices to pamper for those that lie through there back teeth, while other's that don't lie pay the full price ?

Everyone complains that VM don't upgrade there networks, Well here's there reason why they cannot afford to upgrade

Are you paying more to subsidise another customer's discount??? NO.Why the hissy fit? Sod off elsewhere? its not that simple, guessing you read that bit before going all guns blazing in your reply?

You telling me you never haggle for a price? with a mobile upgrade deal or anything? you must be every con man's/salesman's dream customer

[WHISTLED]

Who told me if they do not make an effort to try and retain me as a customer, then I should complain as it goes against everything they tell their CS team to do

Bit of a broad statement for anyone to make that though isnt it, clearly a company wants to keep all its customers but sometimes that doesnt mean any additional incentives, dicounts. As i said many customers already have a discount and shouldnt get another to keep them equally some customers make little profit without any offers.

Doesnt sound like theyyou fall into those boxes though

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Great One

You telling me you never haggle for a price? with a mobile upgrade deal or anything? you must be every con man's/salesman's dream customer

I haggle but i DONT lie

[Great One]

Originally Posted by Sirius

I haggle but i DONT lie

It didn't even reach the stage where I needed to lie, nor was there even an opportunity to haggle, due to the CS woman who must've been very eager to get home

I'm guessing you read replies on here and not just the opening post? like my reply to kryogenik?

But thank you for your wise words, I feel I will be a better human being from this day onwards