The recent row between Virgin Media and Sky, which resulted in Sky removing some of its channels from Virgin Media packages, led to an investigation being carried out by regulatory body Ofcom. Following this investigation, Virgin Media stated that customers that wished to cancel their contracts based upon this loss of service could do so without charge. However, Virgin Media stated that this offer was only open until the end of March, meaning existing customers will now have to honour their contracts.
Consumers that are still phoning Virgin wanting to cancel their contracts because of what they consider to be a reduced service are being offered improved services and freebies – a bid by Virgin to avoid losing customers on mass as a result of the loss of Sky channels. The Sky channels, including Sky News and Sky One, were removed from Virgin Media packages after a row erupted over how much Virgin would and should pay for these Sky channels.
Although Virgin is now stating that customers will have to honour their contracts, the company is offering improved services to those that threaten to cancel. This includes improved television packages and upgrades, and for those that do not want to change their television package, Virgin are offering upgrades on broadband services, which could mean faster Internet speeds at no extra cost.
Virgin have also recently promised that it will be doubling the speed of its top Internet package, which is a move that is set to take place in around May. The current top speed of 10MB will be doubled to 20MB, which is a move that could persuade some unhappy customers to stick with Virgin Media rather than to go elsewhere.
Yvan Bamping of broadband review and price comparison site http://www.broadband-
