Cutting Edge going blunt?
12-04-2011, 20:29
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#1
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-.- ..- .-. ... -.-
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,842
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Cutting Edge going blunt?
I've been with Virgin forever so I get a loyalty discount on my 10mb broadband. I have no other services from Virgin at present.
There's been a price rise. I did not get prior notification and I'm now just a couple of quid better off than the £21 charged normally for broadband L.
For the first time in a very long time, the deals of other providers are looking more attractive. I want to stay with Virgin but I no longer feel all warm and cosy about value for money.
10mb is starting to stutter as HD kicks in and there ought to be another 'free upgrade' if Virgin wants to keep its customers at cutting edge.
Does the price rise constitute a change in contract and mean unpenalised withdrawal is possible?
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12-04-2011, 21:30
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#2
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Inactive
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Age: 45
Posts: 13,996
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
You could upgrade to the 30Mb. Should be no issues even with poorly compressed HD then.
Being fair the 'cutting edge' isn't blunt, you're on the lowest available package rather than the cutting edge.
Virgin don't want to keep their 10Mb customers at the cutting edge, it's the cheapy basic service, they want them to upgrade to 30Mb and above which is why they only charge 18.50 for it if taken with their phone line.
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12-04-2011, 22:15
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#3
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,842
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ignitionnet
You could upgrade to the 30Mb. Should be no issues even with poorly compressed HD then.
Being fair the 'cutting edge' isn't blunt, you're on the lowest available package rather than the cutting edge.
Virgin don't want to keep their 10Mb customers at the cutting edge, it's the cheapy basic service, they want them to upgrade to 30Mb and above which is why they only charge 18.50 for it if taken with their phone line.
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The most important part of a house is its foundations. If those of us who choose the lowest available package start to move, you can equate the effect to subsidence. No matter how fancy it looks on top, if its falling apart below, suddenly you're living in a pack of cards.
The charge for the lowest deal is starting to look like a subsidy for the top end.
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12-04-2011, 22:23
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#4
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Permanently Banned
Join Date: Apr 2011
Age: 56
Services: XL TV, XL Phone, 30mb BB, 1TB Tivo
Posts: 3,722
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kursk
For the first time in a very long time, the deals of other providers are looking more attractive.
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Have you actually, properly compared packages? I did a while back and VM was still the best available for the money; ie and unlimited pack with the actual advertised speed. That said, my local exchange has only three LLU companiesin it so my choice is limited. Your might not be.
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12-04-2011, 22:30
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#5
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cf.mega poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Oxfordshire
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Posts: 1,158
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kursk
The most important part of a house is its foundations. If those of us who choose the lowest available package start to move, you can equate the effect to subsidence. No matter how fancy it looks on top, if its falling apart below, suddenly you're living in a pack of cards.
The charge for the lowest deal is starting to look like a subsidy for the top end.
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I would slightly agree with you but even the lowest package still provides a speed better than non cable unless you are close to an exchange. And for the majority of users it is fast enough. All Virgin need to do is keep the cost comparing well with the other providers.
There will be fixed costs which do not depend on the speed of service e.g. technical support and installation which gives a base level and the effect of higher tiers does not add to costs proportionally .
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12-04-2011, 22:37
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#6
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Somewhere
Services: Virgin for TV and Internet, BT for phone
Posts: 26,536
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kursk
The most important part of a house is its foundations. If those of us who choose the lowest available package start to move, you can equate the effect to subsidence. No matter how fancy it looks on top, if its falling apart below, suddenly you're living in a pack of cards.
The charge for the lowest deal is starting to look like a subsidy for the top end.
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Another way of looking at it is that if they give their ten meg users a major upgrade, they risk winding up those customers who are paying more for their services. Never a good move for any company.
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12-04-2011, 23:23
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#7
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Inactive
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 135
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
May i ask what deals look more attractive? 10mb package is a 10mb connection.. If it changes there is a fault in your line and you should have it checked over.
I mean it's all down to opinion but my 10mb package gives me the full amount consistantly; peak times and off-peak. Even if i saw a 24meg ADSL connection at similar price, i'd be reluctant to change. Just looking at the OFCOM reports shows how most ISP's speeds vary compared to their advertised speeds.
By the way, the are offering £5 off your bill for 6 months if you upgrade to 30mb. The installation is £30 but as you can see you get your money back off the bill so it's technically free. I'm tempted to upgrade but i don't wanna jump into a new 12-month contract w/ higher outgoings just yet.
