SO16_Saint Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 I have yesterday cancelled my subscription with Sky and gone over to VM. A number of factors really, loss of signal, cost and faulty equipment forced our hand. I have never been with VM before - what are people's thoughts on VM? They look ok, and they can offer more, for the same price as Sky... an additional box, HD, On-Demand, faster Internet etc etc. With our Sky box, we have a Magic Eye thing downstairs that allows the box to be in a cupboard, and still use the remote (through the Magic Eye) - is this possible for VM boxes? Any comments / thoughts much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 I've had issues with Sky. Got Sky plus and all of a sudden it wouldn't record two channels at once, it would only record one channel and you had to be watching that channel or it would record it, which kind of defeats the object of having sky plus. Anyway, rang them up and went through loads of stuff on the phone, problem seemed sorted. Next day back to how it was, rang them again, again problem sorted. Two weeks later it went back to how it was. Left it a few days as was busy and rang them again, to be told 'sorry sir, your out of warrranty now by 4 days so you need to take out an insurance contract or have a call out which will be £65'. So i told them to f*ck off. Doesn't help you but just gives me a chance to have a moan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dellboypete Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Been with VM for over 4 years now and got no complaints - got the full package tv-phone-internet and haven't really had anything to complain about. Except that the customer service used to be appalling (on the very few times I called up) but it has really improved over the last year or so. The digi box is brilliant - record two progs whilst watching another - a mate has just upgraded to the tivo which has huge recording capacity and he says that like the sky box you can programme it from your mobile apparently. Internet speeds are lightning fast (where we are anyway), we are currently on 30mbs and we are being upgraded to nearly 100mbs next spring. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anothersaintinsouthsea Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Cancelled my Sky subscriptions over the summer and moved to Virgin for broadband (way way faster) and telephone but didn't get a new TV package. Having been away from Sky for less than two months they sent me a flyer offering 75% off any TV package and £50 credit to my account. Now getting Sports plus Movies in HD for £25 a month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Having had both in the last 4 years I can confirm that Virgin Media's TiVo (XL package) is much better - though I haven't had much experience with Sky since their updated planner recently. There are 3 glaring omissions from Virgin's service. 1) Sky Sports News, 3 and 4 in HD (SD only) 2) Sky Atlantic 3) Access to Sky Go The "remind" feature which was not present previously has now been added with the recent update to the VM box. There are 3D channels but that's just a gimmick anyway. Virgin Media's on demand services include loads of other services in addition to Sky Anytime (WBTV and a load of other OD channels), Catchup TV including the BBC iPlayer is integrated, the search feature is great, the automatic recommendations, thumbs up/down, general TiVo options and the much MUCH better Series Linking is also an improvement on the Sky service I used to have. Plus as the missus works for a Virgin partner, we get it cheap (except the Sports and Movies as Virgin can't discount those). Best of all, Virgin's remote has a "Last channel" button. Now if I can just work out how to get back to the recorded programme I was watching before going back to live tv, without having to renavigate to that specific bit of the menu again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Had both.... Prefer sky telly but as a TV, phone and broadband package. VMwins for me.. Their broadband is very good from my experience... Their customer service wis very hit and miss.... Depending if your call gets routed to bangalore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Been with VM for over 4 years now and got no complaints - got the full package tv-phone-internet and haven't really had anything to complain about. Except that the customer service used to be appalling (on the very few times I called up) but it has really improved over the last year or so. The digi box is brilliant - record two progs whilst watching another - a mate has just upgraded to the tivo which has huge recording capacity and he says that like the sky box you can programme it from your mobile apparently. Internet speeds are lightning fast (where we are anyway), we are currently on 30mbs and we are being upgraded to nearly 100mbs next spring. VM TiVo records 3 simultaneously and you can watch anything you recorded earlier at the same time too. My 1Tb box currently has 30 HD movies on it, plus all my (60+) series links and still has about 5% free - plus it will autodelete the recommendations and then stuff that I haven't protected before starting on anything I might actually want - and of course you can rank all of your series links so when there's a clash the planner will work out which one you prefer. And there's a "soft delete" so when you get rid of something, if there's space it'll sit around in "deleted" for a