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Original poster

To take this further?

33 replies

ChickenGoujonDestroyer · 10/10/2019 22:05

I wouldn't know how or who to take this further with but I'm annoyed and at least need a vent!!

Been with virgin media for 2 years. Price hiked up - renegotiated got a good deal for 10 months now they want to put it up to full price again I.e was £30 per month for basic tv, decent broadband and basic phone now £65.

Cant switch to ANY other provider because the little green box at the end of the road is full. No other providers can fit anything else in the box so we HAVE to stay with virgin or have no tv service (previously had freeview so maybe could go back to that) but more importantly NO internet.

We're being forced to stay with a company and pay (to us) a large bill every month just to have internet. I feel held to ransom (appreciate this is a first world problem but In this day and age internet is like a basic need -the kids need it for homework now!) And unsure what I can do.

I tried to "downgrade" with virgin to just internet but they said we cant? Any tech savvy people let me know the options thank you!!

OP posts:
LaurieFairyCake · 10/10/2019 22:06

Bt broadband for £24.99 ?

Pretty sure they have to connect you?

Original poster
ChickenGoujonDestroyer · 10/10/2019 22:09

Nope. Cant have internet with any other provider because the "box" is full

OP posts:
Idontwanttotalk · 10/10/2019 22:10

Who owns the green boxes? Isn't it BT? Surely you could have BT or Plusnet then?

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 10/10/2019 22:11

Have you been told when they're going to increase the capacity?

Original poster
ChickenGoujonDestroyer · 10/10/2019 22:13

Nope cant change believe me I've tried - signed up online with sky, bt and plus net funnily enough and they all then phone and explain about this green box thing. No idea how to escalate it. Dont want to admit to virgin that I cant switch to another provider because we kept managing to haggle good deals by threatening to leave Virgin. Now that's come to an end and we cant haggle anymore I feel stuck and ripped off.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChickenGoujonDestroyer · 10/10/2019 22:14

No one seems to be able to tell us who controls the green boxes etc and how to escalate this.

OP posts:
JadeDragon23 · 10/10/2019 22:14

Buy a fire stick.

Find someone on a Facebook site who knows about such things to load it with all the free channels you’ll ever need.

Not that I’d ever do such a thing...but I hear it’s a fantastic option that will save you £££.

ButDoYouAvocado · 10/10/2019 22:14

Sorry if I've misunderstood but why can't you just have internet? I have virgin internet but have no tv, we have Sky.

Original poster
ChickenGoujonDestroyer · 10/10/2019 22:15

@JadeDragon23 that doesn't help me with the internet issue though but thanks

@ButDoYouAvocado they wont let us downgrade and we cant leave and then go back to them later for broadband only because we cant switch to another provider to do so.

OP posts:
PetraDelphiki · 10/10/2019 22:18

Tell them you are moving house and let the new owner (dh/friend) get the new package without tv.

LiveFatsDieYoGnu · 10/10/2019 22:23

If I’ve understood, could you cancel and get a wireless dongle to tide you over for a month or so before signing back up with a better deal?

Iminagony · 10/10/2019 22:23

Can you leave and survive with no internet long enough to class as a new customer again? I think it may only be 1 month you have to leave for.

You could tether to a phone for internet for homework if needed. Or go old school and use a library for it.

ButDoYouAvocado · 10/10/2019 22:24

Why do you need to switch? I didn't. I just signed up with them. Can you really not just cancel the sign back up?

If not then you really must take it further because it's clearly possible

stillawakeat4amagain · 10/10/2019 22:24

I have a three contract which is £24.99 a month and I don't have a phone line at all just an huwai alexa and it's unlimited Internet too

Idontwanttotalk · 10/10/2019 22:26

I don't understand why you can't downgrade to just have internet. What reason have they given?

siriusblackthemischieviouscat · 10/10/2019 22:31

They cant know you have no other options? We can't have sky tv due to trees in front if house so don't have another tv option - Although we really only need broadband. I rang them and said i wanted to leave and got a great deal.

I was out of contract which might be your issue though?

Alabasterangel6 · 10/10/2019 22:35

I’ve messaged you.

Original poster
ChickenGoujonDestroyer · 10/10/2019 22:52

Thanks for the message.

We really cant switch I've tried. I dont want to cancel and live without internet for a month etc (not sure how long I have to leave for to class as a new customer again or sign up in DHs name) I dont want to lie and say I'm moving etc - I work in a job where I have to be 100% honest all the time so dont want to jeopardise that. I dont know about dongles? How do they work? Thanks

OP posts:
user1486131602 · 10/10/2019 22:56

Ee do wireless, for £34 up

SnugStars · 10/10/2019 23:02

BT Openreach are the wholesaler for internet over the BT network.

runoutofnamechanges · 10/10/2019 23:04

I don't understand why you can't downgrade to just have internet

I thought of switching to Virgin a couple of years ago and they offered me a great deal - £30 for phone, broadband and a TV package. Then the sales person put my postcode in and told me that they don't offer phone where I am, only broadband and TV. I don't use the landline anyway so I didn't mind... until she told me it would be £50!!! So I was paying £20 more for the privilege of not having a phone line. I didn't really care about the TV either so I asked how much for broadband. They still wanted £45!

Original poster
ChickenGoujonDestroyer · 10/10/2019 23:09

@runoutofnamechanges

That seems to be my issue too - they're broadband only deals are MORE expensive for some reason so they can't/wont downgrade me to make it cheaper.

OP posts:
Coffeeandchocolate9 · 10/10/2019 23:22

Do you have 3 signal?

A dongle with 3 would be much cheaper. Get one on a rolling month contract then negotiate with them at the end of the month, it's usually half price if you commit to a 12 month contract. You would even be better off getting a super duper mobile phone contract with them - I have an expensive plan with an expensive handset and all I can eat data with unlimited tethering for £38pcm. Sim only it would be about half that.

Katzia · 10/10/2019 23:22

Do as I have. I just have Freeview TV. I have mobile WiFi through 3 for internet. No connections in house so not reliant on the green box. This suits me as I move around between houses and just take my WiFi with me.

Coffeeandchocolate9 · 10/10/2019 23:24

A dongle uses a mobile phone sim card and acts like your wifi router does. It just needs a power source.