Move contract to another name or cancel and reorder?

I have been paying for my parent's Virgin Media service for years. We need this to now move to them but I am not sure how best to do it, especially if I want to move to VM in my own home.

I am wondering if it's easier to cancel the contract (I am on a rolling contract) and then they sign up again? Would they qualify as a 'new' customer then? Would I qualify as a new customer under a different address?

Or if I can simply move it to their name?

[spiderplant]

It's not clear to me what the current situation is. Do you live at the same address as them, or is the account in your name at their address (even though you don't live there), or in your name at your address (but they actually have the equipment)?

You definitely wouldn't qualify as a new customer if the account is in your name, but they might.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Damien

Or if I can simply move it to their name?

There isn't a way to do that

All changes to the account holder for cable services involve cancelling the existing account (either by moving it to a different address or just closing the account) and then a new customer account would be set up for the new account holder.

Originally Posted by spiderplant

It's not clear to me what the current situation is. Do you live at the same address as them, or is the account in your name at their address (even though you don't live there), or in your name at your address (but they actually have the equipment)?

You definitely wouldn't qualify as a new customer if the account is in your name, but they might.

I don't live there anymore but it's been in my name. So they have the service, they have the equipment, but it's my name in the bill and I am paying it.

[Halcyon]

I had a similar problem and it was an absolute headache to sort out as I got passed from department to department.


I was the home account holder as I got a good deal as a student back in the day and my parents were paying the bills. I then moved out and wanted to transfer the account to them as I had nothing to do with it anymore and there was no reason for me to receive the bills emails or be account holder anymore.


It was a right faff to sort out. Half of the time they didnt understand and then finally I spoke to one person who understood and they closed this account and started a new fresh one for my parents.


I think closing the account and starting a new one is your best option.

[spiderplant]

You should be able to get the named changed on the account. This is a common process, dealt with by the "Movers" team (they also handle customers moving house). As Ben says, technically this involves creating a new account, but your parents won't qualify for new customer deals.

You would then be free to open a new account at your own address.

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

but your parents won't qualify for new customer deals.

They would now - the process was changed a while back so it's a proper disconnection / new sale process.

So it sounds like the cleanest way to do this is for me to cancel and then they phone up and start a new order?

[BenMcr]

Originally Posted by Damien

So it sounds like the cleanest way to do this is for me to cancel and then they phone up and start a new order?

The Movers team can handle both parts of the conversation if that's easier and you're all available to speak to them on the same call, and offer any new voice sales offer they available.

They wouldn't be able to match any online offers though, same as voice sales can't do today either.

Well, I want them to get a better deal than I have been getting. I sort of left my contract rolling because I knew I would need to cancel soon but then never addressed it so I am paying way over what new customers would.

[RichardCoulter]

If you intend taking Virgin services, couldn't you just 'move' to your new (current) address? If not, just cancel it.

Before you cancel/change it, 'recommend' Virgin to your parents through the refer a friend scheme and obtain £50. Last time I did this the recommended also received free installation and could take advantage of new customer offers, which could be set up online to obtain a better deal than through the movers team.

If you do it this way, you'll have to give 30 days notice, so there'll be time to get your parents set up.

I suppose it really depends upon whether convenience or financial incentives are your priority.

So after a 40 min wait they confirmed I'll need to cancel reorder but then put me on another hold which has been about 40 mins so far