while so you can recover it if you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 But has Sky implemented a "Last channel" button yet ? Used to drive me insane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 But has Sky implemented a "Last channel" button yet ? Used to drive me insane. Haha.. No. Which is daft really Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 But has Sky implemented a "Last channel" button yet ? Used to drive me insane. Yes, push the 'blue' button that you use to scroll through your pre-set favourites and it will go to the last channel you left first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SO16_Saint Posted 24 September, 2012 Author Share Posted 24 September, 2012 But has Sky implemented a "Last channel" button yet ? Used to drive me insane. is it not the blue button? Favourites and Last Channel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dark Sotonic Mills Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Haha.. No. Which is daft really The blue button switches to the previous channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 When did they put that in ? I had Sky from 1995 to 2009 and they never had one ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 When did they put that in ? I had Sky from 1995 to 2009 and they never had one ! Must have been with a software update. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Been with VM for over 4 years now and got no complaints - got the full package tv-phone-internet and haven't really had anything to complain about. Except that the customer service used to be appalling (on the very few times I called up) but it has really improved over the last year or so. The digi box is brilliant - record two progs whilst watching another - a mate has just upgraded to the tivo which has huge recording capacity and he says that like the sky box you can programme it from your mobile apparently. Internet speeds are lightning fast (where we are anyway), we are currently on 30mbs and we are being upgraded to nearly 100mbs next spring. I'd agree with about every word of the above. Had a few problems with signal loss due to a dodgy cable from the cabinet to the house but they replaced it very quickly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansums Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 I've had issues with Sky. Got Sky plus and all of a sudden it wouldn't record two channels at once, it would only record one channel and you had to be watching that channel or it would record it, which kind of defeats the object of having sky plus. Anyway, rang them up and went through loads of stuff on the phone, problem seemed sorted. Next day back to how it was, rang them again, again problem sorted. Two weeks later it went back to how it was. Left it a few days as was busy and rang them again, to be told 'sorry sir, your out of warrranty now by 4 days so you need to take out an insurance contract or have a call out which will be £65'. So i told them to f*ck off. Doesn't help you but just gives me a chance to have a moan. Threaten to cancel, that will shake them up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wurzel Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Best of all, Virgin's remote has a "Last channel" button. Now if I can just work out how to get back to the recorded programme I was watching before going back to live tv, without having to renavigate to that specific bit of the menu again... LoL I actually did that accidentally last night. Not sure what I did but I think I hit the Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bad Bob Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 When did they put that in ? I had Sky from 1995 to 2009 and they never had one ! It's on the HD boxes only ASFAIK Just switched back to Sky Fibre Unlimited from Virgin BB. Virgin's phone service is shocking, no caller display, no alert when you leave an analogue handset off of the hook (thanks rugrats!!). I cancelled Virgin 2 months ago and they're still trying to bill me, thank the lords I had the foresight to cancel my DD. Won't switch my TV pack over anyway as Sky have far more HD channels and the other TiVo gimmicks I just won't use...plus Virgin don't do CBS Drama!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essruu Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 FreeSat HD+ Foxsat box and someone else's Sky Login to watch their full package on my tv or iPad works for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 When did they put that in ? I had Sky from 1995 to 2009 and they never had one ! It's been there for ages, but it's not intuitive at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyo-Saint Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Virgin have the best product but terrible customer service. Their Indian call centres are just terrible (see the thread on bad customer service experiences) and their UK ones are a bit hit and miss. If you think I am being xenophobic, next time you have a problem, give them a call Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andysstuff Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 I've had issues with Sky. Got Sky plus and all of a sudden it wouldn't record two channels at once, it would only record one channel and you had to be watching that channel or it would record it, which kind of defeats the object of having sky plus. Anyway, rang them up and went through loads of stuff on the phone, problem seemed sorted. Next day back to how it was, rang them again, again problem sorted. Two weeks later it went back to how it was. Left it a few days as was busy and rang them again, to be told 'sorry sir, your out of warrranty now by 4 days so you need to take out an insurance contract or have a call out which will be £65'. So i told them to f*ck off. Doesn't help you but just gives me a chance to have a moan. Threaten to cancel, that will shake them up. Just did this with me broadband/phone connection with them - router gave up the ghost and they wanted to charge me £36 for a new one - said I'd rather cancel as I can tether me mobile and use that - cancellations agreed to waive the charge if I stuck with them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
