It Has come to my attention that Telewest is ripping off existing customers by offering new customers a 12 Month lower rate than presently being charged to existing customers.

The new customers are offered the 256kbps broadband, Basic TV package and Basic telephone for £30.00 per month.
For The broadband to be upgraded to 750kbps this will add £7.05 to the bill which will then total £37.05.

Existing customers are not allowed this rate,
and the basic rate for telephone, TV and 750kbps Broadband is currently charged at £44.15.

As there is only £6.90 difference, Should we care?
However this amount over a 12 month period comes to £82.80 that existing customers are paying over the amount that new ones are!

Is it right for existing customers foot the bill to subsidise new business for Telewest?

Thats normally the way with things. Look at Wanadoo now offering 1meg for 17.99 at the same price as existing customers on 512k connections - just matter of shopping around.

Market forces dictate that the price will come down!

Most of these companies rely on customer apathy to keep their business and it usually works. People will have their moan and a whinge but can't really be bothered to switch supplier whether it be gas,lecky,sky, banks,etc. How many people moan everytime Sky puts up it's prices for what is basically a load of *rap but still keep paying. Vote with your feet, it's the only way they will take any notice.......they don't deserve your custom.

Originally posted by Magneteer
Most of these companies rely on customer apathy to keep their business and it usually works. People will have their moan and a whinge but can't really be bothered to switch supplier whether it be gas,lecky,sky, banks,etc. How many people moan everytime Sky puts up it's prices for what is basically a load of *rap but still keep paying. Vote with your feet, it's the only way they will take any notice.......they don't deserve your custom.

We voted on the Sky package, we got rid of it, and after the first couple of weeks it's not even been missed. Murdoch and his motley crew can stick it where the sun don't shine, bring on the Gas board next.

Unfortunately that's what happens when you sign a 12 month contract. After 12 months are up you can sign up to the new deal. Think of it like a mobile plan.

Originally posted by genesiscouch
Unfortunately that's what happens when you sign a 12 month contract. After 12 months are up you can sign up to the new deal. Think of it like a mobile plan.

Not being under any contract after 12 months.......I have been with Telewest since the begining.........However!.........I can cancel my package but would still not qualify for the new deal if I wanted to re-instate the package.

Originally posted by DerekH
Not being under any contract after 12 months.......I have been with Telewest since the begining.........However!.........I can cancel my package but would still not qualify for the new deal if I wanted to re-instate the package.

Have you contacted them and threatened that you will cancel all services? I did this last year when I got Sky - threatened to cancel cable, phone and broadband.

They reduced the monthly cost and agreed to relocate our STB anywhere in the house and install broadband for free and bumped me up the list from a three week wait to a few days.

Originally posted by Internetowl
Thats normally the way with things. Look at Wanadoo now offering 1meg for 17.99 at the same price as existing customers on 512k connections - just matter of shopping around.

Market forces dictate that the price will come down!

But it's capped at 2GB which would last me about 2 days!

Originally posted by t020
But it's capped at 2GB which would last me about 2 days!

I couldn't live with any capped service, with the amount of music downloading and stuff.

Alex

Originally posted by alchresearch
Have you contacted them and threatened that you will cancel all services? I did this last year when I got Sky - threatened to cancel cable, phone and broadband.

They reduced the monthly cost and agreed to relocate our STB anywhere in the house and install broadband for free and bumped me up the list from a three week wait to a few days.

Spoke to them last night regarding cancelling all utilities with them.

The reaction I recieved was "Do what you want to do".

As with all utilities companies, Once they have your business then they couldn't care less.

I see Npower is now increasing their rates by 11.5%.
with the promise that they won't have another increase till 2006.

Considering that an 11% increase is four times the current rate of inflation the consumer is again getting taken for a ride.

i've phoned up before to cancel just the cable tv as we want a sky digi box and they bend over backwards to keep you. Just make sure you go through to the retentions department (it's called that for a reason) as no one else has the authority to give you anything.

I had seen the adverts for the introductory offer. I might try phoning up and complaining and see if I can get anything knocked off my bill.

Originally posted by Cyclone
i've phoned up before to cancel just the cable tv as we want a sky digi box and they bend over backwards to keep you. Just make sure you go through to the retentions department (it's called that for a reason) as no one else has the authority to give you anything.

I had seen the adverts for the introductory offer. I might try phoning up and complaining and see if I can get anything knocked off my bill.

I hope that you get a better response than what I did......Problem here is that they are doing you a favour by supplying you the services ...or thats what they think!

Wow, I'm surprised by the response they gave you DerekH. If a company cared that little about me I would be very tempted to jump ship and grab a nicer offer somewhere else.

I thought that if you weren't under contract they would give you the new plan without any hesitance.

Originally posted by genesiscouch
Wow, I'm surprised by the response they gave you DerekH. If a company cared that little about me I would be very tempted to jump ship and grab a nicer offer somewhere else.

I thought that if you weren't under contract they would give you the new plan without any hesitance.

They informed me that the offer is only to drum up new business....To which....I would not be in the circumstance