your views on the takeover with virgin media?

Question

since telewest, ntl etc have combined to make up virgin media i have noticed a sharp increase in services from this company.
my main bug bearer at the mo is being charged £5 a month payment handling charge which i think is a disagrace, as thats £60 pa. but what i dont understand how can they take £5pm payment handling charge if most people pay there virgin media bill via payment with pay point and there for is done automatic via computers.
i would like to hear peoples views on this matter or any other problems that they are recieving

Answer 1

I think sky are being bullies with virgin media. The loss of the channels has really annoyed me. Boycott sky, who's with me?

Answer 2

Firstly it is just a change of name, rather than a takeover, and an intended improvement in customer services.
Contrary to what first answer said, the Sky movies, and sports channels are not going.
I think the £5 charge for non direct debit, is too expensive, especially as many people who haven't got bank accounts are worse off than most with bank accounts. The charge goes up 200 % if it is paid late, which means some are paying £15 a month for paying. But they have a right to charge for late payment, and they should be encouraging early payment by charging less than they are.
I like the free on demand programmes, there are more on the on-demand button than on Virgin Central channel.

Answer 3

Poorer service, more expensive, and now the loss of our most watched channel. Our household has been making enquiries with BSkyB, a switchover may be imminent.
We've been with Birmingham Cable, who changed into Telewest, who changed into NTL/Telewest, who changed into VirginMedia and while our inital service was good, each takeover has seen a reduction in the quality of the service from picture quality to "extras" such as the EPG (so often there is "no information available") and being unable to reach customer services.
As Virgin didn't see fit to consult us about what we would like to do about the Sky Channels I now rate their customer service as zero; we had to find out about the problem from reading newspapers and billboards, not direct from our supplier.

Answer 4

I wont be taking sides because people will be swindled in the deal by one or the other. I have got a rented TV from Box Clever and getting BBC1 BBC2 Meridian and Ch 4 and a year ot two they'll be going digital and I hope I can still watch all channels.

Answer 5

The next increase with Sky or VIrgin i'm on freeview

Answer 6

I DIDNT REALISE THAT THEY WERE TAKING THIS MONEY, THANKS.
WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS VIRGIN MEDIA ARE LOSING ALL THE SKY CHANNELS AS THERE IS SOME SORT OF ARGUMENT. LOST- SKY 1, SKY 2, SKY SPORTS NEWS, SKY NEWS. SOON TO GO- ALL SKY SPORTS CHANNELS, ALL SKY MOVIES. DISGRACE. I WILL NOT BE CONTINUING WITH VIRGIN BUT CHANGING TO SKY I THINK.
JUST NOW SKY DO TV, TELEPHONE ND BRODBAND FOR £26 PER MONTH

Answer 7

i will be botcotting sky even though virgin are charging this money -- i think once everything is sorted we will have a better deal if we stick with virgin -- i hope so anyway!