Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register
SAYNOTO0870.COM

<---- Back to main website

 
Home Help Search Login Register

Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print
Virgin Media (Read 13,624 times)
nicky
Newbie
*
Offline



Posts: 9
Virgin Media
Oct 21st, 2008 at 11:53am
 
I've been reading on this site, and peoples been putting them down, and saying they don't care about your money ... I phoned up today, I asked to check my account balance, and then I asked them "How much does it cost to phone 0871 numbers?" they said 10p a minute, 0871 numbers normally are, and 4/5p a minute for 0845 numbers, and then he said "You can get numbers for free, go on www.saynoto0870.com, and type the number in there" and I did, and I was like wow! I think virgin media ain't as bad as you say they are. Smiley

- Nicky
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
jrawle
Supreme Member
*****
Offline



Posts: 708
Didcot, Oxfordshire
Gender: male
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #1 - Oct 21st, 2008 at 12:06pm
 
It sounds more like a helpful individual, rather than a company policy. Like all phone providers, Virgin Media make a lot of money out of non-geographical numbers.

Plus, if they were so keen to save customers' money, why do they operate an 0845 number themselves for customer services?

Still, they are slightly better than they used to be: at least they scrapped the 25p/min broadband technical support line.
Back to top
 
WWW  
IP Logged
 
bbb_uk
Global Moderator
*****
Offline



Posts: 2,041
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #2 - Oct 21st, 2008 at 6:42pm
 
I agree with jrawle but would like to add that if VirginMedia themselves (rather than some staff) really cared about their customers then besides operating a 0845 they have also gone through all the trouble of stopping incoming calls to a geographical number for their customer services.

For a very long time, a geographical number was listed on this website and could be used to call c/s but VirginMedia blocked incoming calls on it and last I tried it you just got a message saying incoming calls arent accepted on the number.

Remember that Virgin are, along with Sky, one of the most expensive landline providers for calls to 0845/0870 numbers.
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
daveholland
Newbie
*
Offline



Posts: 4
UK
Gender: male
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #3 - Oct 24th, 2008 at 12:27pm
 
As late as 7th October I was directed to call Virgin technical support at a cost of 60p per minute for help with what they tell me is "my" problem.  Unfortunately I have deleted the email or I would publish it here!
To make matters worse I consider the issue is theirs not mine. 

And calling Virgin customer service on an 0845 number on their "all inclusive" calls deal costs 7p per minute according to their own tariff document.  So if you want to complain about or query something you have to pay (they have successfully blocked any links to "normal" UK numbers - it's an unashamed money-cow there for the milking.

It really is time that all companies/individuals and government departments/devices(such as hospitals and doctors!) were required by law to provide a normal land line number in addition to the so called "local" rates.
Back to top
 

Dave
 
IP Logged
 
SilentCallsVictim
Supreme Member
*****
Offline


aka NHS.Patient, DH_fairtelecoms

Posts: 2,494
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #4 - Oct 24th, 2008 at 2:47pm
 
I understand that for all Virgin Media telephone customers the option to call normal Customer Services on 150 has been re-instated. This has certainly happened in West and North London.

The premium rate service providing general computer assistance for broadband users is a contentious issue. I have been assured that if one is reporting or enquiring about a network failure, the call charge will be refunded on one's bill. I know that customer service agents have the authority to do this.

In my opinion, it should be possible for the normal faults service to handle broadband network issues, so that the premium rate service is exclusively for the benefit of those who require technical advice relating to their particular computer and operating system. This gets us in to the question about whether premium rate telephone services are ever valid. To explore this general point would be to stray OT.
Back to top
 
WWW  
IP Logged
 
jrawle
Supreme Member
*****
Offline



Posts: 708
Didcot, Oxfordshire
Gender: male
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #5 - Oct 24th, 2008 at 3:13pm
 
SilentCallsVictim wrote on Oct 24th, 2008 at 2:47pm:
The premium rate service providing general computer assistance for broadband users is a contentious issue. I have been assured that if one is reporting or enquiring about a network failure, the call charge will be refunded on one's bill. I know that customer service agents have the authority to do this.


That's assuming they admit it was their fault. If the service just gets better magically the following day, there's no way to prove anything. I was never prepared to risk this. The broadband support number has been scrapped now, so that policy presumably no longer exists.

Do you know the lame excuse they gave me for the premium rate broadband support number? They claimed other ISPs had been phoning up with support questions! Obviously that must have been all the other ISPs that use Virgin's fibre-optic network and cable modems...

As for general PC support, it would be fair enough if you could draw an accurate line between what constitutes PC problems and broadband problems. I'm not convinced that's possible.

Fact is, I gave the premium rate broadband support as one of the many reasons when I cancelled their rubbish service. At the time, they gave me their excuses for it, but went on to scrap it later. So Virgin, it looks like I was right all along, not that you would ever admit it.
Back to top
 
WWW  
IP Logged
 
SilentCallsVictim
Supreme Member
*****
Offline


aka NHS.Patient, DH_fairtelecoms

Posts: 2,494
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #6 - Oct 24th, 2008 at 4:03pm
 
jrawle wrote on Oct 24th, 2008 at 3:13pm:
I was never prepared to risk this.

There is, or there should be, a saying, that if you expect the worst and behave accordingly, your expectations are likely to be fulfilled.
Striving for success must include the possibility of disappointment.


jrawle wrote on Oct 24th, 2008 at 3:13pm:
I'm not convinced [its] possible [to] draw an accurate line between what constitutes PC problems and broadband problems.

