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Posted 14 October 2014
What happens if I don't return Virgins equipment?
I cancelled Virgin broadband after one day with them and they've asked me to return their equipment by using their pre paid envelope they said they would send.
10 days and no envelope. I don't want to go through their atrocious customer service to request another.
I want to know if they can take legal action or affect my credit rating for not returning their equipment. If they want it they should come take it.
Edit: Will hold on to the box. They can come collect it if they like.
10 days and no envelope. I don't want to go through their atrocious customer service to request another.
I want to know if they can take legal action or affect my credit rating for not returning their equipment. If they want it they should come take it.
Edit: Will hold on to the box. They can come collect it if they like.
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46 Comments
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If Virgin want the equipment so badly they will contact you again when they realise it has not been received from the first envelope they sent (whether it made it to you or not). They will have to make reasonable effort to contact you before passing on the debt. However if they do, you will be liable for the charges. But this just leaves me wondering... Why are you so interested? Is it your intention to return the equipment at all?
Looking at the thread purely objectively it reads as though you are trying to get away with keeping the kit & want reassurance that Virgin will not persue you for it.
Honestly, I think the minimum you should do to cover yourself is drop them an email via the link below, then click make a complaint where you can use web chat or email to get in touch with them.
https://help.virginmedia.com/system/selfservice.controller?CONFIGURATION=1001&PARTITION_ID=1&TIMEZONE_OFFSET=&USERTYPE=1&VM_CUSTOMER_TYPE=Cable&CMD=ESCALATION_REQUEST#unified-header
You can say, with honesty, you've done all you can to try to return the kit.
If they don't get back to you, it's their call
(edited)
If you can’t return our equipment when you disconnect, then we’ll charge you to replace the missing equipment. The current replacement costs per item are:
•Remote Control £12
•TiVo £150
•V+ HD £125
•V HD £125
•V Box £125
•TV Smartcard £50
•Super Hub £40
(edited)
Yeah I read that but I want to know if they have any legal power to request those fees.
Thanks but I'm not printing anything for them. They can send an envelope or come collect it themselves.
Of course they have the power to request the fees.
Whether they have the legal right given that you didn't recieve an envelope is a separate matter.
I am sure they can claim them ....
best to read carefully the T&Cs that you signed up to
if you cancelled after only one day then it seems reasonable to expect VM to want their kit back
or just use the link above for Collect Plus but make sure you use the email address that VM know you by - then you have proff and traceability for the retirned kit
EliTom
I didn't sign anything and they failed to install their services. I want to know if any legal action can be taken against me. Nothing more nothing less.
It's a simple question. If you don't know the answer then that's fine.
You seem to be (potentially) causing yourself some problems.
Is your other thread complaining about virgin bb lag complete bs then as they never even installed anything?
I wish they offered me that.
Not my equipment. They came and left their equipment and now want me to print and go to a collect plus point. Why don't they just come take it. I just want to know what will happen if I leave the box in terms of legal action.
Never signed anything. They came and installed BB and couldn't install the phone line. I went back to Sky.
It just seems like you're making it as hard as you can.
If you go send it back you're at least going to have proof that it was sent.
I don't mind at all. The question is if they can take legal action. A question that no one here can answer it seems.
Probably because the vast majority of people just return the items when asked.
I'd just return it, seems like the hassle free option.
Would be better than getting a bill later down the line
It wasn't answered and if you don't know the answer then you don't have to comment. I'm not looking for assumptions or attitude I just want to know the answer. I'm posting in the right place no? My actions may have somehow angered you but my question still remains.
If this drags on and the fees get added they could sue, this could have a knock on effect re credit history and further credit as most of these agreements like mobile phones are viewed as credit.
You don't get to be as wealthy as Richard Branson by giving stuff away!
Thanks. Do you know what sort of legal power they have? A company I worked had no legal power other than sending threatening letters for fees under £100.
The 'legal power' they have is limited to the terms contained within your contract.
They sent a contract that I did not sign so does the terms apply to me?
ask them again,
send their stuff back to them.
and having received 'legal advice' from the HUKD 'legal team' you will be none the wiser.
Do the right thing and return the equipment and lose the attitude.
I asked a simple question and some of you took it as some sort of personal attack it seems. I should have just kept the context to myself. If you don't know the answer then there's no need to comment or pass judgement. You can imagine this "attitude" from a text post all you like.
Your question was answered in post one yet you chose to ignore that
Your contract was formed online when you placed your installation
The paper contract is for information only and didn't need signing
You seem to have trouble understanding my question and I really don't understand why you're still lurking. I wanted to know what legal action they can take. I wanted specifics like darbs mentions not what virgin have said on their site and I have read. I've made my mind up though and won't be returning anything.
Sure messaging on here has been more inconvenient than actually doing what all of the other posts on this thread has said and simply return what is not rightfully yours!
For the sake of simply putting a piece of plastic in an envelop and popping to the post office to post it FREE of charge, you risk being charged £40 for a superhub that you didn't use and is not rightfully yours, so Virgin has the right to charge you for this.
Think of it like this. Virgins POV is they sent you equipment, that THEY have PAID for. They sent you it either free or discounted. Now you have decided you no longer want the equipment it's fair for them to CHARGE you and they are in their right to charge you if you don't return it. If they have not sent you out an envelope yet then simply just call them and get another one sent. Otherwise you risk getting the fee added to your account. Then you will moan like a baby boy or girl going 'oof oof oof I ain't paying that, virgin are this, virgin are that, take me to court I don't care,... do this do that virgin media etc' We got calls like this frequently ... saying why have you added equipment charges etc. They stand. Sometimes they are wipe but 8 out of 10 times they stand. It's equipment lost from the company that has spent time and effort producing it.
End day it's virgin media's equipment. If you don't return it they have a right to charge you for it. If you don't pay that bill then it's just like any other bill from any other company. It's an outstanding balance and will just go through the collections process.
Remember. the enevolope they send is free. Not worth the hassle.
(edited)
I'm not going through the hassle of phoning them and being transferred from one department to another just to request a envelope. They have no email address as far as I'm aware. I'm not wasting my ink or anymore time on them. I wanted to know the legal repercussions but instead of answering that most of you are hell bent on me contacting them and returning it. Assume all you like in the end you're just being a nuisance in a thread asking a question.
Thanks for the civilised response.
Do you know of any cases where it went to debt collectors?
Many thanks. I have no intention to keep the box it's just Virgin have screwed me over quite badly and I don't want to waste my time or money on them. I initially accepted to return their box when they asked but now their prepaid envelope hasn't come I don't want to go through hoops for them. I wanted to know what would happen if I ignored them. Hopefully that put things in perspective. I'll take your advice and drop them an email.
Im guessing you have cancelled your direct debit? Until you account is finalised you should be able to login to your account using your account number and area code and send them a secure message. Just ask can someone please collect the box as for personal reasons you can't get to send it back.