Page 1 of VirginMedia contract - what would you do?

Last month my mum and I decided to get Tivo so she could keep the existing box for her bedroom (Freeview reception is dire and this is a cheaper option than a new aerial).

The man in the shop said it would be just an extra £3 per month as it`s free to keep the original box.

The contract arrived and the price is £12 extra instead (£3 of which is Tivo, £9 is incorrectly billing for the additional box). The contract doesn`t have to be returned, but it does have to be signed and kept.

I rang up to challenge it last Tuesday, and the customer service agent said that on his screen it definitely showed the correct price (+£3). I asked for this in writing and he said he`d send a printout of his billing screen (still waiting). I rang again on Thursday and asked for an actual revised contract instead (not arrived either), and again an advisor said he`d do this and that the bill was correct on his screen. He said the reason for the error is that the system shows we don`t currently have a TV service, even though it states we do on the contract and lists "additional box discount" (without taking any money off the total).

So now the contract started from today, installation is Thursday.

I want to go back to the shop to ask for something in writing, but is that worth it (ie worth it to go ahead and let them install it) or should the whole agreement just be cancelled and then try again?

When I get stuff like that on the phone or contract renewals where they advise me they`ve agreed online, I tend to send a letter recorded delivery stating that the contract shows the incorrect information and the deal should be etc etc, as has been confirmed in telephone conversation.

If you do not agree to this could you please confirm in writing within 14days from the date of this letter.


I tend to always get a quick resposne to those letters, even when it`s agreeing.

Been burned too many times by phone disputes (especially with mobile phone operators).



www.last.fm/user/1mills

Thanks, have written them a letter. Hopefully I get a response.

I`m going to take a copy to town and see if the VM shop will add a note to it or something.

.....and the Virgin Tivo looks an amazing bit of kit.

Ste

Salesman said the contract is wrong and then rang customer services himself to query it, they verified that the original agreememt was what`s showing on the account, and the store manager then said he`d vouch for us if there was a billing issue (I added all this to the letter). But he wasn`t allowed to put it in writing. :(

So I`ll just have to keep my fingers crossed that it`s all OK when the bill comes in the next week or so. It`s spoiling the excitement of getting Tivo!

It does look really good, and it was easy to use when I had a play in the shop. The only thing that I`m not happy about in the spec is that you can`t set reminders on it, only recordings. It outputs in 14:9, I think the TV (CRT) can manage that, apparently the picture through Scart isn`t fantastic, but it`s not like we`ll have this TV forever.