Virgin trying to pull a fast-one?

Hi

I'm with Virgin BB and I received information about my (first) direct-debit
payment, the agreement was £24.99 a month, however this is now not the case.

I've attached all correspondence so far, I still can't work out what they
are saying, are they trying to pull one over on me? Whether or not, I will
be ringing them next week, just wondering if any of the below makes sense,
cos it doesn't to me!

Thanks
Kev

*attached email*
----------- last message by me ------------------------

I still don't understand what you mean.

My broadband was active from the activation date, my DD is £24.99 a month,
nothing more, nothing less.

Again, please explain, and this time make some sense and give me the facts,
not if's and buts.

Kev
----- Original Message -----
From: <(E-Mail Removed)>
To: <(E-Mail Removed)>
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 3:02 PM
Subject: RE:Re: RE:Fw: Direct Debit Advance Notice [#2602788]


>
> Dear Customer.
>
> if your broadbands active for more then the 30days then you get charged
extra (pro rata days) for the extra few days
>
>
>
> --Original Message--
> From: (E-Mail Removed)
> Date: 04/10/04
> To: (E-Mail Removed)
> Subject: Re: RE:Fw: Direct Debit Advance Notice [#2602788]
>
> My DD is £24.99 a month, every 7th of the month.
>
> Please explain.
>
> Thanks
> Kev
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <(E-Mail Removed)>
> To: <(E-Mail Removed)>
> Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 7:41 PM
> Subject: RE:Fw: Direct Debit Advance Notice [#2602788]
>
>
> >
> > Hi
> >
> > The payment is for your broadband account with virgin.net.
> >
> > Kind regards
> > shelley
> > virgin.net
> >
> >
> >
> > --Original Message--
> > From: (E-Mail Removed)
> > Date: 04/08/04
> > To: (E-Mail Removed)
> > Subject: Fw: Direct Debit Advance Notice[#2602788]
> >
> > Could you advise me on what the below DD is for?
> >
> > Thank you
> > Kevin Lawrence
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Alison Driscoll" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> > To: "Mr Kevin Lawrence" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> > Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 10:12 AM
> > Subject: Direct Debit Advance Notice
> >
> >
> > > Dear Mr Kevin Lawrence
> > > Account Number 5609458
> > >
> > > Originators Identification Number 656282
> > >
> > > Payers Account Name: Kevin Lawrence
> > > Payers Reference Number: 100056094587236944
> > >
> > > Notification of payment
> > >
> > > The Direct Debit payment in respect of the above Direct Debit
> Instruction
> > is now due for the
> > > value of £44.15 and will be collected on or immediately after
> 20/04/2004.
> > >
> > > Should you have any queries, our advisors are available to help you on
> > 0845 650 0130
> > > Alternatively you can e-mail us at (E-Mail Removed)
> > >
> > > Thank you for choosing Virgin.LDA.
> > >
> > > Regards
> > >
> > > Alison Driscoll
> > > Virgin.LDA

I'm no DD or Virgin expert, but this seems to be due to the fact although
you went live on the 7th of a month, but they are not taking payment until
the 20th of each month. I think the "extra" balance is for the days between
the 7th and the 20th in the first month of subscription.

I'd expect the DD to be on the 20th of each month from then on for £24.99.

Jc.


