[Steve_runner]

I'm getting BB, Phone and a V+ installed at the weekend. I'm getting free installation but the box is costing £75.

Can I just confirm that they will fit a new box? Do they use the same system as Sky, new boxes in manufactures boxes and refurbs in plain brown boxes?

Are they just fitting Samsungs for new installs?

Thanks.

[Ryrazzer]

You can get either. Just depends what they have in stock

Same goes for refurbs. The majority of boxes in circulation are refurbs but it is the same as sky. Plain brown box is a refurb.

Also your not getting free installtion exactly. The £75 is pretty much the install fee. You don't pay for the box cause you never own it. Your just renting it and they should come and collect it if you ever cancel.

[Steve_runner]

Thanks for the info.

[m8ttysmith]

Hi, I just got my V+ installed and got a new Samsung V+ box... which I must say is very good !

When I was chatting to the engineer he said because you dont actually own the box its pot luck when you get.

They go to the warehouse on a morning and pick up whatever the warehouse have in stock, he said sometimes there all refurbs and sometimes there new and it doesnt depend on if its a new install or a repair.

Having moved from Sky Plus ive been really surprised at how good the Virgin Plus has been.

[cheltboy]

Got brand new Samsung this morning in Cheltenham. great service from the engineer.

Once have got it set up properly will report back.

[Chris James]

Originally Posted by m8ttysmith

Hi, I just got my V+ installed and got a new Samsung V+ box... which I must say is very good !

When I was chatting to the engineer he said because you dont actually own the box its pot luck when you get.

They go to the warehouse on a morning and pick up whatever the warehouse have in stock, he said sometimes there all refurbs and sometimes there new and it doesnt depend on if its a new install or a repair.

Having moved from Sky Plus ive been really surprised at how good the Virgin Plus has been.

.........and just remember - if it goes wrong in 13 months' time, Virgin will come out and replace it for free. You would face a hefty charge if you were still a Sky customer.

[coopermanyorks]

Originally Posted by Chris James

.........and just remember - if it goes wrong in 13 months' time, Virgin will come out and replace it for free. You would face a hefty charge if you were still a Sky customer.

I have never paid for a replacement failed box yet outside of the 12 month period

How many VM customers pay the £5 pm to cover service costs ?

[ek-uk]

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

I have never paid for a replacement failed box yet outside of the 12 month period

Lucky you! As I have said before that isn't cast in stone is it. A relative had to put up with a gradually failing service for month's before they would come out and fix it. This involved gradually losing channel after channel. They also tried to get her to take out extra services before they would fix it. This after telling them she couldn't afford to pay for the call-out charge. Also how many Sky HD customers have had to pay to get there exploding capacitors fixed? And if it is so easy to get Sky boxes fixed for free, why are they conning people with their £5.99 insurance?

VM is not perfect by any means but no matter what some Sky posters try to tell us, neither is Sky.

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

How many VM customers pay the £5 pm to cover service costs ?

You will have to explain that. I have never heard of this.

[Ryrazzer]

If you don't take XL you pay £5 a month for the V+ service.

[ourdave]

Tell Sky you're cancelling because your box has failed and you can't be assed paying for a new one and they'll give you a replacement box every day of the week.

[m8ttysmith]

Originally Posted by ourdave

Tell Sky you're cancelling because your box has failed and you can't be assed paying for a new one and they'll give you a replacement box every day of the week.

Well after explaining I couldn't afford to pay for the £60 call out then another £100 + for a new box they said, fair enough you other option is to cancel...

So now I'm a happy virgin customer confident I'll never have to fork out for a failed box. And to be honest I'm prefering the V+ service to compared to sky +

[Steve_runner]

Guys

I asked a simple question about installation. Which has been answered.

Lets not turn this into another Sky v Virgin thread.

Thanks

Steve

[brettiex]

Most users who have Sky+ don't get free replacements unless they have their insurance. Yes there are exceptions but you wouldn't expect a replacement TV from Curry's two years down the line when the TV dies so why do Sky users expect it.

Sky and VM both provide a service and you pay for that service. The difference is that with Sky you pay your money and the box is yours for life, whereas you pay VM and it's never yours so they have an obligation to fix it when it fails unless the damage is caused by you in which case you may be liable for costs.

Services aside I wouldn't be confident in buying the box from Sky and assuming that if I fret they'll give me a new box, after all they are perfectly in their right to refuse and then your only option is to either leave or pay for a replacement.

Your right Steve this starting to be VM vs Sky debate and the pros and cons of each have been explained many times before. If you the user are happy with what you have, be that VM or Sky then their isn't a problem is there. I guess it's just human nature to brag / influence what you have over someone else.

[Ajay737]

I would be interested in going to Virgin but the the cost of the V+HD box puts me off.

So a question.
As you don't own the box and it has to be returned if you cancel, why does it cost £75 for the box?

I did see a post somewhere whereby someone said that its to cover the cost of the installation but installation is free according to the web site.

Is it in effect to cover the engineer visit(s) should it go wrong, which would make it similar to Sky's insurance.
But over the course of time, it woud work out cheaper than Sky's insurance as the virgin charge is a one off.

