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Announcements => ISP Offers & Deals => Topic started by: oldfogy on March 25, 2015, 12:56:52 AM

Title: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on March 25, 2015, 12:56:52 AM
Yesterday I had cause to call the VM helpline, fortunately on the second occasion I got through to the Scottish help-desk.
(The first so-called helpline operative in India eventually simply sent me a link to a web page for help in blocking unwanted calls, 99% of which I had already told him that I was already doing, needless to say, VM India sucked again) why do they bother with those people.

But back to the point, I tried again and fortunately got the Scottish call centre and within 2 minutes answered the quest which is they can't block individual numbers (PPI Caller from Manchester, 20+ calls on Monday alone)

But the good news (long story short) VM have now made 'Caller ID' FREE OF CHARGE, so no more £2+ per month fee.
I didn't ask what happens to anyone who already subscribes, but if you are one of those or want caller ID then you just need to ask.

Better still was even though the very nice Scottish lady said it could be 'up-to' 24 hours before it's set up, it was actually set-up within about 15 minutes, I know because I then received another call from Manchester.

So that was that.
**************************
But just to follow the story on a little, I decided to phone the Manchester number (0165 6253130), thankfully probably the best thing I did instead of continuously ignoring them.

However it seems they are getting around the 'Telephone Preference Service' regulations in my mind with using a fictitious name of someone who supposedly initiated the enquiry using in this case my number which then gives them the right to continue to call back the caller to continue with their request, 'YES' what a load of tripe.

But at least once the Manchester person believed that although my name was not 'Sharon' and no one of that name lives here and I have had the same number for the last 15 years she agreed to remove my number from the enquiry list, obviously only time will tell, but as said earlier, maybe I should have tried talking to them earlier instead of pulling out my last remaining strand of hair.
(Obviously my Avatar is the real me) just that it was taken 66 years ago.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: kitz on March 25, 2015, 04:22:52 AM
Thanks for letting us know.

Its interesting that Virgin have just made this service free, when BT last year announced that they are now to start charging for it. :D

--------
btw thats not a Manchester (0161) number.   01656 is Bridgend and belongs to Action Direct who telemarket PPI.

If you search around the net in many places they have been marked as Aggressive Advertisers. - eg (http://www.tellows.co.uk/num/01656253130) :(

I hope you got it sorted and they dont bother you anymore. :)
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on March 25, 2015, 12:04:11 PM
Thanks for the correction, they are appreciated.

As for me saying VM have just introduced the Caller ID as being free, I think the help-line did actually say it had been introduced a couple of months ago, so again maybe as you said to coincide with BT starting to charge (although I always 'thought' everyone charged) but it's another good step in the right direction of helping customers with the little things in life.

Although I did make the comment 'in a friendly way' that VM don't actually do themselves any favours by not going out of their way to mass publicise things and just expect people to pick-up these goodies by scanning their web-site.

But yes, early days yet, so will have to wait and see what happens.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: jid on March 26, 2015, 08:57:04 AM
Action Direct are not far from me and quite a big employer in Bridgend. Short contracts and rubbish pay was what I heard last.

Good luck with them Of, seems you may have solved the nuisance calling for now :)
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: broadstairs on March 26, 2015, 09:59:59 AM
I thought Caller ID was free as it helps with unwanted or nuisance calls. TT dont charge.

Stuart
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: AArdvark on March 26, 2015, 12:46:30 PM
Quote
it helps with unwanted or nuisance calls.

Which is why you usually pay for it. Captive market !!!. [TT are using it as a enticement to go with them]
Allow anyone to 'mass market' to your customers or so they say !!. Make money. Ka-Ching  ;D
Thought process: If you want to deal with all the marketing and scam calls you have got to 'cross my palm with silver' Ka-ching.  ;D
Laugh all the way to the bank. [Don't get me started on the Banks ......  >:( ;D )
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on March 26, 2015, 02:30:18 PM
Well so-far since contacting them I haven't had any more calls from them, but now the caller ID is free I have bought one of those call number blockers from ebay, the price was not to bad compared with some of them '£15.30 with P&P' and should be arriving tomorrow, but obviously only time will tell and we will have to wait and see.

I'm not sure although I don't think this particular one will allow me to input numbers manually, which will be a shame really because I have a small list of callers originating from asia from last year, so if and when it starts again I'll just have to wait before being able to block any-more of their calls.

It's unfortunate that the Panasonic phone quad phone set I already have does not have the call blocking facility, although I did also leave a £25 bid on a triple set of BT phones, but just been notified of being out bid.

Who knows, maybe the answer is not to ignore them at the beginning, 'even though they are such a pain in the proverbial back-side'
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on December 06, 2015, 01:43:15 AM
Well I thought I would tag this onto this thread seeing as it concerns Virgin Media.

What is it they say, you get nothing for nothing.

Yesterday I received a letter from Virgin Media telling me that from February 2016 they will be increasing my monthly fee by £4.49, which will mean my basic payment goes from £26.58 to £30.80, which is just over a 17% increase.
This is for a basic internet, telephone line rental is paid annually so is not included in the above payment and my TV package is also the lowest package and was informed as it's just the basic Freeview package it is FREE, so that will make my internet £30.80 pm.

