UPC raising Prices from August 1st [Merged]

whogivesashlt · 26-06-2012 10:14AM #1

Just got a letter informing me that if I don't go the direct debit route by August I'll have to pay an admin fee of €3.85. I don't pay anything through direct debit and don't plan on starting now, I've never been in arrears, surely they can't just do this? does anyone have anymore info regarding this and how to tackle it.
Thanks

califano · 26-06-2012 10:38AM

afaik there has always been an admin free for non direct debit payments as a punishment of sorts for not paying via direct debit. Don't think there is any way to tackle it. If you have never missed a payment then all the more reason to go direct debit to avoid the charge?.

whogivesashlt · 26-06-2012 10:41AM

rounders123 wrote: »

If you have never missed a payment then all the more reason to go direct debit to avoid the charge?.

Thanks for the feedback and as a last resort I will do the DD. It's just I've never had a DD before and just feel a little uncomfortable with it.

califano · 26-06-2012 10:53AM

whogivesashlt wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback and as a last resort I will do the DD. It's just I've never had a DD before and just feel a little uncomfortable with it.

And you can organise it in a way to select the date of payment each month that suits you most.

Flip Flop · 26-06-2012 11:01AM

whogivesashlt wrote: »

Thanks for the feedback and as a last resort I will do the DD. It's just I've never had a DD before and just feel a little uncomfortable with it.

Trust me. You've nothing to worry about. I pay most of my bills via Direct Debit and I've never had a problem about payments with any of my suppliers.

jeckle · 26-06-2012 11:14AM

This started about five or six years ago (I think it was back in the NTL/Chorus days). Anyway they tried to introduce a non-dd charge to all customers, but as a result of media outrage, Dáil debates, consumer agency complaints, Joe Duffy etc they backed down & instead introduced the non-dd charge for any new customers or existing customers who ordered new or additional services.

So, if the letter the OP got is anything to go by they must be trying to introduce it again to pre 2006 customers, though I'd say most of these people have been caught by it in recent years anyway by upgrading to digital tv or adding broadband/phone.

monkeypants · 26-06-2012 12:49PM

Try manual online payments straight to them. I always tried to find out why there'd be a charge levied on payments direct to their account, but could never get an answer.

ted1 · 26-06-2012 01:13PM

monkeypants wrote: »

Try manual online payments straight to them. I always tried to find out why there'd be a charge levied on payments direct to their account, but could never get an answer.

Because you may forget to pay it. By having a dd in place there nearly guranteed to get it.

whogivesashlt · 26-06-2012 01:22PM

Thanks monkeypants, that's exactly how I pay them.

djimi · 26-06-2012 05:38PM

Flip Flop wrote: »

Trust me. You've nothing to worry about. I pay most of my bills via Direct Debit and I've never had a problem about payments with any of my suppliers.

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.

MHP · 26-06-2012 05:52PM

I got the same letter and I'm not happy. Even though I changed or upgraded my package several times over the years, the non-DD surcharge was never added to the bill. I'll have to have a word with the UPC account dept.

zg3409 · 26-06-2012 06:24PM

Freephone UPC and voice your anger. Threathen to leave etc. This is basically a price increase for you in the middle of a recession. They seem to be trying to bully people.

AnimalRights · 02-07-2012 09:49PM

I pay this charge with 3 my mobile phone company. :mad:

mackersdublin · 03-07-2012 03:43PM

Just found this on their homepage (bottom right)

http://www.upc.ie/television/Price_changes%28August_1st%29/

coylemj · 03-07-2012 05:53PM

43c increase in Digital Max+ monthly charge :eek:

Kristopherus · 03-07-2012 06:41PM

I used the Online Chat facility to talk with a CS agent. She could'nt tell me if the On-Demand service will be available to mmds customers:rolleyes:

Koloman · 03-07-2012 10:23PM

Any idea if the analogue price is going up?

gerryo · 03-07-2012 11:28PM

Kristopherus wrote: »

I used the Online Chat facility to talk with a CS agent. She could'nt tell me if the On-Demand service will be available to mmds customers:rolleyes:

I doubt it will be available - how will you be able to signal back to UPC "HQ" what you want to watch

MMDS has always been a "receive-only" system, there is no way to tell UPC
what you want to watch, you can only select from the available channels.

tomkav79 · 03-07-2012 11:51PM

They're raising their prices and they still haven't given me the upgrade from 20mb to 25mb?!! Pain in me b****x with that company!!

forzacalcio · 04-07-2012 02:18PM

I assume we can all get out of contract then?

Crystalset · 04-07-2012 02:30PM

If I were allowed to put a dish on my balcony I would buy a Freesat box.
I get Saorview ok on an indoor aerial but I like UK drama choice & BBC News, so I'm stuck with paying the cable company.

jack presley · 04-07-2012 02:33PM

Are they writing to customers to let them know these changes? If so, along with the household charge letter, I'll have 2 pieces of post at home that will depress me

Koloman · 04-07-2012 09:55PM

A bit more about the price increase on Matt Cooper earlier today.

Click Wednesday, part 2. Around 29 minutes in.

http://media.todayfm.com/listenback/98/wednesday/1/popup

who_me · 05-07-2012 11:30AM

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.

Might be too late in your case, but read here.

You're entitled to go to your bank and 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"

In general, I'd:
- talk first to UPC, give them a chance to correct the mistake.
- Go to the bank, get the direct debit refunded.
- Let UPC come back to me for the money, if there is some genuine case.

pippip · 05-07-2012 01:31PM

According to the link on the first post I should only be getting the 43c increase, have no phone, only broadband. I pay direct debit.

Got an email this morning saying its going up €3.07 inc vat on my bill. "Digital TV and Broadband"

Going to have to ring them now....oh fun!

johndoe99 · 05-07-2012 01:36PM

whenever i get a message "that your broaband speed is getting increased", you can be sure there's a hike in price coming.

pippip · 05-07-2012 02:07PM

Just got off the phone to them, to be fair I got through in seconds after pressing all the different buttons.

Apparently my broadband is being increased. Speed went from 12mb to 15mb and price increased by €2.64

For some reason she kept telling me my tv package was going down but 37c????

Said I cannot downgrade free of charge until august, so may ring back then.

forzacalcio · 05-07-2012 04:37PM

Why can we not get out of contract but keep the package?
Surely a change in my contract allows me to get out without penalty!

icdg · 05-07-2012 07:50PM

Merged.

Mountjoy Mugger · 06-07-2012 10:21AM

pippip wrote: »

Said I cannot downgrade free of charge until august, so may ring back then.

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

rickyjb · 06-07-2012 10:24AM

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.

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?).

UPC raising Prices from August 1st [Merged]

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