Virgin's price for my requirements would be similar to what I pay Sky for which I have a Sky+ box.

Just to add that I've never paid for an engineer visit yet from Sky for a faulty box as I go straight through to the cancellation department and say that I'd like to cancel. After being asked why, they have always sent an engineer for free when told the box has packed up or having problems.
The main point with this is I have never asked them to send someone out and I am prepared to cancel.

[jong]

Originally Posted by Ajay737

Is it in effect to cover the engineer visit(s) should it go wrong, which would make it similar to Sky's insurance.
But over the course of time, it woud work out cheaper than Sky's insurance as the virgin charge is a one off.

It may never be expressed in this way, but yes, in effect it is a one off insurance fee for as long as you hold a V+ and in return you get the V+ service (PVR and HD channels) at no additional cost to your Virgin contract.

[m8ttysmith]

[quote=Ajay737;36616904]I would be interested in going to Virgin but the the cost of the V+HD box puts me off.

So a question.
As you don't own the box and it has to be returned if you cancel, why does it cost £75 for the box?

You don't pay £75 for the box, you pay £75 for the installation !

[Ajay737]

Originally Posted by jong

It may never be expressed in this way, but yes, in effect it is a one off insurance fee for as long as you hold a V+ and in return you get the V+ service (PVR and HD channels) at no additional cost to your Virgin contract.

Interesting.
You pay insurance for something that you don't own.
I would have thought it better as a deposit which would be then returned to you once the V+HD box is returned if you cancel.
You also have to pay £5 per month as part of your pack unless your on the XL pack.

[Ajay737]

Originally Posted by m8ttysmith

You don't pay £75 for the box, you pay £75 for the installation !

I had seen that elsewhere as I'd stated in my post.
So why does the web site say free installation on the package builder.
http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html...e-builder.html

Why not say its a free V+HD (they should be as you don't own the box) and installation is £75.

[John Palmer]

Originally Posted by Steve_runner

I'm getting BB, Phone and a V+ installed at the weekend. I'm getting free installation but the box is costing £75.

Can I just confirm that they will fit a new box? Do they use the same system as Sky, new boxes in manufactures boxes and refurbs in plain brown boxes?

Are they just fitting Samsungs for new installs?

Thanks.

I can confirm you get whatever they have on the day.
I've had a second box installed and wanted a matching remote (and a matching Samsung box if possible).
I rejected the first attempt to install an SA box and what I got later in the day was a Samsung box alright but a different remote. No amount of requesting can get me a matching remote and I've been right to the top. "It's pot luck sir".
Strangely, the STB came in a plain brown box but still had the protective plastic over the front - was it new? - I don't think I care.
I was sent a another remote - same as the one left at the second install - so you could say I do have 2 matching remotes - they're just not both the one I'd prefer (because of the extra TV functions)
PS: Please don't suggest I just keep asking for replacement remote as that would irresponsible.

[John Palmer]

Originally Posted by Ajay737

I would be interested in going to Virgin but the the cost of the V+HD box puts me off.

So a question.
As you don't own the box and it has to be returned if you cancel, why does it cost £75 for the box?

I did see a post somewhere whereby someone said that its to cover the cost of the installation but installation is free according to the web site.

Is it in effect to cover the engineer visit(s) should it go wrong, which would make it similar to Sky's insurance.
But over the course of time, it woud work out cheaper than Sky's insurance as the virgin charge is a one off.

You're paying for installation, setup checks and the addition of HD channels to your subscription (plus a free HDMI cable if you have an HD Ready TV).

A good deal for £75 (even better @ £49 earlier this year).

Not so wonderful @ £150 for a second V+ HD box though.

[alienseeker1976]

Originally Posted by brettiex

Most users who have Sky+ don't get free replacements unless they have their insurance. Yes there are exceptions but you wouldn't expect a replacement TV from Curry's two years down the line when the TV dies so why do Sky users expect it.

Sky and VM both provide a service and you pay for that service. The difference is that with Sky you pay your money and the box is yours for life, whereas you pay VM and it's never yours so they have an obligation to fix it when it fails unless the damage is caused by you in which case you may be liable for costs.

Services aside I wouldn't be confident in buying the box from Sky and assuming that if I fret they'll give me a new box, after all they are perfectly in their right to refuse and then your only option is to either leave or pay for a replacement.

Your right Steve this starting to be VM vs Sky debate and the pros and cons of each have been explained many times before. If you the user are happy with what you have, be that VM or Sky then their isn't a problem is there. I guess it's just human nature to brag / influence what you have over someone else.

Ummm Yes i would want a new lcd tv if it broke in 2yrs. Its called the sales of goods act, u would win in the court of law as well. I have had my lcd tv replaced by samsung after 1yr my xbox 360 replaced/ repaired after 1 qnd a half. Sky box replaced after the yrs up. I could go on.
As long as ur forth coming and know what ur talking about.

[Steve_runner]

Just to update you.

Had the install on Saturday. No problems, got a new Samsung Box. System works well, if a bit slow in the EPG. Not sure about the colours on the EPG - bit dated.

I have SKY HD in my main home so interesting to compare.