Virgin media issue

[krishner]

Is anyone else experiencing a sudden drop off in VM Bband strength? I was getting 62mb until last night, and now its 7mb. (Peckham Rye/Somerton Rd area)

I asked them what was going on and they said heavy usage. That's fine but heavy usage doesn't just 'start', it increases over time...unless an office building just got erected without me noticing. (It better not be The Patch.)

I mentioned this and they replied that there was a need for a cable upgrade at the exchange (which I think is in Brixton - nst?) which wouldn't be until March 2014! It was a recent fault - two days old - and that was why no one knew much about it. Especially the customers of course. I also mentioned that maybe they should tell people. They can't apparently because they don't know who will be affected. Check your bband strength. (google 'speedtest' - press begin test button etc)

Holy Moly!

So I suggested that they cancel my contract and that I would go and find another supplier. (Bluff)

You know what they said?

They said, OK. (I know! Bluff called!)

Not a peep. Not an argument. Not an utterance of legalese. Total capitulation.

Something's up - I think we should know.

I'm going to take a long lie down and recover...

Can anyone recommend a good Bband/tv/phone package? - shame, i liked being with VM.

[JohnL]

They don't mean they've throttled you for heavy usage ?

[Loz]

Hmmm, sounds like it. Are you a keen downloader of stuff, especially via torrent?

[krishner]

No they don't - its a good point.

I asked if they were throttling me, but they were adamant that they weren't. Besides, I'm not a heavy user. (define 'heavy use' of course!) I even asked if they were throttling other users, but again with the denials...

In the meantime, I have decided that its more hassle than its worth to shop around and be disappointed by another company, so I've told them I'll stick with them BUT PLEASE HURRY AND FIX THE ISSUE!!

To which they responded with 10 quid off a month until March 2014 (or until its fixed).

I'm sure if anyone else is experiencing this issue, and if we all ask for a tenner off until March then they'll fix it sooner rather than later.

[Bluerevolution]

I'm on Waveney and we sacked VM about 6 months ago as the service was shocking, they did upgrade our area in March apparently but just got worse.Now with Sky, phone line rental, BB and ALL channels ?47 pm !!!

[MrBen]

I have been without broadband since Tuesday last week. Engineer coming on Saturday but apparently 56 customers in my area (SE22) were also experiencing downtime or intermittent service.

A mate in Mitcham has also had exactly the same issue, again since last week which suggests a problem somewhere in SE London. Broadband is kind of like water and electricity now so relaibility needs to improve generally across the board. The best they've offered me is to not charge for the service I've not used. i.e. a pro rata refund for downtime days. They should really compensate more than that.

[Loz]

Virgin do throttle, but only heavy users.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/10/30/virgin_media_rapped_by_ad_watchdog_for_misleading_unlimited_claims/

[krishner]

Loz, I agree. They certainly do throttle users, and not necessarily hevay users. Get them to admit it though. Its like a pre-programmed mantra coming out of a stepford wife when you ask them - 'no sir, we are not throttling your broadband renge kyo....'

What I don't understand - and if anyone could enlighten me as VM certainly can't - is how come my neighbour upstairs on VM bband also (60mb) doesn't have a problem? surely we share the same cable that goes to the same exchange?