If it is possible for anyone to accept responsibility for delivery of a broadband service onto any PC, then this line has to be drawn. Otherwise one should not be so foolish as to enter into such a contract. If Virginmedia accepted its responsibility and monitored the operation of its networks (as it does) then the distinction between local and network faults could be made properly. The difficulty is that this cannot be done from an offshore call centre.
Back to top
 
WWW  
IP Logged
 
jrawle
Supreme Member
*****
Offline



Posts: 708
Didcot, Oxfordshire
Gender: male
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #7 - Oct 24th, 2008 at 4:55pm
 
SilentCallsVictim wrote on Oct 24th, 2008 at 4:03pm:
There is, or there should be, a saying, that if you expect the worst and behave accordingly, your expectations are likely to be fulfilled.
Striving for success must include the possibility of disappointment.


I succeeded by switching to a company that offers a freephone support number, in addition to online support requests that are dealt with promptly! (It also happens to offer 6 times the speed for the same price, free use of a wireless router, and doesn't have the pitifully small usage limits that Virgin have on their "unlimited" broadband.) I haven't regretted it for one minute.
Back to top
 
WWW  
IP Logged
 
SilentCallsVictim
Supreme Member
*****
Offline


aka NHS.Patient, DH_fairtelecoms

Posts: 2,494
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #8 - Oct 24th, 2008 at 5:06pm
 
jrawle wrote on Oct 24th, 2008 at 4:55pm:
I haven't regretted it for one minute.

Well done.

Thanks for the tip-off about Virginmedia's false claims. Perhaps you could "PM" me the name of the company.
Back to top
 
WWW  
IP Logged
 
bbb_uk
Global Moderator
*****
Offline



Posts: 2,041
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #9 - Feb 9th, 2009 at 7:52pm
 
Virgin spent 20mins today trying to convince me that if I get all 3 (tv, bb and telephone) they would be cheaper.  They even went as far as lying and saying BT linerental is increasing and will be £14 in April.

Oh boy did they pick the wrong person to try and convince lol.  After I explained that their 3 deal bundle was just basic stuff like basic TV and line rental only.  When you factor in unlimited plan on linerental, a broadband speed that wouldnt be lower (even after their traffic management) than what I get now, it actually worked out more expensive.

Then Virgin disppeared for few minutes and came back with reductions/retention deals they could give me and even then were expensive.

I then asked what could they do if I toot TV and landline with them and kept broadband with current ISP (as they were cheaper by far) and this turned out to be about £3 cheaper with Virgin.

Then I said well BT do free caller display and include calls to 0845/0870 numbers for which he paused and said have you tried the site www.saynoto0870.com.  When questioned why they just dont drop the price of their 0845/0870 calls to a more reasonable price (I realise it's probably not possible for Virgin to include these calls without losing more revenue than BT would), he declined to comment.

The moral of this is despite VirginMedia being one of the most expensive providers of calls to 0845/0870 and have obviously had many people complain they just cant afford (I assume) to reduce the cost of these calls and therefore the majority of their customers probably get told to see this site when they complain about 0845/0870 but still refuse to reduce these costs for those that havent complained and just "pay the bill" regardless upon arrival.  These people probably dont even know just how much it costs to these numbers from VirginMedia.

I bet you even OfcoN use this site to avoid these stealth premium rate calls but yet dont want to do anything about them!

Back to top
« Last Edit: Feb 9th, 2009 at 7:54pm by bbb_uk »  
 
IP Logged
 
jrawle
Supreme Member
*****
Offline



Posts: 708
Didcot, Oxfordshire
Gender: male
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #10 - Feb 9th, 2009 at 9:23pm
 
bbb_uk wrote on Feb 9th, 2009 at 7:52pm:
Then I said well BT do free caller display and include calls to 0845/0870 numbers for which he paused and said have you tried the site www.saynoto0870.com.  When questioned why they just dont drop the price of their 0845/0870 calls to a more reasonable price (I realise it's probably not possible for Virgin to include these calls without losing more revenue than BT would), he declined to comment.

If they think using this site is a good idea, how about asking why they use an 0845 number for customer services themselves?
Back to top
 
WWW  
IP Logged
 
bbb_uk
Global Moderator
*****
Offline



Posts: 2,041
Re: Virgin Media
Reply #11 - Feb 10th, 2009 at 10:17pm
 
jrawle wrote on Feb 9th, 2009 at 9:23pm:
If they think using this site is a good idea, how about asking why they use an 0845 number for customer services themselves?
Dont forget the fact that they managed to block incoming calls to a geographical for c/s that was in the database for ages beforehand.  This was done, I believe, with the pure intent on forcing those using a geographical to ring them on their 0845.  I suspect VM prob make money from incoming calls to their 0845 as they are a OCP that provide NGNs hence why it was in their interest to block access to the geographical.

The average normal staff probably know how expensive VM are and prob use this site.  It's those higher up the chain that make decisions like how much VM charge for their services that are out of touch!
Back to top
 
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print
(Moderators: Dave, DaveM, CJT-80, bbb_uk, Forum Admin)

Website and Content © 1999-2024 SAYNOTO0870.COM. All Rights Reserved.
Written permission is required to duplicate any of the content within this site.

WARNING: This is an open forum, posts are NOT endorsed by SAYNOTO0870.COM,
please exercise due caution when acting on any info from here.


SAYNOTO0870.COM » Powered by YaBB 2.5.2!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2024. All Rights Reserved.


Valid RSS Valid XHTML Valid CSS Powered by Perl Source Forge