Virgin Media

[Skippy]

This is a strange one and I don't know what to do!

10 years ago I worked for the Cable Corporation, who became Telewest and are now Virgin Media. One of the perks of the job was getting free cable TV and phone, which I had. I left the company on bad terms after just over a year, and told my line manager verbally that I no longer wanted the phone or TV.

No-one actually disconnected either the phone or TV, and I used them for a while but I rang and asked for the phone to be disconnected as although I didn't have to pay line rental it was costing me money each month for voicemail, call divert etc. This was quite a few years ago and the phone was disconnected.

By this time, my mum had Sky and I'd forgotten all about the TV - until yesterday when I received a bill from Virgin. Apparently I still have the TV, and they are billing me and crediting me £8.50 a month, which they are then crediting back! They actually owe me 66p, but I don't know what to do. Do I phone them and tell them that I no longer work for them, and if I do are they likely to want payment for the last 8 1/2 years since I left?

This is a complete mess - I needed a copy of my P45 from Telewest a few years ago and when I phoned them they couldn't find any trace of me working for the company as they had lost the records for the people who worked in my office, and yet they have me on a staff package!

I'm terrified that I'm going to be hit with another debt just as I'm starting to get back on my feet.

[ianmillington]

Hi Skippy

I assume you've been discharged and so you can't simply pass the matter over to the OR?

I'd simply send a copy of the bankruptcy order to the accounts department and ask them to cancel. Given you haven't watched any of their TV services or used the phone after the bankruptcy order they would have considerable difficulty in arguing that you have renewed the contract post bankruptcy.

As they currently have you showing a credit balance I would expect them simply to shut the service down and call it a draw.

Ian

[Skippy]

No, I'm not discharged until the end of March. Is this likely to delay my discharge?

[ianmillington]

I shouldn't have thought so - assume it's the automatic 12 months?

Basically it's a very old contract you had forgotten all about. You haven't even incurred a debt so I can't see how this can cause a problem for you. The fact you're not discharged yet makes it easier for you I think. Draw it to the attention of the OR who can notify Virgin about the bankruptcy. That should be the end of the matter for you I think.

Ian

[Skippy]

Well I've just phoned the OR's office and they're not interested! Sadly the very nice, helpful person who was dealing with my case has left, and the lady I spoke to said that I've got to phone Virgin and see what they say, and she thinks that any money owed up until 29th March last year will vest in my BR. She didn't exactly fill me with confidence!

I'll give Virgin a call later on - why is my life never straightforward?!?!

[ianmillington]

Not very helpful, but hopefully when you get hold of Virgin they will sort it out.

As long as I've been in this job I have worked on the basis that Sods (or Murphys whichever you want to call it)Law applies. If it can go wrong.......!

[Skippy]

Guess what - I can't get through to Virgin! Apparently I can't speak to customer service as they're not allowed to look at staff accounts, so they gave me a different number and after holding for 20 minutes I gave up and sent them an email to the address they give out.

It looks like nothing has changed since I worked for them - still useless at customer service!

[aguise]

Just about par for the course with them. I regulary have to wait and argue about bills nearly every month.

Ang

[Skippy]

I haven't mentioned I'm BR in case they decide to be difficult - I'm keeping that back! Not that they'd get anything out of my BR estate! I've asked them to confirm that the account is now closed as I requested when I left Telewest - that was a happy day, I hated working there!

[lily]

Hi Skip

I know this is a drag for you and I do understand you just do not want another pain in the neck debt. I really dont see how they can apply it if you didnt sign up for it. There is a lot of info out there for people who do not owe the money claimed against them in any case youre still BR so it would be cancelled out with that, right???

I would think it far better to write to them instead of phoning as you then have a hard copy of what transpires between you.

They always seem to get bills wrong, they were charging me for two boxes which I dont have but they did sort it out with credits applied to my next bill. It seems they dont like giving out refunds. I had a bt landline and I could never get through to them but now I have a virgin line its a piece of cake. I think they are a much better company now than telewest ever were.

Good luck with this and dont worry, whats the worst thing that can happen????

[chris.g]

My thoughts exactly-they have supplied you without a contract therefore, how can they charge you??? Surely it is their responsibilty to ensure that services are stopped when the contract expires???? They are a pain, we've been connected since Dec 07 and I have been on the phone to them at least once a week for one thing or another. They attempted to take nearly £100 for broadband, resulting in me getting a bank charge of £19.50, then couldn't tell me why??? Crazy!!! Wonder if that's why Virgin didn't get Northern Rock????!!!!???? lol

[Skippy]

Hi Lily, thanks for that. I have sent them an email and I'm just waiting to hear what they say - if anything! I probably signed something when I first had the services, but that's nearly 10 years ago and I've moved twice since then!

Billings were always a mess back then so obviously the level of training hasn't changed! I must admit I'd rather do away with the TV than have cable!

You're right, there's not a lot that can happen to me now - any money owed up until 29th March last year is caught up in my BR, so that would only leave £93.50 to pay. Not the end of the world!

[chris.g]

Skippy, you say you have moved twice, how have they followed you??? I'm a bit lost and puzzled....

[Skippy]

Sorry, I didn't explain that bit! The cable was/is at my mum's address where I was living when I worked there! Mum still lives there, so she gave me the statement - the first one in 10 years!

[ianmillington]

Skippy

Another thing to ask is if they haven't bothered to do anything for so long then is any claim they make statute barred?

That will depend on whether you have performed (within the last 6 years)any act of acknowledgement of the debt or used any of their services, otherwise I can't see how it's enforceable anyway.