To think that this is pressure selling

[Thistledew]

I have my TV and Broadband package with Virgin Media.

I got a call from them today offering me a discounted rate to upgrade to a bigger package - faster Broadband and more TV channels. The deal was that I would sign up for 12 months, and get the upgrade for an additional £9 per month for 6 months, and then £22 per month for the next 6 months.

The man on the phone described very briefly what I would be getting (although I had to ask him about the second 6 months charges as he didn't immediately volunteer this information). I said that I would rather look on line or at a leaflet so that I could consider in detail what I was buying and make an informed decision as to whether I wanted to pay for the additional services. He said this was not possible, this was my one chance to decide if I wanted to take up the offer and I had to do it right now.

I declined, and said that I don't ever agree to pressure selling situations as I like to be fully informed as to what I am purchasing, and to get the agreement of the person with whom I share my household bills. I also said that I find such pressure selling techniques objectionable as a matter of principle, so will never sign up for anything sold that way.

The man got quite stroppy with me and said that it was not pressure selling and that it was "just your opinion" that it was pressure selling.

AIBU unreasonable to think that this is pressure selling, and is dubious ethically?

If you have to decide on the spot then it's pressure selling tactics and I'd refuse on principle.

YANBU. I've just had a letter saying my package is going up by £6 in February. Think I'll be calling SKY...

I rang sky today as my bills had slowly been nudging up and I was concerned about them. I have to say they were really nice, informative and also addressed problems I was having with on demand. I came away with a really good deal, they lopped some of the bill and helped me tailor what I do have.......

and no I don't work for sky :}

I had a problem when I decided to upgrade to their TiVo box as well. They sent me an advert for the service, addressed to me by name, through the letter box. I called them up and said that I wanted to take up the offer. They went through all the stuff to set up the new service, and then quoted me a monthly price that was about £12 more than promised in the advert. I queried it, and they said "Oh no, that is for new customers only"!

I kicked up a fuss about the laws of contract and offer and acceptance, and eventually got through to someone who could agree to charge me the price they advertised.

A hint on this one - the department that can authorise this is called "cancellations", so if you are wanting to bargain on the price of your deal, ask to be put through to this section.