I took on VirginMedia - and I won!

[hogen-deifar]

As it says in the title!

I won't bore you too much with the details, but as a lot of you know they're crap (IMHO, of course!! )

I've been with them since April last year and they've never got a bill right, the date right, the amount right blah, blah, blah. I finally had a two hour conversation with someone at the end of October and refused to budge and various things were agreed.

I asked for everything we'd agreed in writing because previous so called managers hadn't made notes of our conversations and agreements (despite me keeping a diary of all conversations and contents so if I'd taken it to court I would've put a good case forward). The guy did. His email contents were slightly ambiguous, so about 5 emails later I got everything I wanted, crystal clear, in writing.

They still got it wrong!!! (Yeah, shocker, I know )

After a further 7 phone conversations and forwarding information on to senior managers I finally took a call tonight confirming that I can be released from my contract and as of 15 February I'm free of the living hell that being with VirginMedia has been.

Please anyone, think twice about using this company. None of them are perfect, but they are by far the worst I've come across so far. And I know for a fact there's others from here who'd agree with me!

The moral to this story? Stand your ground against the big guys, if you feel you've been mistreated. Don't let them bully you and throw legal jargon at you. Make a decision what you want (taking into consideration fairness to them because they are still a firm out to make a profit) and don't give up if you're in the right over something. Most companies know a lot of people will back down and that's what they're counting on.

Good luck with your fights against this sort of thing! You can win, if you stick with it!

[mala]

power too the people.

[Scu-bamboo]

good on you!
can't wait till i have to deal wioth all this sort of boring stuff..bills an what not...

xx

[Gram43]

We bought a kitchen from MFI and had it fitted by their contractors and it took 4 months for them to complete the job.
They owed us about £50 for parts they'd over estimated for but wouldn't pick up and they offered in total just over £100 in compensation. So, I reported them to the furniture ombudsman with a 5 page diary of events to back up my complaint and we got considerably more in compo back.

So, here's to you and those of us who aren't scared to take these crap companies on. Good on ya!

[Sparky]

Well done you, it's good to stand your ground and win in the end.

[Moray Brown]

or did they, as they've kept you in contract until only two months away from your min 12 months

[Letz]

Well done

That's brilliant

I concur that they are the devil's spermicidal lubricant, they have caused me a lot of problems and I have heard the same from many others.

Good for you

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by Gram43

So, I reported them to the furniture ombudsman with a 5 page diary of events to back up my complaint and we got considerably more in compo back.

The "Furniture Ombudsman"? Bizarre, looks like there are now jobs doing just about anything and everything..

What other ombudsmen do they have?

I was thinking that maybe an "Duff Airfills Ombudsman" could be handy too.

[hogen-deifar]

Originally Posted by Moray Brown

or did they, as they've kept you in contract until only two months away from your min 12 months

Yeah I do think I've achieved something. I know someone from here who never agreed to anything and they found themselves entered into another 12 month contract that Virgin are refusing to allow them out of.

If you've ever dealt with Virgin Media you'll understand that getting out of a contract with them is nearly impossible. Even if you wait until the end of the term of contract and submit the 30 days notice. I've know people who have done everything the "right" way and have been threatened with court action for payments of unpaid bills that were charged AFTER the notice expired. They've had it noted for non payment on their credit report too, so that's given them a slightly adverse credit history.

Personally I'm waiting for that stage of the game!!! However, I've told the manager when it finishes on 15 February I want an email from him telling me what my full and final bill is and that once I've been paid there is nothing more due. As long as I get this IF they took me to court I'd let them, because I've got all the documentary evidence to get it kicked out by the judge. I've nothing to lose on this respect, so I'll happily let them take me! Because I know I'll be in the right and they in the wrong! Then I'll seek compensation!

See, don't mess with me VirginMedia!!!

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by hogen-deifar

so I'll happily let them take me!

No point in being taken by a Virgin. Better with someone who knows what they're doing.