pay for what you haven't had

stopherbailey · 24-06-2011, 18:24

We have Virgin TV, phone int 10meg broadband, now I don't now if this is the normal Virgin policy but we have to pay for the next months line rental when we pay this months bill(I didn't make the deal with Virgin my wife did).
Now we find that our TV package has 95 percent of complete garbage channels(just package filler, not half as good as when we first started with virgin) and all the family use mobile phones so we don't need the phone(and can't really afford them all).

So we decided to get rid of what we didn't need and just have the broadband connection, we have asked for this to be done and Virgin media's reply is you have to settle your bill first. Now we are quite happy to pay for the services we have had but they want us to still pay the next months phone line rental(even though we won't have had a phon line for tha month) as it is part of our bill.
When we argued the fact Virgin said that they will refund us the line rental next month-WHY??

why should I give them my hard earned so they can stick it in their bank to earn a months interest when I'd rather spend it on feeding and clothing my children?

We used to have the bill paid by direct debit but Virgin would take the bill money a week before we recieved a bill- may as well give them a blank check!

If I had a BT phone line I would be using another ISP by now but I can't afford the installation and the months line rental that BT are asking for now.

**Chris** · 24-06-2011, 18:40

Phone line rental is always billed a month in advance. That's just the way the system has always worked. If it's billed, then you need to pay it and they will pay it back to you in the next billing cycle.

To be honest if your finances have got so bad that about £15 going missing from your account for a month is the difference between your children being fed or not, you might have been wiser to cancel the TV ages ago.

Or you could give these people a try.

Gary L · 25-06-2011, 08:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Or you could give these people a try.

Is that sarcasm Chris?

I've always thought it unfair that Virgin want money in advance for services anyway.

**Chris** · 25-06-2011, 08:58

It's exactly as sarcastic as the OP's implication that he might have to choose whether to pay his VM bill or feed/clothe his children.

If the OP was being sarcastic, doubtless he will read my reply in the same way. On the other hand, a lot of people have genuinely come to rely on food banks recently, who would never have imagined they would ever need such a service. If the OP has very serious financial issues, perhaps the link will be useful.

As for paying in advance - there are plenty of services you pay for in advance. Cinemas, swimming pools, theme parks ... it's hardly unique as a method of charging for a service. And for a service you take month after month for many years, does it really matter whether you pay in advance or in arrears? It's still only the same amount every month.

Charliedontsurf · 25-06-2011, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

Phone line rental is always billed a month in advance. That's just the way the system has always worked. If it's billed, then you need to pay it and they will pay it back to you in the next billing cycle.

To be honest if your finances have got so bad that about £15 going missing from your account for a month is the difference between your children being fed or not, you might have been wiser to cancel the TV ages ago.

Or you could give these people a try.

WOW.

**Paul M** · 26-06-2011, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

I've always thought it unfair that Virgin want money in advance for services anyway.

As opposed to who ?

My BT line rental used to be in advance, afaik, it still is. Pretty sure my Sky subscription is as well.

**Stephen** · 26-06-2011, 22:44

BT is also in advanced and you can even pay for the full year in advance. Mobile phone line rental is also in advance. The majority of monthly services are in advance.

stopherbailey · 27-06-2011, 06:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

It's exactly as sarcastic as the OP's implication that he might have to choose whether to pay his VM bill or feed/clothe his children.

I wrote "I'd rather spend it on feeding and clothing my children"

Not that I had to make a choice between my children and surfing the net-I think that would be a case for the social services.

I think you should take more time over reading and making sure you have understood what you read before making aspersions.unless you were indeed being sarchastic-if so LMBO!!

My problem is not wanting to pay for next months phone line rental when I want it disconnected this month-I don't have a problem paying upfront for something I am going to use but not for something I don't even want.

**Chris** · 27-06-2011, 08:23

In which case it's simply a case of 'computer says no' I'm afraid. The billing system won't allow the ordinary mortal CSRs to make those sorts of changes AFAIK. Retentions could probably apply it as a discount, but seeing as you want the money off because you're cancelling the service it's unlikely that they'll be sympathetic.

We would all rather have the dosh in our own pockets but at the end of the day it isn't really a lot and you are going to get it back. It's not likely to be worth the amount of hassle required to make someone at VM sit up and take notice.

BenMcr · 27-06-2011, 09:56

Would also point out that as 30 days notice is required to disconnect a service as long as you give notice to close the line at the correct time - around the same time as your bill is generated, you minimise the amount over your notice period that is charged

stopherbailey · 27-06-2011, 10:01

Thanks BenMcr, finally some constructive advice

SMG · 27-06-2011, 12:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

To be honest if your finances have got so bad that about £15 going missing from your account for a month is the difference between your children being fed or not, you might have been wiser to cancel the TV ages ago.
.

Why should he be out of pocket? It makes no difference what his finantial circumstances are, Virgin, & other companies, take money when they are not entitled to it & earn interest on that money. If a thousand people wait a month for their money, Virgin makes a lot of interest on it.

Its just a scam. Legal or not.

**Chris** · 27-06-2011, 12:02

Of course it's not a scam. There are tonnes of things you pay for in advance. I've just bought train and theatre tickets I'm not going to use for weeks yet. I paid in advance. What's the biggie?

**Paul M** · 27-06-2011, 12:21

No biggie, its all perfectly normal. Never let facts get in the way of a good rant.

**Stephen** · 27-06-2011, 13:41

It would be easier working out stuff you pay for after you have used it. Most things are paid for in advance. I'm currently eating a twix I bought last week. Paying VM upfront is no different.