More price rises - Page 20

yorkshireborn · 23-09-2016, 10:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

That's the point I made to Mad Max who asked me to show him a recent price rise. Two days later, I didn't need to go far to find one and explained that the weaker Pound would feed through into increased costs for companies like VM who buy hardware, software and content largely in Dollars.
His argument was that the UK would export more but he couldn't explain how this would help VM cope with its increased costs. If it was a long-term shift then perhaps VM would bring back some things it's offshored like the contact centres but the uncertainty does not encourage such moves.

At the moment, it's still possible for the £ to recover against the $ but uncertainty about Brexit terms is holding the £ down. As anyone who has travelled abroad recently knows, the £ in your pocket does not stretch as far a it once did

so why has sky not walloped their prices up they must be in the same boat

1andrew1 · 23-09-2016, 10:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by yorkshireborn

so why has sky not walloped their prices up they must be in the same boat

VM's in a slightly different boat as its parent company, Liberty Global, prices its shares in US $ whilst Sky plc prices its shares in £.
A weaker £ means less profit in $ for Liberty Global so more pressure to raise prices. As always, there's a risk that higher prices will result in churn and the Which? report advising that 50% of VM customers were unhappy with price rises must be a concern for the company. Looking at it objectively, it's certainly a bold move.
But, we don't know how either company hedges currency fluctuations - if VM's costs have risen significantly then it may not have done so sufficiently; Sky could have done.
Aside from exchange rates, there are other factors at play impacting pay-TV companies. The rise of companies like Netflix and Amazon has lead to increased content costs as more companies bid for film and entertainment rights. We've seen this most visibly with UK sports TV rights and the emergence of BT Sport as a powerful force.
And, Sky has already unleashed price rises upon its customers most recently in June so may feel that it needs a gap before the next increase is implemented.

Stephen · 23-09-2016, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

I would leave the DD in place - they will likely take the payment, their billing system will then produce a final bill based on your leaving date and will credit you any money you are owed. Cancelling the DD or paying what you think you owe may place marks on your credit file even when you don't technically owe them.

But I have a bill to pay to Sky this month so paying two lots of £80 isn't really feasible.

muppetman11 · 23-09-2016, 11:59

You can bet Sky will raise prices again soon they are all as bad as each other.

JPAC · 23-09-2016, 15:08

Just to re-state the obvious, make sure you talk to VM retentions, even if it means staying on the phone for ages, it sometimes pays off. I'm staying with VM for a bit longer.

MrB · 23-09-2016, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen

But I have a bill to pay to Sky this month so paying two lots of £80 isn't really feasible.

It would be even more of an issue if a missed or underpayment was reported to credit reference agencies.

When companies mess up reporting incorrect information they can cause serious damage l, as I have found out (not VM).

thunderlips · 23-09-2016, 22:46

got the letter package price going up again ! phoned retention's told them i was unhappy offered me a good deal same package but at a reduced cost, i always find chatting with them in a good manner gets rewards lol another 12 month contract but thats how it goes, i never planned on leaving vm anyway always offered me good deals in the past never had a problem with the services.

Gavin78 · 24-09-2016, 00:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderlips

got the letter package price going up again ! phoned retention's told them i was unhappy offered me a good deal same package but at a reduced cost, i always find chatting with them in a good manner gets rewards lol another 12 month contract but thats how it goes, i never planned on leaving vm anyway always offered me good deals in the past never had a problem with the services.

Same here wife called them today and got our £56 a month package deal (9 months) then £97 a month. down to £62 a month for 6 months then £65 a month for the last 6 months

Kept our XL tv and weekend calls and dropped the BB from 200 to 100 and in all honesty haven't noticed the difference.

ileikcaek · 24-09-2016, 14:38

We got our letter today. An increase of £3.49 on our 200Mb and phone. We lose our £6 loyalty discount at the same time so it's really an increase of £9.49 from £44.93 making it £54.42 which is way too much. Time to change our package I suppose. Hoping we can get 200Mb on its own for £45.25.

Inactive Digital · 24-09-2016, 14:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by ileikcaek

We got our letter today. An increase of £3.49 on our 200Mb and phone. We lose our £6 loyalty discount at the same time so it's really an increase of £9.49 from £44.93 making it £54.42 which is way too much. Time to change our package I suppose. Hoping we can get 200Mb on its own for £45.25.

That's the standard price for 200mb on it's own, so definitely possible - I'd aim for a discount though

yorkshireborn · 24-09-2016, 15:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by ileikcaek

We got our letter today. An increase of £3.49 on our 200Mb and phone. We lose our £6 loyalty discount at the same time so it's really an increase of £9.49 from £44.93 making it £54.42 which is way too much. Time to change our package I suppose. Hoping we can get 200Mb on its own for £45.25.

I got my 200meg on its own for £39.

Osem · 24-09-2016, 19:38

Just got our price rise - £3.50pm. It must say I find VM's tactic of offering 'free' upgrades shortly followed by a price rise quite shoddy and very definitely shortsighted. I don't entirely buy the £ v $ argument even though I accept it will have an upward effect on prices. Oddly I don't recall prices dropping much the last time the value of Sterling went up but hey ho. We all expect price rises but please don't treat your customers like idiots VM. I hardly watch TV, don't need 200mb (not that I get anywhere near it lol) and hardly use the landline so if this carries on for much longer I'll be saying goodbye to the lot.

jb66 · 25-09-2016, 00:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

Just got our price rise - £3.50pm. It must say I find VM's tactic of offering 'free' upgrades shortly followed by a price rise quite shoddy and very definitely shortsighted. I don't entirely buy the £ v $ argument even though I accept it will have an upward effect on prices. Oddly I don't recall prices dropping much the last time the value of Sterling went up but hey ho. We all expect price rises but please don't treat your customers like idiots VM. I hardly watch TV, don't need 200mb (not that I get anywhere near it lol) and hardly use the landline so if this carries on for much longer I'll be saying goodbye to the lot.

I've no idea why your with Virgin if you don't need the services they provide

Osem · 25-09-2016, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by jb66

I've no idea why your with Virgin if you don't need the services they provide

Simple, I have a wife and kids who wanted them and the so called free upgrades have been offered not requested by us. As I explained, that's now under review due to the ever increasing cost and dubious tactics.

telegramsam · 25-09-2016, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

Simple, I have a wife and kids who wanted them and the so called free upgrades have been offered not requested by us. As I explained, that's now under review due to the ever increasing cost and dubious tactics.

I can fully appreciate your position because mine is similar. My partner doesn't want me to switch to sky simply because she likes sone of the apps that come with the tivo box.