"Mantorok" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:d3Zdc.4$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi
>
> I'm with Virgin BB and I received information about my (first)
direct-debit
> payment, the agreement was £24.99 a month, however this is now not the
case.
>
> I've attached all correspondence so far, I still can't work out what they
> are saying, are they trying to pull one over on me? Whether or not, I will
> be ringing them next week, just wondering if any of the below makes sense,
> cos it doesn't to me!
>
> Thanks
> Kev
>
> *attached email*
> ----------- last message by me ------------------------
>
> I still don't understand what you mean.
>
> My broadband was active from the activation date, my DD is £24.99 a month,
> nothing more, nothing less.
>
> Again, please explain, and this time make some sense and give me the
facts,
> not if's and buts.
>
> Kev
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <(E-Mail Removed)>
> To: <(E-Mail Removed)>
> Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 3:02 PM
> Subject: RE:Re: RE:Fw: Direct Debit Advance Notice [#2602788]
>
>
> >
> > Dear Customer.
> >
> > if your broadbands active for more then the 30days then you get charged
> extra (pro rata days) for the extra few days
> >
> >
> >
> > --Original Message--
> > From: (E-Mail Removed)
> > Date: 04/10/04
> > To: (E-Mail Removed)
> > Subject: Re: RE:Fw: Direct Debit Advance Notice [#2602788]
> >
> > My DD is £24.99 a month, every 7th of the month.
> >
> > Please explain.
> >
> > Thanks
> > Kev
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <(E-Mail Removed)>
> > To: <(E-Mail Removed)>
> > Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 7:41 PM
> > Subject: RE:Fw: Direct Debit Advance Notice [#2602788]
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Hi
> > >
> > > The payment is for your broadband account with virgin.net.
> > >
> > > Kind regards
> > > shelley
> > > virgin.net
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --Original Message--
> > > From: (E-Mail Removed)
> > > Date: 04/08/04
> > > To: (E-Mail Removed)
> > > Subject: Fw: Direct Debit Advance Notice[#2602788]
> > >
> > > Could you advise me on what the below DD is for?
> > >
> > > Thank you
> > > Kevin Lawrence
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Alison Driscoll" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> > > To: "Mr Kevin Lawrence" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> > > Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 10:12 AM
> > > Subject: Direct Debit Advance Notice
> > >
> > >
> > > > Dear Mr Kevin Lawrence
> > > > Account Number 5609458
> > > >
> > > > Originators Identification Number 656282
> > > >
> > > > Payers Account Name: Kevin Lawrence
> > > > Payers Reference Number: 100056094587236944
> > > >
> > > > Notification of payment
> > > >
> > > > The Direct Debit payment in respect of the above Direct Debit
> > Instruction
> > > is now due for the
> > > > value of £44.15 and will be collected on or immediately after
> > 20/04/2004.
> > > >
> > > > Should you have any queries, our advisors are available to help you
on
> > > 0845 650 0130
> > > > Alternatively you can e-mail us at (E-Mail Removed)
> > > >
> > > > Thank you for choosing Virgin.LDA.
> > > >
> > > > Regards
> > > >
> > > > Alison Driscoll
> > > > Virgin.LDA
>
>

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 21:47:45 +0100, "Mantorok" <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I'm with Virgin BB and I received information about my (first) direct-debit
>payment, the agreement was £24.99 a month, however this is now not the case.

So on 20/04/2004 they are going to take £44.15 as your first payment
by direct debit. This surely includes the arrears element and the
advance payment for the next month, thereafter £24.99 per month in
advance.

What was your live date?

--
Hiram Hackenbacker

"Hiram Hackenbacker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 21:47:45 +0100, "Mantorok" <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
> >I'm with Virgin BB and I received information about my (first)
direct-debit
> >payment, the agreement was £24.99 a month, however this is now not the
case.
>
> So on 20/04/2004 they are going to take £44.15 as your first payment
> by direct debit. This surely includes the arrears element and the
> advance payment for the next month, thereafter £24.99 per month in
> advance.
>
> What was your live date?

15th March

Kev

On 10/4/04 10:04 pm, in article FiZdc.5$(E-Mail Removed),
"Mantorok" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>
> "Hiram Hackenbacker" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 21:47:45 +0100, "Mantorok" <(E-Mail Removed)>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I'm with Virgin BB and I received information about my (first)
> direct-debit
>>> payment, the agreement was £24.99 a month, however this is now not the
> case.
>>
>> So on 20/04/2004 they are going to take £44.15 as your first payment
>> by direct debit. This surely includes the arrears element and the
>> advance payment for the next month, thereafter £24.99 per month in
>> advance.
>>
>> What was your live date?
>
> 15th March
>
16 days in March, plus 7 days to get to the 7th is 23 days

23/30 = 0.766666

Plus 1 for a full month the times 24,99 = 44.15

Hey presto !

