Confusion between Sky and Virgin pricing

[Nanor]

Hi,

Can someone have a look and help me out with this? Been out of contract for quite some time so thought it was time to have a look at my bill again. Just had a 2nd baby so want to stretch those pennies as far as I can

I’m currently paying £86.24 for my services, broken down as below


Advance charges £86.24

Your main services (Provided by Virgin Media Ltd or Virgin Media Payments Ltd) £57.74

Telephone Line Rental 08 June - 07 July £12.99
Talk International 08 June - 07 July £1.75
Additional Loyalty Discount 08 June - 07 July -£1.75
Triple Combo Pack Loyalty Discount 08 June - 07 July -£18.25
T V Size: X L 08 June - 07 July £26.00
V+ HD Monthly Fee 08 June - 07 July £0.00
Broadband XL(20) 08 June - 07 July £37.00

Your premium TV channels (Provided by Virgin Media Entertainment) £28.50
Description Date/Period Amount

Skymovie 2,SkyMovie 1 08 June - 07 July £21.50
SkypremHD 08 June - 07 July £7.00



My confusion is that I’ve had a look on the sky site and can get the following for an ongoing monthly cost of £69.50

Line rental £11.25
Caller ID Free
Entertainment Packs x6 £24.50
Movies Pack (Movies 1& 2) £16.00
Sky HD £10.25
Broadband Unlimited £7.50
Talk Freetime Free

The offer also includes a SKY HD box, I realise that if there are problems with the box then it is mine and I’d need to replace it. I also realise that their broadband is generally not as good as virgins but I’ve no issue with that as my neighbour manages a consistent 14Mb download which is adequet for our use.

Am I missing something in the above or is it really that much cheaper? It’s a difference of over £200 pa (excluding the talk international extra I have)!

Despite a major issue with my broad band service for most of last year I’ve been happy with Virgin but if I’m correct then this is serious food for thought for me.

Any advice welcome, and happy to be told I’ve missed something completely obvious in the pricing!

thanks

[jb66]

It says your main services are £57

[Charliedontsurf]

Originally Posted by jb66

It says your main services are £57

But he is paying £86...........So his services cost him £86.

With VM his main services will be excluding "extras" EG-Skysports/Skymovies.

[Nanor]

My main services are £57.04 but with the movies and HD it comes to £86.24. I added them in the Sky price.

[tridens]

If you want to save money why do you need HD save £10.25 and take 1 movie Chanel £8 with sky also do you need all 6 packs

[Nanor]

Originally Posted by tridens

If you want to save money why do you need HD save £10.25 and take 1 movie Chanel £8 with sky also do you need all 6 packs

I don't 'need' any of it but it's good to have. I'm not looking at saving money per se only at getting the best value. I was (I think) comparing like for like with Virgin and Sky and hence my original question about the price differences.

[Brinko]

I'm also giving serious thought to jumping ship to Sky; just did a check on the website and for the same services from Sky i'll be saving over £10 a month! Something doesn't add up here.

[Nanor]

Originally Posted by Brinko

I'm also giving serious thought to jumping ship to Sky; just did a check on the website and for the same services from Sky i'll be saving over £10 a month! Something doesn't add up here.

I phoned retentions to query this as, while I'm happy with Virgin, I'd have no issues with switching to Sky. They basically offered me the same package I'm on now with 500GB Tivo for £70. I was happy with that so accepted. Would rather stay with Virgin but paying over £15 a month more seemed a tad steep to me.

[Nanor]

I've had my new contract through and it states a price of £70, it also states a price after promotional offer of £89.

Is this normal?

I wasn't told on the phone that the amount I was to be charged was a promotional offer but was told it was valid for my new 12 month contract.

[nutellajunkie]

Isnt the concept of stretching the pennies, to drop services you DONT NEED?. Sure its "good to have" but when you are skint, these things are not important!

From what I read, you get more than ample loyalty discount (very lucky to get that large one I see). You already get callerID for FREE. Do you need the FREE talk international? there are many call through services that could beat VirginMedia no problem!

And like the lad said prior to me, you would save a nice chunk if you dropped the HD stuff.

[daggman]

Why should he have to drop services, when he can get what he has from sky for £17 cheaper, its up to virgin to drop prices or loose customers.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by daggman

Why should he have to drop services, when he can get what he has from sky for £17 cheaper, its up to virgin to drop prices or loose customers.

Sky subsidises its broadband and phone customers quite a bit with its bottomless pit of money but you have to remember that Virgins broadband is far superior and quicker so customers are prepared to pay a little bit more also Sky customers have to pay Sky a extra £9 if you want the ESPN package while with Virgin its is on the XL TV package.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by nutellajunkie

Isnt the concept of stretching the pennies, to drop services you DONT NEED?. Sure its "good to have" but when you are skint, these things are not important!

From what I read, you get more than ample loyalty discount (very lucky to get that large one I see). You already get callerID for FREE. Do you need the FREE talk international? there are many call through services that could beat VirginMedia no problem!

And like the lad said prior to me, you would save a nice chunk if you dropped the HD stuff.

The OP has said he is looking to get the best value. This is not (necessarily) the same thing as stretching the pennies. He or she wants to stay with Virgin, but wants to ensure they are not paying over the odds to do so. They have not said they need (or want) to save money specifically.

[daggman]

just noticed u have rang retentions and got it all for £70 well done m8.