UPC raising Prices from August 1st [Merged]

pippip

Mountjoy Mugger wrote: »

I downgraded free of charge two days ago. I quoted the letter to them.

Did you downgrade the broadband? I already downgraded that bit last time they increased the price so cant go any lower on that side.

This time I'm downgrading the tv package which doesn't offically go up until 1st august. Realised I don't watch any of the extra channels in the Max package.

dub45

rickyjb wrote: »

Let me guess, you're with Vodafone? That's a common occurrence with that company, it's their policy to steal money and not give it back. I've never had any problems with other companies and pay all my bills through direct debit (who doesn't these days?).

The direct debit system is a woeful system and it is full of flaws as an earlier poster found out.

There is no upfront protection for the bill payer once a company has your bank account details and no matter how badly a company behaves they are no sanctions. Bank staff at all levels are virtually ignorant of how the scheme works and in particular bill payers' rights under it.

I want to warn people that UPC will charge you around €11 if you happen to miss a dd. While your bank will also charge you around €12.50 or so.

This can make missing a dd a very expensive business. AFAIK UPC do not warn customers when they are signing up for DD about this charge.

dub45

djimi wrote: »

I have to say Im inclined to disagree. I pay my bills by DD and recently my mobile company made an error on my bill which saw them take €200 extra out of my account which left me in a very difficult position that month. 6 weeks later and I still havent gotten the money back. Needless to say they wont be allowed near my bank details again...

DD is great and handy when it works but I can definately understand why someone wouldnt trust it.

You should contact your bank immediately - under the dd scheme rules:

If it is established that an unauthorised direct debit was charged to your account, you are guaranteed an immediate refund by your bank of the amount so charged where you notify your bank without undue delay on becoming aware of the unauthorised direct debit, and in any event no later than 13 months after the date of debiting of such direct debit to your account

You are entitled to request a refund of any variable direct debit which exceeded the amount which you could reasonably have expected, subject to you so requesting your bank within a period of 8 weeks from the date of debiting such direct debit to your account; your bank is entitled to ask you to provide factual elements relating to your request for a refund

Demand an immediate refund under the dd scheme rules. And if you have any difficulty contact IPSO. (www.ipso.ie.)

This is a classic example of how a company can wreac havoc on a bill payer with impunity.

You say about not allowing them near your bank account again but unfortunately a cancelled dd can be submitted again very easily - this is one of the farcical aspects of the dd system.

Mountjoy Mugger

pippip wrote: »

Did you downgrade the broadband? I already downgraded that bit last time they increased the price so cant go any lower on that side.

This time I'm downgrading the tv package which doesn't offically go up until 1st august. Realised I don't watch any of the extra channels in the Max package.

No. I downgraded the TV packages (got rid of Sky Sport and dropped from Digi Max to Select Extra+), saving €37pm - I only got the BB from them a few weeks ago, but might lower that too ( no need for 100/120MB - 50/60 is plenty) in a week or so.

forzacalcio

Can anyone tell me if Im able to get out of contract with UPC and keep my Broadband and TV package? Basically I just want to keep the service but be free from contract. This works with other companies such as Vodafone and O2 when they change T&C..

I already called them and they told me I can get out but I have to leave.
Surely this is a penalty.

who_me

forzacalcio wrote: »

Can anyone tell me if Im able to get out of contract with UPC and keep my Broadband and TV package? Basically I just want to keep the service but be free from contract. This works with other companies such as Vodafone and O2 when they change T&C..

I already called them and they told me I can get out but I have to leave.
Surely this is a penalty.

I'd imagine what they're saying is kosher. You, of course, can't be obliged to be under a contract after they've changed the T&Cs, but neither can you force them to keep providing a service with no contract.

(Purely a layman's opinion).

CO19

Those who are currently being upgraded from the 20mb for €25 a month to 25mb will also be billed at the 25mb price of €37 a month even though we didn't ask or want to be upgraded,so a jump of €17 a month,just found that out today,fuming isn't the word !

jack presley

My discounts from last year were about to expire and with the price increases I rang up to get my discounts extended and to see what else they could do. I only have TV/broadband.

To get a cheaper deal I had to get a new bundle with the phone included. So now, even with the price increases I'm paying slightly less than last year but getting the same service. And although I don't actually own a phone so it'll never get used, I now have a phone line as well.

So it's worth giving them a call and seeing what they can do for you.

blaz

CO19 wrote: »

Those who are currently being upgraded from the 20mb for €25 a month to 25mb will also be billed at the 25mb price of €37 a month even though we didn't ask or want to be upgraded,so a jump of €17 a month,just found that out today,fuming isn't the word !

That's not true.

turbojunkie

jack presley wrote: »

My discounts from last year were about to expire and with the price increases I rang up to get my discounts extended and to see what else they could do. I only have TV/broadband.