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13-04-2011, 01:02
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#8
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,842
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
Please don't misunderstand me; I am a VM fan but there's a limit to what I'll pay for anything based on its worth (not its cost).
As an example, many years ago I had the full Sky TV package; however, I'd decided what it was worth to me in terms of service quality, content and entertainment and when their then latest price rise breached that limit, I dropped the whole lot. The subscription was just one penny over my decided limit and I've never had Sky again. Frankly, I've never missed it either.
I'm not sure how many people react in this way (maybe just me!) but price rises, at a time when everyone is being fleeced by the Government due to the poor performing banks, may make others think a cheaper, if poorer performing connection is acceptable. Or that the internet is something they can manage without.
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13-04-2011, 08:08
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#9
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Permanently Banned
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kursk
Or that the internet is something they can manage without.
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Now you're just being silly
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13-04-2011, 09:07
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#10
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Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Somewhere
Services: Virgin for TV and Internet, BT for phone
Posts: 26,536
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kursk
Please don't misunderstand me; I am a VM fan but there's a limit to what I'll pay for anything based on its worth (not its cost).
As an example, many years ago I had the full Sky TV package; however, I'd decided what it was worth to me in terms of service quality, content and entertainment and when their then latest price rise breached that limit, I dropped the whole lot. The subscription was just one penny over my decided limit and I've never had Sky again. Frankly, I've never missed it either.
I'm not sure how many people react in this way (maybe just me!) but price rises, at a time when everyone is being fleeced by the Government due to the poor performing banks, may make others think a cheaper, if poorer performing connection is acceptable. Or that the internet is something they can manage without.
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If you are paying for a particular connection speed, and not getting that speed (be it 10, 20 ,30 ,50 or 100 meg), VM do have a duty to fix the problem.
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13-04-2011, 12:51
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#11
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Join Date: Mar 2008
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
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Originally Posted by carlwaring
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Fair comment! What I should have said is "Or that the internet is something they can manage without at home". I would say that the majority of people who use the net already have access at work, like I do. Admittedly, there are restrictions, but generally speaking, only rubbish is limited by the work filters.
My local exchange has 9 LLU companies btw.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stuart
If you are paying for a particular connection speed, and not getting that speed (be it 10, 20 ,30 ,50 or 100 meg), VM do have a duty to fix the problem.
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It's not so much that I don't get the speed, but that the cost is starting to exceed worth. Probably, I'm a bit irritated that a price rise just appears on the bill without prior warning and a bit of guidance to say that as a rise is a change of contract, users can opt out without penalty if they wish.
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13-04-2011, 12:57
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#12
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Permanently Banned
Join Date: Apr 2011
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kursk
Fair comment! What I should have said is "Or that the internet is something they can manage without at home". I would say that the majority of people who use the net already have access at work, like I do.
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Just as bad, really. The unemployed (like me), part-time workers, stay-at-home mums/dads, the elderly. All these may not have access "at work"
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13-04-2011, 13:03
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#13
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The Invisible Woman
Cable Forum Team
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: between Portsmouth and Southampton.
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
All I can say is I get the full 10 MB connection at the new price..Good luck finding anyone else who matches that at a lower price.The up to part of any claim is the part of the claim that carries the most weight.
__________________
Hell is empty and all the devils are here. Shakespeare..
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13-04-2011, 13:09
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#14
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,842
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
Quote:
Originally Posted by carlwaring
Just as bad, really. The unemployed (like me), part-time workers, stay-at-home mums/dads, the elderly. All these may not have access "at work"
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Financial constraints come into play in the case of the social groups you've mentioned...especially when the Government's measures begin to really bite. These are people who may choose food and a warm home over twitter and youtube. Net access is no more necessary than Sky pay per view imo.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maggy J
All I can say is I get the full 10 MB connection at the new price..Good luck finding anyone else who matches that at a lower price.The up to part of any claim is the part of the claim that carries the most weight.
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I'm not desperate to find an alternative as such. Like I've said, maybe it's just reaching the point where having home access is no longer VFM. Tbh, with all the advertising shoved in your face on the net, I don't know why service provision isn't free.
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13-04-2011, 13:22
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#15
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Permanently Banned
Join Date: Apr 2011
Age: 56
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Re: Cutting Edge going blunt?
Because those ads are not making money for your ISP.
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