V HD Would I be allowed to take the TV package out

03-04-2011, 00:10

Got told I may be out of work in the next few weeks as my current workplace is expected to go into administration.

As I am currently into 1 month of a new 12 month contract for the following

XL TV (Sky Sports Collection + HD)
Extra box upstairs
10mb broadband
unlimited calls (inc line)

I currently pay £81.50 p/m for all that

Would I be allowed to take the TV out (both rooms) without Virgin charging me as I will still be with them in the Broadband & Phone servies?

Any help will be great !!!

BenMcr · 03-04-2011, 00:13

Unfortunately if you were to disconnect the TV completely, and you are outside the Money Back Guarantee period, then you will be charged an Early Disconnection Fee to remove the TV

However you might be able to downgrade your TV service to the minimum possible and probably disconnect the additional STB without triggering the EDF

Chad · 03-04-2011, 00:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkle

Got told I may be out of work in the next few weeks as my current workplace is expected to go into administration.

As I am currently into 1 month of a new 12 month contract for the following

XL TV (Sky Sports Collection + HD)
Extra box upstairs
10mb broadband
unlimited calls (inc line)

I currently pay £81.50 p/m for all that

Would I be allowed to take the TV out (both rooms) without Virgin charging me as I will still be with them in the Broadband & Phone services?

Any help will be great !!!

I'm really sorry to hear that Winkle. I hope things work out for you in the coming months.

In regards to your post I've always wondered about this myself.

If you lose your job, and can prove it, surely companies that offer things like TV or mobile contracts long term need to act wisely on the basis that you are facing genuine hardship? If Virgin don't help you I'd seek help from Citizens Advice or a Solicitor who works on a no win no fee basis. In this economic climate companies who are not seen to react favourably when a customer is facing genuine hardship due to a change in employment status are seriously frowned upon. I know because I'm dealing with this issue on a daily basis through my work at the moment.

Good luck and keep us posted!

muppetman11 · 03-04-2011, 10:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkle

Got told I may be out of work in the next few weeks as my current workplace is expected to go into administration.

As I am currently into 1 month of a new 12 month contract for the following

XL TV (Sky Sports Collection + HD)
Extra box upstairs
10mb broadband
unlimited calls (inc line)

I currently pay £81.50 p/m for all that

Would I be allowed to take the TV out (both rooms) without Virgin charging me as I will still be with them in the Broadband & Phone servies?

Any help will be great !!!

Sorry to hear that mate , I hope things work out for you.

**Maggy** · 03-04-2011, 10:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Unfortunately if you were to disconnect the TV completely, and you are outside the Money Back Guarantee period, then you will be charged an Early Disconnection Fee to remove the TV

However you might be able to downgrade your TV service to the minimum possible and probably disconnect the additional STB without triggering the EDF

Could we get a qualified answer to this.I can see a future where a fair few people are going to be made redundant and will need to cut their outgoings.

jb66 · 03-04-2011, 10:18

Sky Sports and movies is only a 1 month contract, you can get rid of that

BenMcr · 03-04-2011, 10:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Could we get a qualified answer to this.I can see a future where a fair few people are going to be made redundant and will need to cut their outgoings.

I can only say what the options are based on the Terms and Conditions. Any variation would be down to whether Virgin would be prepared to make an exception based on the circumstances.

muppetman11 · 03-04-2011, 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

I can only say what the options are based on the Terms and Conditions. Any variation would be down to whether Virgin would be prepared to make an exception based on the circumstances.

Thanks for that Ben let's hope they do , especially for reliable long standing customers.

**Maggy** · 03-04-2011, 10:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

I can only say what the options are based on the Terms and Conditions. Any variation would be down to whether Virgin would be prepared to make an exception based on the circumstances.

So perhaps we need to push VM about the issue?

BenMcr · 03-04-2011, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

So perhaps we need to push VM about the issue?

Not sure what you mean?

I appreciate that people are in difficult circumstances, which is why it's always worth discussing the situation with Virgin.

However, legally, any customer with them did agree to the terms and conditions of contract, which include EDFs.

You can't start picking and choosing the bits of the contract you want to follow when it suits you.

mersey70 · 03-04-2011, 10:52

Let's hope they are flexible, this is going to happen more and more this year and services like VM's will be amongst the first to get reduced when families feel the squeeze.

If they are not flexible they will just end up with thousands of defaults.

TheDon · 03-04-2011, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by mersey70

Let's hope they are flexible, this is going to happen more and more this year and services like VM's will be amongst the first to get reduced when families feel the squeeze.

If they are not flexible they will just end up with thousands of defaults.

It's usually the opposite actually. During hard times TV companies actually do better, it's cheaper to stay in and watch the TV than go out, so whilst outgoings on entertainment are slashed, spend on TV either remains or actually increases. It's only when families have cut all else that can be cut do they turn to cut down on TV.

mersey70 · 03-04-2011, 13:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

It's usually the opposite actually. During hard times TV companies actually do better, it's cheaper to stay in and watch the TV than go out, so whilst outgoings on entertainment are slashed, spend on TV either remains or actually increases. It's only when families have cut all else that can be cut do they turn to cut down on TV.

If they are still working I would agree.

This guy has said he is losing his job, as are thousands each week. We are dealing with cases like this hand over fist right now.

If you physically haven't got the money to pay all your bills there will be things that come way ahead of pay TV like utility bills.

**Maggy** · 03-04-2011, 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

Not sure what you mean?

I appreciate that people are in difficult circumstances, which is why it's always worth discussing the situation with Virgin.

However, legally, any customer with them did agree to the terms and conditions of contract, which include EDFs.

You can't start picking and choosing the bits of the contract you want to follow when it suits you.

Sorry wasn't meaning you in particular.Was musing out loud because VM must be seeing an increase and they must have been discussing it somewhere in management.

But as you say it will have to be a case by case situation at present.

RobboEdin · 03-04-2011, 15:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Sorry wasn't meaning you in particular.Was musing out loud because VM must be seeing an increase and they must have been discussing it somewhere in management.

But as you say it will have to be a case by case situation at present.

What kind of proof would Virgin Media need that a customer is being honest about their circumstances when they come wanting out of a contract for less than their contract terms state?