Cancelling a service provider?

Then you should give serious consideration to cancelling any bank arrangements simultaneously.

My recent spat with VirginMedia (elsewhere here) is a case in point. By cancelling the DD I made sure that they could not take money to which I thought they were not entitled. It puts the provider on the back foot, chasing you, rather than you hassling a large, insular organisation for a refund (or chasing your bank under the DD mandate rules).

It's a tactic I have used on many occasions, have yet to regret it. A personal banking service to whom I can send an email requesting the cancellation (or a telephone banking service) aids a speedy execution.

One word of warning though. Some companies (energy providers) have a clause to cancel discount arrangements if you do this. As ever, read the terms and conditions, and make sure.

Take control, and use the weapons at your disposal with big business:
* your custom
* your money
* your use of social networks to publicise your complaints.

Oh, and if they get it right, publicise that too!!

@VirginMedia Hurrah - case closed - seems I finally got through to someone who got it!!

Fwd: Virgin Media account

Hello Mr. Bryant,

I've been asked to investigate your account and the charges that have been generated since moving to your new provider. While we received notice that the MAC had been used and given to your new provider, unfortunately we never received the notice that the work had been completed for us to close the account.

As payment was made for services up to the <date removed>, I have removed all outstanding charges from the account and ensured that the account is closed to prevent further charges being made in error. Your account is now closed and completely settled.

Please accept my sincere apologies on behalf of Virgin Media for any inconvenience caused in this matter.

Kind regards,

<name removed to protect the innocent!>
Virgin Media National
Customer Complaints Team

@virginmedia - and the saga continues... I'd reply to the email, but you black hole it...

“We're really sorry to hear that you're cancelling your Virgin Media service. To get the ball rolling, we'll be sending in a cancellation request for you and your service will be removed.  We'll get in touch with you again to confirm your disconnection date but, just so you know, our target disconnection date is currently:

14-02-2011

 

Just so you know, if you're cancelling your phone service with us, you'll need to find another supplier, or you might be left without a working phone line!

 

If you have any questions in the meantime, you can contact us using our webform at http://www.virgin.net/customers/contactus/index.html. To talk it through with one of our team, just dial 150 from your Virgin Phone or 0845 454 2222 from any other phone line.

 

**Important Information**

 

If you're moving house and you've asked us to transfer your Virgin Media service to your new address, we'll be processing your order as soon as possible.  If you've already given us your new address and telephone number, we'll start processing your order soon after the services at your old address have been cancelled. We know you,ll be busy with the move, but if you haven't given us your new details yet, do get in touch as soon as you can, so we can get on the case for you.

 

 

Kind regards,

 

 

Mark Davidson

 

Executive Director

Customer Care

Virgin Media”

 

Customer Care?????  Incredible how you can put in a disconnection request for a no longer operating service.

 

 

@virginmedia - their uselessness and systematic incompetence knows no bounds. #fail

The account was cancelled some time ago, along with the DD.

 

A final net invoice was requested, and agreed, but as yet not provided.

 

You continue to act as if the account were active and add further charges.

 

You now write threateningly, particularly with respect to damage to my credit rating.

 

Just you bloody try!!!  Now sort this, this week, or else I will start billing you for my wasted time, and that will more than cancel out the charges you are requesting.

 

I thought this http://corylus.blogspot.com/2011/02/more-virginmedia-incompetence-they-just.html would be enough.  Clearly not