General : Cheaper collections for new customers

[howard.bates]

Comparing Virgin's various offers and my recent bills, it appears that my chosen services would be significantly cheaper if I were a new customer.
Virgin used to have a stated policy of not charging existing customers more than newcomers, and a couple of years ago I quoted the relevant page on the website and they reduced my charges.
Does that policy still apply or do I have to phone retentions and threaten to quit ?
If retentions call my bluff, would there be any adverse consequences if I terminated my contract and immediately signed up again in order to get a cheaper deal ?
I'd be grateful for any advice.

[andy_m]

The only thing I can say is that they wouldn't consider you a new customer until you'd been out of contract for a certain period of time, so you wouldn't be able to just cancel and then sign up straight away on a good deal. That said people report good things happen if youspeak to re retentions in a calm manner so I reckon you should give them a ring.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by howard.bates

Comparing Virgin's various offers and my recent bills, it appears that my chosen services would be significantly cheaper if I were a new customer.
Virgin used to have a stated policy of not charging existing customers more than newcomers, and a couple of years ago I quoted the relevant page on the website and they reduced my charges.
Does that policy still apply or do I have to phone retentions and threaten to quit ?
If retentions call my bluff, would there be any adverse consequences if I terminated my contract and immediately signed up again in order to get a cheaper deal ?
I'd be grateful for any advice.

Only ever called when out of contract but that said it looks as if my "deal" & the latest collections offer ( after the 6 months half price ) is the same £45 per month. So as long as that holds I have nothing to make a deal over. Unless - I get charged less than the normal price ,cut mine would work

[MaverickJesus]

You can ring up and switch onto a collections bundle at any time, the only thing you won't get is the 6 months half price bonus offered to new customers.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by howard.bates

If retentions call my bluff...

Then don't bluff. I never have. I always state that "I have no intention of switching to any other supplier but can we see what can be done..." about the price I pay.

Oh, and new customers have always got the better deals; as you will have when you were a new customer. That's how they attract new customers

[howard.bates]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. One call to Customer Services, described what I could get as a new customer, asked what they could do. They agreed to give me the same deal as a new customer (without the introductory discount) and arranged for an engineer to call the day after tomorrow. Result.

@carlwaring
I have no objection to new customers receiving an introductory discount, but I see no reason why they should get a better deal than people who have stuck with Cabletron / NTL / VM through thick and thin. It seems that VM now recognise this, so all is well.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by howard.bates

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. One call to Customer Services, described what I could get as a new customer, asked what they could do. They agreed to give me the same deal as a new customer (without the introductory discount) and arranged for an engineer to call the day after tomorrow. Result.

See! Easy wasn't it. An not 'threats' requited

I have no objection to new customers receiving an introductory discount...

Which is all they do get. A special price for a year. Just like I got when I re-negotiated last month. This time next year I will do it again.

It seems that VM now recognise this, so all is well.

It's not like they didn't before. It's just up to the customer to call them rather than vice versa.

[v0id]

If you do the legwork and there is a better deal elsewhere, don't bluff and actually switch.
It's just common sense :/

[howard.bates]

Originally Posted by v0id

If you do the legwork and there is a better deal elsewhere, don't bluff and actually switch.
It's just common sense :/

It depends how much value you attach to convenience. I like the fact that all my services arrive on a single cable and are paid for with a single payment each month. And the VM network where I live seems to be fairly stable and robust. I'd be surprised if a combination of BT, BT Infinity and Sky could do any better.

[carlwaring]

Originally Posted by v0id

If you do the legwork and there is a better deal elsewhere, don't bluff and actually switch.

Of course, I never suggested otherwise.