So thanks Virgin Media for the upcoming free upgrade to 75mbs but after February I doubt if it will be of any use, simply because this is one more customer you will be losing.

*******************
Edit.
No-doubt this is the consequence of the free upgrade that I mentioned in a earlier thread.

http://forum.kitz.co.uk/index.php?topic=16348.new;topicseen#new
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on December 25, 2015, 04:59:03 PM
Well that's it, signed, sealed, and now just waiting for delivery on 11th January 2016.

Yes GOODBYE Virgin Media and hello TalkTalk.

With Virgin Media's proposed increase in February it would have meant my monthly bill was a minimum of £44.73 against my new bill of just £21.45. (both included 24/7 free calls to 01 & 02 numbers)

Yes I know the BB is not the same or maybe even anywhere near as fast but I do not need VMs speed any longer.

On a slightly different note, I found yesterday 'by accident' that Virgin Media has included a few more extra channels, no doubt just for the holiday period as they do from time-to-time, but annoyingly they never inform anyone when they do such things, maybe they could have let people know when they sent out the email notifying us that our bill was ready, but no, they can't be bothered.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: burakkucat on December 25, 2015, 06:26:38 PM
Just wondering which type of broadband service you have taken. ADSL2+ or VDSL2 based?  :-\

I have had a TT service for over eight & a half years and have no cause to consider "going elsewhere".  :)
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on December 25, 2015, 06:43:32 PM
I don't know which type or what the difference is (ADSL2+ or VDSL2), although I'm not expecting things to go without a hitch, because in-spite of telling the helpline operator my existing phone is through cable, and the BT socket in the house has never been connected in the street box, but we'll have to wait and see what happens on that score on the day, although I mentioned it a few times I was assured there will not be a connection fee, which was one of the reasons for not switching in the past when they wanted £150 to connect the BT line, which at the time would have wiped out any saving in switching so just put up with Virgin.
If things do go without a hitch, then that will be a bonus.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: Black Sheep on December 25, 2015, 09:12:14 PM
I highly suspect you are not on your own, OF ?? This mythical 'need for speed' IMHO, is driven by obsessives and pedants.

I'm not talking about individuals such as Weaver (hope he doesn't mind the reference ??), who are limited due to geographical constraints. I'm on about Mr Average who lives in a terraced house a few hundred yards from the street DSLAM.
They are for the most part more than happy with the VDSL2 speeds they get, especially for the price they get it for.

This constant call by the few for Gigabit FTTP, would not be required by the masses ............ especially when the tariff is observed by the EU. 

Glad you've halved your outgoings OF, a frugal move indeed.  :) :)
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on December 25, 2015, 09:21:02 PM
One of the other problems with these speed upgrades is that as with Virgin Media 'following court mandates' blocks most of the sites that 'if I was still pirating' would still want to use, even though the use of a VPN bypasses that problem for downloading the actual torrent.

As for receiving email, well 2 seconds of 22 seconds would not make any difference, but obviously there are times when speed may be required, but for me not now very often.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: burakkucat on December 25, 2015, 10:06:57 PM
I don't know which type or what the difference is (ADSL2+ or VDSL2),

A TT ADSL2+ service will originate from their own MSAN, installed in your local telephone exchange. A VDSL2 service will originate from an Openreach MSAN, configured as a DSLAM, and contained in one of those ubiquitous green cabinets.

So a TT ADSL2+ service will be up to 24 Mbps DS, whereas the TT VDSL2 service could either be up to 40/2 Mbps DS/US or up to 80/20 Mbps DS/US.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on December 25, 2015, 10:28:47 PM
In which case as my speed will be 'upto' 17mbps I guess  it might be the ADSL2+ connection, but TBH providing I can receive emails, surf the net, book my holidays and a bit of on-line banking then I should be adequately taken care of.

My only other concern at the moment is if my 8 port (Gigabit Ethernet Switch Model GS605) switch box will be suitable, but at a guess I'm thinking it will be, if not, again not to worry as it pushes me to go ahead and reduce/downsize my equipment which is also something else I want to do.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: burakkucat on December 25, 2015, 11:37:26 PM
My only other concern at the moment is if my 8 port (Gigabit Ethernet Switch Model GS605) switch box will be suitable, but at a guess I'm thinking it will be, . . .

There will be not be a problem with whatever equipment that you decide to connect to your LAN.  :) 

It will be interesting to know which modem/router TT will provide. (When I joined, the only service available was G.Dmt -- up to 8 Mbps DS -- and I was given a Huawei SmartAX MT882. It's now in a drawer, in the grotto.)
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on December 25, 2015, 11:54:32 PM
Thanks for all the reassurances, obviously it's now just a waiting game and I'll update when everything is up and running.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on January 15, 2016, 12:00:46 AM
Well TalkTalk phone and BB installed and now both running.

