How to effectively reduce Virgin TV cost

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

Has anyone ever rung up their TV company, told them they were leaving and been offered a good deal to stay? I'm on the M package with Virgin and pay £45.49 PCM and it ends this month. I really need to save some money and plan to do this to see what they say. What do you reckon they might say? Free view is no good as our aerial is disconnected (although I guess I could get the landlord to fix that!!) However, I wouldn't mind keeping some extra channels if offered them at the right price.

We left virgin because they kept hiking the prices up shame as we liked TiVo. We've gone back to sky much cheaper for everything we want (sports, kids tv).
What channels do you need would free view be enough?

I've wondered similar but didn't find anyone cheaper if you just want internet,phone and tv (we pretty Mich just want BBC1 and cbeebies as we're not big tv watchers).

I generally only want itv and channel 4. DS likes sky 1 but seeing as DP has just installed the sky go app (linked to his parents sky account) then we are covered on that front.

*installed on his ipad

I mentioned that simply as I don't think the sky packages are any cheaper (they're not) for a basic package. Sky only works out cheaper when you start wanting extra sports/movie/kids packages.

We got tivo free for a year when I rang up asking them if there was any way I could get it cheaper

Maybe you don't really need virgin.

If you've got a ps3 or higher that would get itv for you. Or a sky box, you could buy one second hand.

We did that for a while.

But you stil need to get internet and phone - those together often come to a similar total don't they?

Crazy, I had seen the broadband deal I wanted for £26.50 PCM and phoned up to ask for it. Got put through to cancellations. For £29.99 PCM, I got freeview (and still get to keep my TiVo box) 50mg broadband (which is faster than I used to have) and the phone on the same deal I had before.

I am on a 12 month contract but she has extended the price reduction for 18 months

Where did you see the 26 pound deal/who with? I feel a phone call coming on...

Just to point out if you don't have a free view signal you could get freesat (which is the same thing but through a satellite dish - you just pay a one off fee to install the dish, no monthly charge afterwards). We live in an extremely rural area and have no problems with free sat. We paid about £40 for installation with a local electrical company (hughes).

We then have broadband and phone line with plus net - the two together cost £14 a month for the first 6 months and then £17. Unlimited etc.

Just worth considering if you are still able to leave virgin in the cooling off period.

Yes it does work, I've done it with Virgin.

You need to have nerves of steel though and real conviction in your voice because they've obviously cracked onto the fact people try it.

I researched the current sky deal for new customers so that I knew it in detail. Then I phoned Virgin customer services and asked to be put through to disconnections, then just asked to cancel the package, with no other details. Then they asked why and I said I was transferring to Sky. When they half-heartedly tried to convince me to stay (probably thinking I was lying) I just said 'no thank you, I just want to cancel, Sky have got a brilliant offer on and I want to take advantage so I really need to cancel NOW'.

They offered me a minimal discount and I still said no (although was starting to get nervous, I didn't actually want to leave). Put me on hold, offered me a bigger discount so I ummed and ahhed and considered it for a couple of minutes...then they put me on hold again and came back and offered me an amazing discount.

I now pay £49 a month for the XL TV, phone and broadband package :D

Yup - the time I tried it you have to say WHICH offer and WHERE you have seen it ...