To get a cheaper deal I had to get a new bundle with the phone included. So now, even with the price increases I'm paying slightly less than last year but getting the same service. And although I don't actually own a phone so it'll never get used, I now have a phone line as well.

So it's worth giving them a call and seeing what they can do for you.

Does that mean that you have entered another one year contract with them? I have just got basic tv with 30mb broadband. Currently paying 58.95/month. Just got an email saying they're increasing it by 4.55/month. Looks like I'd be better off getting a phone bundle even though I'd never use it.

jack presley

turbojunkie wrote: »

Does that mean that you have entered another one year contract with them? I have just got basic tv with 30mb broadband. Currently paying 58.95/month. Just got an email saying they're increasing it by 4.55/month. Looks like I'd be better off getting a phone bundle even though I'd never use it.

Yeah I has to commit to another 12 months with them. I'd give them a ring if I was you and say you're very unhappy with the price increase and see what they can offer. If you've been with them for a few years they'll definitely look to sort you out. Sure take the phone bundle. That's what I did and I'm like you in that I have no intention of even plugging a phone to use it.

CO19

blaz wrote: »

That's not true.

Really ? the girl on the phone must have been trying to chance her arm,have you had this confirmed ?

HattieMcDoogal

CO19 wrote: »

Really ? the girl on the phone must have been trying to chance her arm,have you had this confirmed ?

The 25Mb (formerly 20Mb) will be €27 a month. I asked someone there about it today.

blaz

CO19 wrote: »

Really ? the girl on the phone must have been trying to chance her arm,have you had this confirmed ?

As usual, clueless customer support.

UPC had 4 broadband packages, let's call them A, B, C and D.

A = 20M
B = 25M
C = 50M
D = 100M

They have recently upgrade the speeds on all of them.

A = 25M
B = 30M
C = 60M
D = 120M

Then they adjusted the pricing on all of them and removed package A from their offer (i.e. new customers can no longer buy it). Unfortunately their web site still shows the old speeds, but it only shows packages B, C and D with new pricing now.

So if you were on package A you were upgraded from 20M to 25M and the price for that is the same (and no longer shown on the web site as it is not available for new customers). The 25M shown on the website is actually package B (30M). Confusing, I know.

Or to put it differently: unless your speed is 30M, you won't be paying 37 EUR per month.

CO19

CO19 wrote: »

Those who are currently being upgraded from the 20mb for €25 a month to 25mb will also be billed at the 25mb price of €37 a month even though we didn't ask or want to be upgraded,so a jump of €17 a month,just found that out today,fuming isn't the word !

Really? This is what I was wondering myself. Oh well, off to Magnet I go so.

HattieMcDoogal

Karsini wrote: »

Really? This is what I was wondering myself. Oh well, off to Magnet I go so.

No not really. The 25Mb (formerly 20Mb) will be €27 and the 30Mb (formerly 25Mb) will be €37.

Apogee

These are prices quoted by the UPC rep for broadband and phone.

UPC: Jason wrote: »

Hi there DublinAlert

No problem at all, here you go...

20 meg Broadband + Home Phone. = €31.51 per month
20 meg Broadband + Home Phone & Anytime World.= €43.71 per month
25 meg Broadband + Home Phone & Anytime World.= €47 per month

Regards

Jason

Infoanon

I got notice today that my TV&BB is increasing by €2 per month - no breakdown of the amount, from UPC website .43c is TV so must be €1.57 for BB - nothing on there website.

The reasoning for the TV increase are the added channels ITV2/3/4 and RTE1+1,RTE2HD & Oireachtas TV !! some cheek !

Maybe I should ask for a discount since we only get half of ITV4 !

Bebo stunnah

Infoanon wrote: »

The reasoning for the TV increase are the added channels ITV2/3/4 and RTE1+1,RTE2HD & Oireachtas TV !! some cheek !
!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I signed up to upc 2 years ago and im sure I had all the itv channels! Because I can remember seeing A screen telling me I no longer have itv. I'm also sure I never received a discount because of it either!

youguessedit

Call 1908, select Accounts Services (option 1), select Speak with a Customer Services Representative (option 4) and - here's the important bit - ask to be put through to Customer Loyalty. You'll be surprised at the discount they'll offer if you've been with them for a good few years. I know I was.

Bebo stunnah

I had to cancel my account with them, as I'm moving out to the countryside I was subscribed to the bb+tv at the old address, until I got a great deal from Sky HD, so cancelled the tv and downgraded from my 25mb to the 20mb. Then i received a text from them weeks ago saying it was being upgraded to 25 (free of charge).
I was on the phone to customer services there and they toldme there was no due date for improvements on the network, all that was available was the tv

So its goodbye to a good internet service

I just recieved an email from them there stating; FIBRE POWER BROADBAND 20MB: € 1.59 inc. VAT per month

testarossa40

Yet to receive ANY notice from UPC of any price increase to my account. Logged a support request last Thursday still no answer.