70's Mike Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 No choice here, Virgin Media not available Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cambsaint Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 VM is good but very expensive imo-about £120 a month for a full package. Their phone complaints service is abysmal-an Indian reading from a crib sheet who gets confused if you stray from it. The last technician advised me next time to ask the technician to put you through to cancellations if they drive you to distraction, and you will get to a call centre in England. I found Sky service better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Tender Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Left Sky and switched to Virgin on a matter of principle, because Sky don't treat their customers well. Divorced 9 years and yet they still sent stuff to my home addressed to my ex, although I have the Sky equipment here and it has been me paying the direct debit. The contract was in her name, so although all of the utility people happily changed the account info after my divorce just on my say so, Sky wouldn't do it, quoting the data protection act as the reason. (Bloody ironic Sky getting all precious about the DPA, when they are up before the beak for breaches of the DPA, hacking a murdered girl's phone) So anyway, to overcome the DPA, my ex gives them written permission to change the contract into my name, but they still won't budge, stating that she will have to cancel and then they will make me a secondary account. I threatened to switch away to Virgin, but they still won't budge, so I cancel the direct debit and they've lost the business over a small issue they didn't wish to resolve amicably. Now they've written to my ex at my house saying that there is an installment outstanding. I've had the greatest pleasure telling them that it's nothing to do with me; the contract was with my ex-wife and she hasn't lived here for years. Take it up with her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Cat Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 I'm on Virgin but need to get a new tivo box because the one we have is terrible now. Navigation is slow and it will seemingly randomly reboot when it feels like it. It's also annoying not having Sky Atlantic as there has been a huge amount of good new shows on their recently. As said above the customer services is pretty bad but to be fair I haven't needed to use them more than a few times in about 6 years. Their broadband is the nuts where I am. Always get fast speeds. Having Sky also involves giving Rupert Murdoch money which just can't be good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 I'm on Virgin but need to get a new tivo box because the one we have is terrible now. Navigation is slow and it will seemingly randomly reboot when it feels like it. It's also annoying not having Sky Atlantic as there has been a huge amount of good new shows on their recently. As said above the customer services is pretty bad but to be fair I haven't needed to use them more than a few times in about 6 years. Their broadband is the nuts where I am. Always get fast speeds. Having Sky also involves giving Rupert Murdoch money which just can't be good. Most of the Sky Atlantic stuff can downloaded from Pirate Bay (or rather it's new equivalent). Not that I'm condoning illegal downloads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Must have been with a software update. Yeah, I had Sky+ HD technically until 2010, though I didn't actually use it after July 2009. The blue button thing definitely wasn't there in 2008 which was the last time I used it regularly, and it's a bit crap having it on the favourites button anyway. But at least it's there now ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SO16_Saint Posted 24 September, 2012 Author Share Posted 24 September, 2012 As with everything there's always 2 camps. Just to be stubborn, I'm gonna stick with my decision and bin off Sky. If in 18 months they have a cracking deal, may switch back. ESPN looks good too, lots of European footy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 It's on the HD boxes only ASFAIK Just switched back to Sky Fibre Unlimited from Virgin BB. Virgin's phone service is shocking, no caller display, no alert when you leave an analogue handset off of the hook (thanks rugrats!!). I cancelled Virgin 2 months ago and they're still trying to bill me, thank the lords I had the foresight to cancel my DD. Won't switch my TV pack over anyway as Sky have far more HD channels and the other TiVo gimmicks I just won't use...plus Virgin don't do CBS Drama!! We have a Virgin landline basically because it comes with the tv and broadband, to say it's underused would be an understatement - only 3 people even know what the landline number is, my wife is one of them, and I'm neither of the other two. This makes caller display a tad on the useless side. