VIRGIN is set to increase the cost of its broadband and TV packages by an average of £56.40 a year from tomorrow, as the cost of living crisis continues to hit Brits.
It is the second time the telecoms provider has announced higher prices in the past two years.
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The change will affect millions of broadband and TV customers, and although Virgin Media wouldn’t confirm the smallest and largest price increases customers face, it said the average increase would be £4.70 per month.
A Virgin Media spokesperson said: “While we recognise a price change is never welcome, with rising costs and our customers using their services more than ever, we are reviewing our pricing to fuel further investment in our network and services, both now and in the future.
“We’re committed to providing brilliant services and excellent overall value, and consistently give our customers more for their money than anyone else.”
How do I know how much I’ll be charged?
Virgin has contacted every customer who will be affected via email, so if you are a broadband or TV customer you should have received notification.
The price hike will be applied to all customers using Virgin Media broadband, TV or home phone packages.
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The actual increase you receive depends on the package you’re signed up to.
So almost all customers will see their bills increase, but there will be an exception for the following groups:
What can I do about the price hike?
Unlike other providers such as BT, Plusnet and EE, which have added an annual price increase of 3.9% above the rate of inflation to their terms and conditions, Virgin’s price rise isn’t set out in its contracts.
That means customers could have cancelled their contract after finding out about their bill rise without an exit fee.
Unfortunately, the deadline for cancelling your contract was 15 February, so that is no longer an option.
You are now left with two options, but neither involve a guarantee that you’ll be able to reduce your current bill:
- Negotiate the terms of your contract with Virgin Media in the hope of receiving an better deal
- Stick with your current deal, if it still happens to be the best value offer that you can find
Last month it emerged that Virgin Media was offering automated discounts to cable customers who were put on hold when calling up seeking a price cut.
Some users secured even better deals if they stayed on the line and haggle in person.
We don’t know if this is still the case, but it is worth ringing Virgin Media to see if you can negotiate a lower price.
What if I’m out of contract?
As well as this year’s price rise, if you’ve been in your current contract with Virgin Media for more than 18 months, you’ll probably be paying much more expensive “out of contract” fees.
This is because when your fixed-term contract ends, your provider is able to increase your monthly prices.
However, you’re also free to cancel your contract and switch to a new provider at any time.
If your contract with Virgin Media has ended, you should have received an end of contract notification in the post or via email detailing your new charges.
You can visit price comparison websites such as USwitch or Compare the Market to find a better deal.
If you’d like to contact Virgin Media — whether that’s to negotiate an improved deal, double check whether you’re affected or just to find out more information — you can get in touch with its customer services team.
- Speak to Virgin Media’s customer services by calling 0345 454 1111 for free. Opening hours are Monday-Friday 7am-11pm, and Saturday-Sunday 8am-8pm
- Sign in to your Virgin Media account on its website
- Get in touch with a customer representative at Virgin Media through its Live Chat feature
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