Virgin Media premium rate help line - take action now

As has been discussed elsewhere, Virgin Media are changing their
broadband helpline to a premium rate number.

This is clearly ludicrous, frankly I object to paying a company to
report a fault with their service.
- i.e. the worse their service, the more money we pay.

It's very simple to complain to Offcom at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/internet/issues/phone/

Sample complaint text :-
"I received an email today from Virgin Media stating that as of the
1st July, if I wish to report a fault with my broadband service, I
will have to call a premium rate phone line.
The following web site details this change :-
http://www.virginmedia.com/help/broa...ine-number.php

I feel it is completely unfair and unjustified to expect me to pay a
company to report a fault with their service."

I'd hope the more complaints Offcom receive, the more likely they'd be
to take action.

In message <(E-Mail Removed). com>,
xscope <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>As has been discussed elsewhere, Virgin Media are changing their
>broadband helpline to a premium rate number.
>
>This is clearly ludicrous, frankly I object to paying a company to
>report a fault with their service.
>- i.e. the worse their service, the more money we pay.

That makes perfect sense - if the service is worse it clearly needs
money spent on it and how better to raise the money than from the people
who are affected. (-:

--
dave @ stejonda

"xscope" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) ups.com...
> As has been discussed elsewhere, Virgin Media are changing their
> broadband helpline to a premium rate number.
>
> This is clearly ludicrous, frankly I object to paying a company to
> report a fault with their service.
> - i.e. the worse their service, the more money we pay.
>
> It's very simple to complain to Offcom at
> http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/internet/issues/phone/
>
> Sample complaint text :-
> "I received an email today from Virgin Media stating that as of the
> 1st July, if I wish to report a fault with my broadband service, I
> will have to call a premium rate phone line.

You will be amazed t how many faults will appear - in order to raise revenue
at regular intervals. companies have a projected earnings figure and set
unrealistic targets, so this is ideal !
If you need to complain, send Virgin an email and then report them to
www.ispa.org.uk and let them deal with it. They will contact Virgin and
Virgin will phone you back. Virgin will soon get sick of it and if they
mess people about too much they will be fined.

On Sat, 16 Jun 2007 10:49:56 -0700, xscope wrote:

> It's very simple to complain to Offcom at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/internet/issues/phone/

Done !!
--
Regards,

Hugh Jampton

"dave @ stejonda" <no$spam!delete&abuse%(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in
message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> In message <(E-Mail Removed). com>, xscope
> <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>>As has been discussed elsewhere, Virgin Media are changing their
>>broadband helpline to a premium rate number.
>>
>>This is clearly ludicrous, frankly I object to paying a company to
>>report a fault with their service.
>>- i.e. the worse their service, the more money we pay.
>
> That makes perfect sense - if the service is worse it clearly needs money
> spent on it and how better to raise the money than from the people who are
> affected. (-:
>
> --
> dave @ stejonda

Well what the ISPs forget to mention is that they have strict service
agreements and support from manufacturers. So if a piece of equipment is
broken it is replaced within hours. Unfortunately ISPs string it out and
make sure people call a premium rate number.
Some also make sure that there is a regular pattern to faults, like the ISP
I use. If only people would resist the temptation to call them and just
email instead, then report them to ISPA.

Jay wrote:
> "dave @ stejonda" <no$spam!delete&abuse%(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> In message <(E-Mail Removed). com>,
>> xscope <(E-Mail Removed)> writes
>>> As has been discussed elsewhere, Virgin Media are changing their
>>> broadband helpline to a premium rate number.
>>>
>>> This is clearly ludicrous, frankly I object to paying a company to
>>> report a fault with their service.
>>> - i.e. the worse their service, the more money we pay.
>>
>> That makes perfect sense - if the service is worse it clearly
>> needs money spent on it and how better to raise the money than
>> from the people who are affected. (-:
>>
>> --
>> dave @ stejonda
>
> Well what the ISPs forget to mention is that they have strict
> service agreements and support from manufacturers. So if a piece
> of equipment is broken it is replaced within hours. Unfortunately
> ISPs string it out and make sure people call a premium rate number.
> Some also make sure that there is a regular pattern to faults, like
> the ISP I use. If only people would resist the temptation to call
> them and just email instead, then report them to ISPA.

A little bit difficult to do if your connection isn't working

xscope wrote:
> As has been discussed elsewhere, Virgin Media are changing their
> broadband helpline to a premium rate number.
>
> This is clearly ludicrous, frankly I object to paying a company to
> report a fault with their service.
> - i.e. the worse their service, the more money we pay.
>
> It's very simple to complain to Offcom at http://www.ofcom.org.uk/complain/internet/issues/phone/
>
> Sample complaint text :-
> "I received an email today from Virgin Media stating that as of the
> 1st July, if I wish to report a fault with my broadband service, I
> will have to call a premium rate phone line.
> The following web site details this change :-
> http://www.virginmedia.com/help/broa...ine-number.php
>
> I feel it is completely unfair and unjustified to expect me to pay a
> company to report a fault with their service."
>
> I'd hope the more complaints Offcom receive, the more likely they'd be
> to take action.
>

Far better to vote with your cash and go elsewhere me thinks

A

>>
>
> Far better to vote with your cash and go elsewhere me thinks
>
> A


I think that is what Ofcom will say. It is a free market go to someone else
who does not charge.

xscope wrote:
> This is clearly ludicrous, frankly I object to paying a company to
> report a fault with their service.

So would I, but then it's a good job you won't have to, isn't it.

I assume you're a VM customer - If not, why would you be complaining - so
you should know that, as has already been stated clearly in their
newsgroups, any call where it turns-out to be a VM fault and not your own
equipment, then the call chare will be refunded.

Of course, missing that vital fact out doesn't help your case against the
company, does it!


--
Carl Waring
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On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 09:23:13 GMT, "Carl Waring"
<(E-Mail Removed)> unleashed the following:

>So would I, but then it's a good job you won't have to, isn't it.
>
>I assume you're a VM customer - If not, why would you be complaining - so
>you should know that, as has already been stated clearly in their
>newsgroups, any call where it turns-out to be a VM fault and not your own
>equipment, then the call chare will be refunded.
>
>Of course, missing that vital fact out doesn't help your case against the
>company, does it!

Once again I will point out to you that nowhere in their official e-mail
do they mention anything about a refund.
Support have only said you might "at their discretion".
--
Geordie
Abandon the search for Truth; settle for a good fantasy.