I pay £46.50 for my modest broadband package only!

I've been with Virgin Media since the early 2000s (when they were NTL) and have only used one of their cable connections at my current address for almost 18 years, but I think they are fleecing me as I've never gone anywhere else (and nor can I, as I don't have a copper connection like the other providers).

I've heard that if I call their sales line and threaten to leave, they will offer me a deal, and if I reject that too, a better deal. The thing is, I only want broadband, and they will try to foist TV packages on me as well, but I would like at least £10 off the monthly bill mentioned above, which would satisfy me. On the other hand, I don't want them to simply cancel my account and disconnect me when I have nowhere else to go.

What can I do?

What does https://www.openreach.com/ say you can get at your property?

Even if you have no current line you can easily get a service from an Openreach ISP.

Knowing what you can get there and how much to would cost would give you a good starting point in any negotiation with VM.

It would help if you posted what your package is, do you want broadband only with no phone, are you in contract, or out of contract.

1. My package is "M50 Fibre Broadband"

2. I want Broadband ONLY: NO phone, NO TV, NO landline

3. They're saying it's time to renew my contract, I must be out of it at the moment

I've never dealt with Virgin, but my friend has for his mother, AFAIK they have been perfectly happy for people to go out of contract and pay OTT, and that would seem to apply to you. Point out this contract https://www.thinkbroadband.com/isps/virgin/packages/... and say "I'd like this please". They will say "that's for new customers only", but if you have checked the link given by Kris you will know what bargaining power you have.

Edited by burble (Thu 30-Nov-23 21:46:25)

The link by Kris reveals to me that there is no OpenReach connection that I know of at my address. Well, there was a landline decades ago but I don't know if that will be adaptable or usable by OpenReach for any install.

What's the best way of contacting VM? Phone? I'm not even sure what the number is now. Or is there an alternative?

Do you have another Alternative FTTP network provider in your area like Hyperoptic?
If not, that might explain why Virgin Media are taking advantage of your situation. They then become a monopoly and price hike knowing you have no other option!

I'm surprised that you wouldn't have FTTC available as over 97% of the country has it. But if you are one of the less than 3% once again that might explain why VM are abusing your situation.

This is always something I'm wary of when you have a one provider only you have no other option. For example I have FTTC and Community Fibre. If the Altnet then decides to price hike at the end of the contract I'll simply leave and go back to FTTC. But obviously if I didn't have FTTC I'll have to comply and pay extra for the price hike should it happen.

Do you have another family member with you in the same home? You could try to cancel your service and then make your other member sign up for a new deal then they'll get a cheaper offer as a new customer!

Having VM available but no Openreach is unlikely.

What wording does the Openreach site use for your address?

When I type in my postcode and house number into that OpenReach website, I get options, like:

Ultrafast Full Fibre Broadband - Not yet available
Gfast Fibre Broadband - Available now
Superfast Fibre Broadband - Available now
Standard Broadband - Available now

This seems to indicate I have a few options for the line that is there now. But do all broadband providers charge for installation? Plusnet Fibre did (£50) when I started to sign up with them when USwitch said it was free on their site! And I was further scared off by threats of charges of £65+ if I wasn't in the house when the engineer turned up. So as of now, I don't know what to do, as I don't think I could even afford the switch and any extra charges that might entail.

That looks good.

So whilst you can’t get FTTP (fibre to the premises) you can get fibre to the cabinet or gfast which is faster and relatively rare.

I would suggest checking how much someone like Now TV would cost for install as they’re only about £23 per month.

All of this is really about knowing what your options are so you can be in a better position to renegotiate with VM. Whether you’ll actually leave VM is up to you but I would suggest knowing the options if you are unhappy with what they suggest.