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 LoL I actually did that accidentally last night. Not sure what I did but I think I hit the I'll try it in a moment when Eastenders finishes. You mean the left button next to "OK" as opposed to the Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 Virgin have the best product but terrible customer service. Their Indian call centres are just terrible (see the thread on bad customer service experiences) and their UK ones are a bit hit and miss. If you think I am being xenophobic, next time you have a problem, give them a call I haven't yet gone through to anything other than the Swansea call centre, which I accept may be a step too far for some of you lot. The missus ringing them on a regular basis for her job, and playing the "I'm an employee" card means we don't have to worry about it much, skip past the delays for installation, got refunded when our broadband disappeared for 4 days a couple of weeks ago, etc. Oh, and thanks to Wurzel, yes, clicking "LEFT" on the remote takes you straight back to the previous recording without having to renavigate the "My Shows" menu. Deeeeeeeeelighted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 I made the switch from Sky to Virgin Media yonks ago. Sky were asking for 300 notes for their HD box, which seemed like a bit of a p!ss-take to me. I tried chancing my arm and getting a box for nowt, but they were having none of it. Decided to take on one of those fancy new customer deals from Virgin, and have never really looked back. Commercial considerations aside, Virgin is probably the better setup for me. In the early days, Sky were adamant about keeping pretty much all their HD stuff on their own service, meaning that I had about 5 HD channels to watch. That has gotten a ton better; Sky have now kept a handful of channels that I care about to themselves, and most of those I'm not really arsed about. Sky Atlantic? US shows quickly? I've heard that there may be other options Sky Sports News HD isn't on Virgin either, but the SD version is. Couple of big caveats to be aware of; when Virgin Media completely shuts down, everything has gone. TV, net, phone - all eggs in one basket. However, that doesn't happen too often ( about twice in 5 years for me ). I have had instances where say, the Internet is down but the TV and phone are up. I've found outages in general to be rare, and like I say, it's only been completely down a couple of times in all the time I've had it. Customer service have been alright when I've needed to use them. Others will tell you mileage varies. Generally though, I'm very happy with my current setup and get invitations from Sky to come back all the time. Haven't taken any of 'em up, if that means anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 So far in 10 months with Virgin Media I think I've been broadbandless for a total of 6 days (one 4/5 day outage and one other), with a couple of hour outages on 3 or 4 other occasions. The Catchup and Recommendation-based TiVo options were down for the whole of the big broadband outage, but I could still play and record tv no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 24 September, 2012 Share Posted 24 September, 2012 I'm still in the changeover from Sky to Virgin. I effectively wanted multiroom and HD and a cabled installation was more practical than a satellite broadcast. Now I can watch the footie in the conservatory on Monday nights without all the earache. The broadband is very good. I still need to switch off Plusnet just as soon as I get my missus a new email address. Plusnet were ****ing me off with constant delays and outages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 25 September, 2012 Share Posted 25 September, 2012 Thanks to our ridiculous Virgin deal we actually have two TiVo 1Tb boxes, that's one more than televisions in the house. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMike Posted 25 September, 2012 Share Posted 25 September, 2012 would go to virgin but its not available in my area and no plans to add it anytime soon (took them 3 months to get back to me with this answer btw) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
for_heaven's_Saint Posted 25 September, 2012 Share Posted 25 September, 2012 Can you have Sky Tv with Virgin broadband? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Dark Sotonic Mills Posted 25 September, 2012 Share Posted 25 September, 2012 Can you have Sky Tv with Virgin broadband? Yes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 26 September, 2012 Share Posted 26 September, 2012 Thanks to our ridiculous Virgin deal we actually have two TiVo 1Tb boxes, that's one more than televisions in the house. Then you need another tele. What happens when the footie is on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bad Bob Posted 26 September, 2012 Share Posted 26 September, 2012 Most of the Sky Atlantic stuff can downloaded from Pirate Bay (or rather it's new equivalent). Not that I'm condoning illegal downloads. A good combination of uTorrent (RSS downloader is awesome) and xspeeds.com is good for the sort of people that may want to do that sort of thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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