Obviously a bit of a difference with my UP/DL speed, BTH I've not really noticed it so far, however going from 50mbps with VM down to at the moment '5.5mbps' and a upload of .75mbps (both avg speeds taken of 2 tests 3 days apart)

However, only one complaint so-far, logging into my online 'My Account' has not been possible and the help assistant in India says they are having a problem with their web-site and to try again in 24 to 48 hours time, but I think I may have been talking with the newest recruit because of the way he kept repeating details exactly from I assume his script because he could not reset my password which I had already tried twice.

My only other problem was with my CCTV cameras because I needed to change the internal IPs back to 192.168.1.x and had forgotten how to so 'blundered' away for two days trying the same thing over and over then by accident it all fell into place which then reminded me of how to do it, yea,
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: kitz on January 19, 2016, 10:53:26 PM
Oh my... havent you been with VM since the year dot?
Welcome to the joys of adsl.  ;D
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on January 19, 2016, 11:29:19 PM
Yes, year dot, now going to throw away the string and tin cans.

VM offered me a full years free line rental plus a price match of £21.40 instead of what was going to be in February £43+ to stay with them 'after' I had made the decision to move.

Although I'm not saying the changeover went as smooth as I would have liked because today was the first time I have managed to log into My Account, due to a stupid setting they have that if you do not put a mobile phone number onto the system it does not recognise either the original or changed password, 'damn stupid' not forgetting after 2 on-line chats and 2 telephone chats none of the helpline people knew  or suggested this was my login problem, yes I discovered it myself, 'albeit by accident'
But so-far I have not been inconvenienced by my drop down to 5.5 mbps (should be 12+) from 50mbps

*************************
I wonder if and when the nightmare of switching will end?

Today I received a bill from Virgin Media for £53+ which is also nearly double my normal bill of £26.58 + Line rental which was paid in advance until next April.

So 'EVENTUALLY' having telephoned a local VM shop in order to get a phone number for VM (because they no longer seem to advertise any helpline numbers on the bills or on their website) it now turns out that I shouldn't actually be paying anything and in February I should/might even receive a pound or two credit.

If of any use they are: 01752200669 & 08000521920 (Both being freephone numbers)


However, the word of warning for anyone thinking of switching from and to 'ANY' provider is first of all check if you need to give the obligatory 30 day notice to quit.

Then make sure the company you are going to does not start your new contract until your old company and the notice period that has been given is about to expire, or else, as in my instance apart from my phone line which is not only cut off because of porting the number to my new supplier but also no refund on the upfront payment, but my BB and TV although the equipment has been disconnected (by myself) the service is still live and being paid for until the 3rd February because of not giving the 30 day notice early enough.
Obviously there may be times when this is not possible.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on January 08, 2017, 05:41:58 PM
Just a quick update on my switch-over,

Speed-wise I have never achieved anything over 6MBps (download) and definitely nowhere near their estimated 'up-to 18mbps

BUT with no longer needing high speeds for downloading I seem to have coped quite well apart from the more recent constant drop-outs which seem to last for hours at a time over (although mainly just over the last few weeks) so don't know if it's anything to do with any software updates from TalkTalk.
But the cost saving has been tremendous and ALL the FREE phone calls (mobile and Land-line) has certainly been a hefty saving.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: niemand on January 09, 2017, 01:05:10 PM
There's no money in competing with offers like that. If TalkTalk want to lose money by eating the Openreach install charge and then charging next to nothing for the rest that's their call. VM and others are far better leaving that market alone, which they do a lot more now  :)
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on January 21, 2017, 01:27:53 AM
It's only fair that I update on my previous comment/s especially any where I may have rubbished TalkTalk and with threats of leaving.
I was on FB having a gripe on the TalkTalk page and well eventually a engineer was booked to come out after their second on-line test finally found a fault which turned out to be with a piece of equipment I own 'a Pro Call Blocker' is what they have said has a fault which was possibly building up with fault until the only way it was cleared was after I reset the modem/router, and so-far it's now been a week without any drop-out problems, so back to a more stable connection, although nothing can be done with the 'up-to' 18 mbps speed and will have to put up with my sow stable 6 and a bit mbps connection.

So as per usual not so much operator error but in this case operators equipment error.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: niemand on January 28, 2017, 05:34:22 PM
If it was a BT engineer you may well be liable for the cost of the visit. Be aware.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on January 28, 2017, 05:39:24 PM
Yes thanks I am aware and possibly expecting the £68 charge the BT engineer said they actually charge TalkTalk more than that so it must be subsidised. But at least it's so far resolved the problem so will reluctantly accept the charge if It comes through, but still no sign of it. Maybe my luck is still holding out!
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: NewtronStar on April 19, 2017, 07:58:52 PM
Mr Oldfogy have the same product and an ISP also found the same fault they called it a Loop fault and once removed the test they were doing cleared after removing the CPR call blocker, so what is a loop fault and how is the call blocker effecting the line or master socket.
Title: Re: Latest Virgin Media 'Freebie'
Post by: oldfogy on April 20, 2017, 11:04:13 PM
Sorry I don't know the answer to your comment, but since removing the call blocker the problem went away, and yes the bill did eventually arrive the following month