New Virgin boxes in April?

[visionary]

I'm sure I read something in the mag about Virgin bringing out a non-PVR HD box for upgrading existing users that would be a "free" DIY install if you had their TV "M" package

Can't find the original article and nothing on the Virgin website. Did I dream it?

 

[scene]

I think you mean the Virgin V HD box - click

 

[visionary]

Yeah but no but

The small print on that says it is for new customers only. Perhaps I should threaten to go to Sky unless they give me one

 

[Anonymous]

I got a leaflet about this from Virgin, as an existing subscriber. As you say, there's no install charge if you set it up yourself. It also states that Film4HD launches July. The way the leaflet puts it 'Set up costs £49 plus Standard or QuickStart installation. If you'd like to get up and running quickly yourself, we can send you our QuickStart install pack for free this month with all the kit you need. Bargain'.

I think that means there's still a £49 charge for the unit itself.

 

[Anonymous]

I tried to get one for my bedroom as my standard box was faulty. They wouldnt give it for free. As its new theres a definate £49 charge for the box. Im not too fussed as there very little HD on Virgin anyway and the box is rather ugly!

The new Samsung V+ box is excellent though. Very responsive and matches the gloss black of the rest of my blu ray and Wii nicely!

 

[f1only]

The charge is a one off £49 I have one BUT you are then put on to the M+ contract for which you get only 3 HD channels & this costs you another £5+ ( cant remember the exact figure ) per month, they are BBC HD, ITV HD & C4 HD. An an earlier post said Film 4 HD coming online later in June / July time i can confirm. Bearing in mind that you can get them all for free except for C4 HD assuming you have an existing HD freeview tv or Freesat, the extra was in my opinion a rip off, as over £5 for 1 channel is extortionate.

I hasten to add that when originally i called for the V HD box i was told by Virgin i would be getting 6 HD channels for that price, then given the run around, lied to by customer services & customer relations. Finally they then refunded my £49 as i was miss sold the box but was allowed to keep it.

I seem to remember something about a 1 off payment for self installation of £15 ish but i could be wrong.

Good point about it is you can get the BBC iPlayer on it & a damm sight better than on the ps3, also shows some of the programs in HD.

If i remember correctly the full 11 extra HD channels it would have been an exra £23 per month above my existing bill & unfortunatly you cant pick them individually you have to have a package.

 

[Anonymous]

The leaflet I've got talks about M+, no mention of having to have the service if you want the HD box, the £5.50 extra is for the extra channels, not the HD ones, which include Sky 1, Sky 2, Discovery, Gold, Eurosport and Living.

 

[visionary]

perhaps I'll wait for the leaflet then and see what they're offering - they haven't got around to sending me one yet, maybe it comes at bill time.

Not up for paying an extra £5 per month though

 

[pete321]

I've currently got a V+ and V Box on XL. I just rung Virgin up and went down the I want to disconnect 1 or more of my services route. Explained that I wanted to get rid of the V Box and use my old satellite dish to connect to my Freesat TV to get HD channels. However I was told by a friend that Virgin have a V HD box now, can my V Box be replaced with this before I decide to lose the V Box. The answer was yes and I'm having it sent out this week for me to install, cost = NIL!

 

[ukdavej]

Virgin never give you anything for nothing. They rang me the other day to tell me as a valued and long time customer, they were upgrading my broadband and I was entitled to one of their phone lines (entitled!!!). When I explained I didn't want a cable phone, she was off like a scalded hen. Once, I tried to get a V+ HD box as an XL TV customer, it doesn't carry a monthly fee. However they then went on to tell me I needed to keep my old box and it would cost me £5 a month (the same amount as I was saving on the monthly rate for HD strangely). When I pointed out to the chappie on the phone that I didn't have a second TV (I actually don't) the suggestion was that perhaps I would like to get one to take advantage of their generosity

I have no problem with Virgin services, I find them very good and very reliable. The customer services however is shambolic at times

 

[pete321]

ukdavej:Virgin never give you anything for nothing.

They do if you go down the I'm thinking of leaving route and sound convincing when you speak to their Retention Dept. I've had my old V Box upgraded for free to the V HD and there's no additional monthly cost either.

 

[ukdavej]

pete321:

ukdavej:Virgin never give you anything for nothing.

They do if you go down the I'm thinking of leaving route and sound convincing when you speak to their Retention Dept. I've had my old V Box upgraded for free to the V HD and there's no additional monthly cost either.

People like you make me ill - I never get anything.

I tried that once and the response I got was, OK, sorry to hear that, we'll cancel it now for you

 

[pete321]

A lot depends on who you get at the time and what their current targets are. I got that response once, rang back 2 days later and got someone different and got what I was after. Each year when my contract is up I ring up and tell them I'm going to Sky until I get the deal I want!

 

[Anonymous]

I think this SKY vs Virgin thing is going on way way to long.

Does anyone know when virgin might ever be getting the HD movies? as I would switch back to virgin ,as preffered the dual tuner and better BB.

Cheers

 

[ukdavej]

canada16:

I think this SKY vs Virgin thing is going on way way to long.

Does anyone know when virgin might ever be getting the HD movies?

Probably when OFCOM force Sky to sell them "in the interest of the consumer"

 

[Anonymous]

So maybe another 3 years ... Ha Ha

They just released the sports channels from what I read, but no sign of movies.

 

[pete321]

canada16: Does anyone know when virgin might ever be getting the HD movies? as I would switch back to virgin ,as preffered the dual tuner and better BB.

Why wait? Just get online blu-ray rental from LoveFilm or Blockbuster and get more recent films in full 1080p.

 

[f1only]

kaotician:The leaflet I've got talks about M+, no mention of having to have the service if you want the HD box, the £5.50 extra is for the extra channels, not the HD ones, which include Sky 1, Sky 2, Discovery, Gold, Eurosport and Living.

Agreed it's for the extra channels you have listed but also includes 3 HD channels BBC HD, ITV HD & C4 HD. When i queried it & complained ( as i was told by the salesman i would be recieving 6 HD channels )about only recieving 3, i then cancelled the contract they then cut off my HD channelsalong with the other channels you have mentioned. So all i get now are their standard freeview channels & BBC iPlayer which does show some HD content.