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 22:16:13 +0100, Graham in Melton
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>16 days in March, plus 7 days to get to the 7th is 23 days
>
>23/30 = 0.766666
>
>Plus 1 for a full month the times 24,99 = 44.15
>
>Hey presto !
You are perfectly right here Graham but all the same companies should
state on sign up exactly what your first payment WILL be not say 24
quid and which in the end works out at 44.15.
If you get 44.15 flashing in front of your eyes on complication of
sign up then you have the chance to back out which you cannot do ten
days later when activation has taken place .
Grant .

> >16 days in March, plus 7 days to get to the 7th is 23 days
> >
> >23/30 = 0.766666
> >
> >Plus 1 for a full month the times 24,99 = 44.15
> >
> >Hey presto !
> You are perfectly right here Graham but all the same companies should
> state on sign up exactly what your first payment WILL be not say 24
> quid and which in the end works out at 44.15.
> If you get 44.15 flashing in front of your eyes on complication of
> sign up then you have the chance to back out which you cannot do ten
> days later when activation has taken place .

You aren't paying anything extra - it's just an amortisation of the fraction
of the first month, plus the second month.

Trent SC wrote:
>>>16 days in March, plus 7 days to get to the 7th is 23 days
>>>
>>>23/30 = 0.766666
>>>
>>>Plus 1 for a full month the times 24,99 = 44.15
>>>
>>>Hey presto !
>>
>>You are perfectly right here Graham but all the same companies should
>>state on sign up exactly what your first payment WILL be not say 24
>>quid and which in the end works out at 44.15.
>>If you get 44.15 flashing in front of your eyes on complication of
>>sign up then you have the chance to back out which you cannot do ten
>>days later when activation has taken place .
>
>
> You aren't paying anything extra - it's just an amortisation of the fraction
> of the first month, plus the second month.

Original poster obviously hasn't signed up for a service that involves an
advance billed monthly payment (eg contract mobile, etc), because this is
standard practice IME. To be fair though, some companies explain the "extra"
initial amount better than others.

--
Richard Howlett
(E-Mail Removed)
Mail to "newsgroups" will be rejected.
Mail to my forename will not.

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 22:50:34 GMT, Grant Crozier <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>You are perfectly right here Graham but all the same companies should
>state on sign up exactly what your first payment WILL be not say 24
>quid and which in the end works out at 44.15.
>If you get 44.15 flashing in front of your eyes on complication of
>sign up then you have the chance to back out which you cannot do ten
>days later when activation has taken place .

Most companies will not know the answer when you sign up. It largely
depends upon when the first driect debit will be accepted - how will
they know for sure?

Frankly I have read postings like this in uk.telecom.mobile as well
where people query their first payment. It demonstrates to me how
poor people are when it comes to knowing what they have to pay for a
service. Common sense sadly lacking.

--
Hiram Hackenbacker

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>, Hiram Hackenbacker
said......

> On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 22:50:34 GMT, Grant Crozier <(E-Mail Removed)>
> wrote:
>
> >You are perfectly right here Graham but all the same companies should
> >state on sign up exactly what your first payment WILL be not say 24
> >quid and which in the end works out at 44.15.
> >If you get 44.15 flashing in front of your eyes on complication of
> >sign up then you have the chance to back out which you cannot do ten
> >days later when activation has taken place .
>
> Most companies will not know the answer when you sign up. It largely
> depends upon when the first driect debit will be accepted - how will
> they know for sure?
>
> Frankly I have read postings like this in uk.telecom.mobile as well
> where people query their first payment. It demonstrates to me how
> poor people are when it comes to knowing what they have to pay for a
> service. Common sense sadly lacking.
>
>
I don't think it's a case of people not knowing what they have to pay,
it's more a case of the companies not explaining it clearly since there
is no common hard and fast system that they all use. it all depends on
whether you pay in arrears or advance (not normally mentioned when you
sign up to things. As an e.g I pay my mobile rental in arrears, most
companies charge in advance)
--
Mugwump

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