Letter to Comreg next - I hear they're taking a very dim view of UPC's lack communication with customers when billing terms change...

They sent me an e-mail to say it would go up by €1.59 per month. Better than the €12 I was fearing. I'll stick with them for now.

Redsquigy

I received my letter today. I pay on line in full so how can they charge me €3.75 admin charges? Think they have a bloody cheek. I have never paid by direct debit as I have enough coming out of my bank every month. They say "Unfortunately, due to factors outside of our control our costs have increased over the past year. As a result we have to make some charges which will come into effect from your next bill in August 2012". I only have tv -as there is no UPC broadband where I live. TV operates from an aerial on the roof and a box inside.

jack presley

As has been said in other threads, ring up UPC, select the option to speak to accounts and once you get through to an operator, ask to speak to the loyalty department. Ask for a discount and you'll get one and be back below what you currently pay. The phone call is free so you've nothing to lose and anyone I know who has done it (ok we're only talking about 10 people here) has gotten a discount with very little fight. You do have to commit to another 12 month contract though but you'll easily get your bill reduced

Bebo stunnah

testarossa40 wrote: »

Yet to receive ANY notice from UPC of any price increase to my account. Logged a support request last Thursday still no answer.

They've always been very hush hush when it comes to price changes!
They changed them about 5 months after I signed up to them, but you had to go trawling thought their website. My friend told me about it, it took me a good 20 mins at least to find it the next day!

The only plus side is that if you were contracted to them for the 12months and were looking to cancel it, the contract gives you a clause that you can terminate it without having to pay a 'fine'. But again, you'ld have to go looking for it, they wont tell you a thing!

If it were any other company they'd be fined by the regulator!

cookie1977

Bebo stunnah wrote: »

If it were any other company they'd be fined by the regulator!

They've been warned before:
http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/ComReg1106.pdf

deanh

testarossa40 wrote: »

Yet to receive ANY notice from UPC of any price increase to my account. Logged a support request last Thursday still no answer.

Letter to Comreg next - I hear they're taking a very dim view of UPC's lack communication with customers when billing terms change...

According to their website, only some packages are changing price. Perhaps, your package is not affected. If it is, then you should complain to the regulator.

mangledbadgers

Dear Customer

At UPC, we want our customers to have nothing but the best and with our Fibre Power network we are in a unique position to deliver on this promise. Over the past 12 months we have continued to invest in enhancing and improving our products and services so as to provide you with the best Digital TV, Broadband and Home Phone services in Ireland.
In the last year we have:

Increased our Broadband Speed:
From June we increased our Broadband speeds, enabling us to continue to offer the best Broadband in Ireland.


Launched On Demand TV:

From May we launched our On Demand TV service with over 1,300 hours of the best TV series, movies at the touch of a button and the RTE Player and 3player on your TV. For more information on this exciting service and to find out when it will be available in your area go to www.upc.ie.

Made improvements to our Digital TV service:

We have improved our channel line-up by adding even more channels including; RTE Two HD, RTE One +1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, Oireachtas TV.

Introduced a Remote Record app:

This allows you to set recordings for your Digital+ service via the internet or a smart phone. To find out more visit

www.upc.ie/remoterecord.Unfortunately, due to factors outside of our control our costs have increased over the past year. As a result we have to make some changes to the price of your UPC services which will come into effect from your next bill in August 2012.
Increase to your bill
CABLE DIGITAL VALUE
€ 3.12 inc. VAT per month
If you have any questions please contact us via our online contact form.

At UPC we are committed to providing you with the very best entertainment services and we will continue to invest to ensure we deliver this for you.

Yours sincerely
Stephen Ruschitzko
Director Customer Care
UPC's TV and Broadband service remains excellent value. However you have the right to cancel or downgrade your service within 30 days of receipt of this notice without penalty if you do not agree with these changes. From 1 October 2012 we will make some minor updates to our general terms and conditions to reflect the availability of our On Demand TV service. To view these changes please go to www.upc.ie.
UPC Communications Ireland Limited, Building P2, East Point Business Park, Clontarf, Dublin 3.
Registered Number in Ireland 435668.

mangledbadgers

Got through to UPC Customer Loyalty, and asked if I could avail of customer loyalty discount. My Cable Digital Value of €23.40/month is now reduced to 15e/month, which will include the impending new charges. Rep said changes would be ammended in next bill. Ive only been with them 18 months so pretty happy if the next bill is reduced by that much! No harm in giving it a try!