Virgin pulling a fast one....

[Retrovertigo]

My cousin asked me yesterday if I had had any phone calls form Virgin offering me cheap mobile phone packages.

He said they had offered him a basic package for £8.50 per month, but that if he took it, he would actually get £4 off his tv/phone/broadband bill and so be better off.

They explained what he'd be getting mobile phone-wise, and he said that before signing up, could they send him the info. He stressed "now, I'm not signing up, I just want to see in black and white what the deal is". They agreed it would just be info through the post.

This morning a mobile phone with simcard and contract appears via courier at his front door.

No mention of money off his current package, no mention of how long the contract is,.....nothing.

I can't believe they can get away with stuff like this, and leave the onus on him to now have to call and get this sorted. Is this common practice? I notice I have a couple of missed calls off Virgin Media this week. I shall be avoiding picking up as I am not having them sending anything that I didn't ask for.

[ChasW]

Write to address on contract -

• Use the specific term "unsolicited goods and services";
• Refuse to accept the contract;
• Insist that they are liable for return of their property ....
  AND
• if not collected after (say) 30 days, you will be forced to charge for safe storage until they do collect.

It's a bad old con, known as "inertia selling" and is covered by the "Sale Of Goods Act" (see HERE for details).

[Mick Fisher]

Is the product that BAD that VM have to resort to these extremely questionable tactics to sell it.

Why accept goods or services that you haven't ordered in the first place?

If they are just dumped outside the door or through the letterbox with no signature required then sell them down the pub or just dump them in the bin.

[Peter_]

This is the 2nd thread on this same subject see HERE

[Mick Fisher]

Originally Posted by Moldova

This is the 2nd thread on this same subject see HERE

So I noticed. Could this be the start of a disturbing trend..

[Flyboy]

I think this would be more likely to be the work of rogue and desperate salesman, rather than a particular policy of Virgin's. I got two month's discount, when I signed up with Virgin Mobile.

I would recommend you follow the excellent advice given to you by ChasW and see what happens.

[Peter_]

As per my post in the first thread the billings cannot be combined as they are separate companies and possibly the mobile agent was trying to pull a fast one.