Good news! Virgin Media "made up" with Sky.. after almost two years of mucking subscribers about, you can now get basic Sky channels like Sky 1. Considering that you have been paying for them all along.. it's about bloody time. Bad news! Virgin Media still sucks.. and most of all.. Set Top Box Hell!If you're a Virgin Media subscriber, you may well know all about this already.. your set-top box develops a fault, so you ring Virgin Media and eventually an engineer may turn up to replace the box.. with another faulty box! I have personally seen an engineer turn up with TEN replacement Pace boxes of which only one worked.. and then only for a week. The reason? Virgin Media attempts to save money by reissuing used boxes.. without being aware that the boxes may be faulty! The problem? Well, it's a case of good news and bad news again.. the good news is that you don't have to pay for your set-top box (unlike Sky where you have to buy it).. the bad news is that Virgin can't afford to give you a new one! Is it any wonder that people end up buying their own set top boxes? And don't forget....the poor sod that they send round (repeatedly) to try and fix your cable service. Even the engineers hate Virgin Media. What can you do?You can always get a satellite dish and subscribe to Sky.. but you have to buy the equipment and some satellite fitters are.. well.. cowboys. Or.. you can screw a discount out of Virgin Media for their crappy service. Contact Virgin Media's cancellation line (see here for the numbers) and explain that you are thinking about cancelling your account due to the withdrawal of these channels. Either demand a discount there and then, or simply downgrade your package to the one you want. If you just want a basic broadband and TV package that should be no more than £20 per month, rather than the rip-off £60, £80 or more that some customers are charged. When talking to the Virgin Media agent: remember - be polite but firm, it's not the fault of the person on the other end. The Retention Department is authorised to make you an offer to keep you, which could be a reduction of £10 per month or more.. if the agent can't help you, then ask to speak to their supervisor who will probably have more options. And although Sky is not the greatest company in the world (neither are Virgin), you'll find that they are actually cheaper.. although be aware that for some of these services you'll need a BT line for which line rental will be payable. What's the solution?Virgin Media try to do too much.. and fail. No other media company tries to make programmes, run TV channels, wholly manage and ISP and then owns (and has to pay for) the entire transmission system. The cable network itself needs to be sold off and run as a separate utility - Virgin Media should concentrate on either the delivery network and wholesale ISP business or the programming side with the retail ISP business. VM's cable network should be opened to competition - and VM should have access to rival's delivery systems too. Isn't the free market about choice? virginmediasucks at virginmediasucks dot com Trademarks are owned by their respective owners. I am not affiliated with anyone, not am I connected with any sites mentioned here. I am just a pissed off Virgin Media subscriber. Note to lawyers: I am very well aware of WIPO regulations and trademark laws so please don't send any pointless threatening letters. |